Philosophy ETDs

Publication Date

Spring 3-14-2018

Abstract

Extreme Liberal Cynicism is a product of mourning, guilt, and the experience of powerlessness stemming from the trauma of holding liberal investments in a world in which they rarely flourish, in which they are perceived to have failed, and in which they are vulnerable to ideology critique. Consequently, the cynic is torn between liberal ideals and the obstacles to their success. This can compel the Liberal Cynic to extremes, fantasizing invulnerability through disavowing the efficacy of its constitutive ideals. This is achieved via a reified hopelessness which eclipses trauma, guilt, and disempowerment. Despite serving an immediately ameliorative purpose this leaves the cynic unhappy, alienated, hostile, obstinate, delusional, and desperate. Thus, this is a failing self-defense mechanism. At these extremes, Liberal Cynicism can be rationally unjustifiable as well as intrinsically and instrumentally harmful. It is rationally unjustifiable if it reifies the inefficacy of its constitutive idealism, if it assumes itself post-idealistic, the logical conclusion of enlightenment, or of intellectual activity, and if it refuses to engage in self-critique. It is intrinsically harmful because it is self-destructive and painful. It is instrumentally harmful in virtue of enabling the problems that compel it. Nevertheless, cynical painfulness also provides the impetus and evinces the resources for Extreme Liberal Cynicism to avoid or overcome these extremes. A Critique of Extreme Cynicism coupled with the libidinal release of Neokynical cheekiness, a Butlerian reckoning with grief, and the skillful reappropriations of its complex desires and losses could compel the extreme cynic to maintain a moderate critical liberal cynicism committed to critiquing and reinvigorating its constitutive ideals.

Degree Name

Philosophy

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Philosophy

First Committee Member (Chair)

Ann Murphy

Second Committee Member

Iain Thomson

Third Committee Member

Adrian Johston

Fourth Committee Member

Kathleen Higgins

Language

English

Keywords

Philosophy Cynicism Continental Social Political Butler

Document Type

Dissertation

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