The School of History and Philosophy at UNSW cordially invites you to Philip Quadrio (UNSW)
Relational Organicism and the Mediation of Individualism and Holism This paper has two core aims: to demonstrate that organicism does not necessarily imply the cancellation of individuality by a monolithic society and so contribute something to the rehabilitation of organic conceptions of socio-political life; and secondly to demonstrate a deficiency in the way Hegel’s references to the state as organic have been understood. In general that deficiency lies in the interpretation of organicism as essentially holistic, with critics striking on Hegel’s references to the state as an organism to justify this. Here the paper’s aims come together. Insofar as Hegel’s organicism is taken as holistic it is taken as hostile to liberalism and as leading to a subsumption of individuality by the state. Against this I argue that Hegel’s organicism itself addresses the tension between individualism and holism and I present an understanding of organicism as neither individualistic nor holistic but as a more complex social ontology preserving holistic and individualistic moments. Through this it becomes apparent that the status of the individual is not only secure within the organic polity but also such individuals are valued and affirmed in all their particularity, valued as persons and not for the functional role that they play. Once one understands how Hegel’s organicism addresses the tension between individualism and holism, the holistic reading becomes impossible to sustain. Philip Quadrio is the author of Towards a Theory of Organic Relations: Hegel’s Social Theory from Tubingen to Jena (Lambert AP: 2010), and has recently co-edited two volumes Politics and Religion in the New Century: Philosophical Perspectives (Sydney University Press: 2009) and a special edition of Critical Horizons, Ethics of Commitment and Politics of Resistance: Simon Critchley’s Neo-Anarchism (Acumen: 2009). He is currently completing co-editorial work on the volume Philosophy of Religion Today and is working with Marion Maddox on a volume focusing on Sexual abuse by Clergy. Philip has taught within Philosophy (USYD, UNSW, MACQ, ACU), Studies in Religion (USYD) and History and Philosophy of Science (UNSW). When? Tuesday 27 July, 1 pm Where? Room 308B, Morven Brown Building, UNSW (map ref C20: http://www.facilities.unsw.edu.au/Maps/pdf/kensington.pdf) A light lunch is provided. No bookings are required, and all are welcome. For further information, please contact Stephen Healy, [email protected], 9385 1597 Dr. Joanne Faulkner ARC Research Fellow School of History and Philosophy Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Room 338, Morven Brown Building University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052 Australia [email protected] +61 2 9385 2287 http://hist-phil.arts.unsw.edu.au/staff/joanne-faulkner-633.html Treasurer, Australasian Society for Continental Philosophy: http://www.ascp.org.au I am a member of the National Tertiary Education Union. In support of the NTEU’s enterprise bargaining team, all NTEU members at UNSW are engaged in a work ban outside normal working hours. I therefore will not respond to emails or phone calls or engage in other work duties outside of my normal working hours (9am-5pm AEST, Monday to Friday). A recent NTEU survey found that all UNSW staff reported working outside normal working hours e.g. at weekends. I support the NTEU’s bargaining team in their current negotiations with UNSW management to secure a new enterprise agreement with improved conditions for all staff, including: a fair pay increase; better regulation of workloads; protection of recreation leave conditions; improved carer’s leave, and; increased security for casual and fixed-term contract staff. For further information on the NTEU’s claims and bargaining campaign at UNSW, please see www.universitybargaining.com.au _______________________________________________ SydPhil mailing list: http://sydphil.info 950 subscribers now served. To UNSUBSCRIBE, change your MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS, find ANSWERS TO COMMON PROBLEMS, or visit our ONLINE ARCHIVES, please go to the LIST INFORMATION PAGE: http://sydphil.info
