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En storm blåser från Paradiset: Om hur Judith Butler och Giorgio Agamben läser Walter Benjamin

Björkling, Simon LU (2013) STVK02 20122
Department of Political Science
Abstract
In resent years essayist and cultural critic Walter Benjamin has enjoyed an increased interest by intellectuals and academics. Benjamin’s texts has for many taken the form of a starting point from which to launch a discussion on contemporary political problems such as that of state violence, sovereignty and law. In this thesis I focus on the specific readings of Walter Benjamin’s famous essay ”On the Critique of Violence” and his “Theses on the Philosopfy of History” done by Judith Butler and Giorgio Agamben.
In this essay I aim to show in what way the two contemporary writers interpret, use and incorporate Benjamin’s thinking into their own, and the impact it has on their thinking. I argue that Benjamin’s thoughts on violence, law and... (More)
In resent years essayist and cultural critic Walter Benjamin has enjoyed an increased interest by intellectuals and academics. Benjamin’s texts has for many taken the form of a starting point from which to launch a discussion on contemporary political problems such as that of state violence, sovereignty and law. In this thesis I focus on the specific readings of Walter Benjamin’s famous essay ”On the Critique of Violence” and his “Theses on the Philosopfy of History” done by Judith Butler and Giorgio Agamben.
In this essay I aim to show in what way the two contemporary writers interpret, use and incorporate Benjamin’s thinking into their own, and the impact it has on their thinking. I argue that Benjamin’s thoughts on violence, law and history has fundamental implications for Agamben and Butler but in very different ways. I hope to show in how many ways Benjamin’s more than ninety years old text can help us understand and criticize the present. Not as a historical document but as philosophical blasting cap. To better understand how Benjamin’s legacy is treated in the contemporary debate is to better understand political philosophy of today. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Björkling, Simon LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVK02 20122
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Walter Benjamin, Judith Butler, Giorgio Agamben, våld, progression, undantagstillstånd.
language
Swedish
id
3357894
date added to LUP
2013-02-05 14:34:19
date last changed
2013-02-05 14:34:19
@misc{3357894,
  abstract     = {{In resent years essayist and cultural critic Walter Benjamin has enjoyed an increased interest by intellectuals and academics. Benjamin’s texts has for many taken the form of a starting point from which to launch a discussion on contemporary political problems such as that of state violence, sovereignty and law. In this thesis I focus on the specific readings of Walter Benjamin’s famous essay ”On the Critique of Violence” and his “Theses on the Philosopfy of History” done by Judith Butler and Giorgio Agamben. 
In this essay I aim to show in what way the two contemporary writers interpret, use and incorporate Benjamin’s thinking into their own, and the impact it has on their thinking. I argue that Benjamin’s thoughts on violence, law and history has fundamental implications for Agamben and Butler but in very different ways. I hope to show in how many ways Benjamin’s more than ninety years old text can help us understand and criticize the present. Not as a historical document but as philosophical blasting cap. To better understand how Benjamin’s legacy is treated in the contemporary debate is to better understand political philosophy of today.}},
  author       = {{Björkling, Simon}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{En storm blåser från Paradiset: Om hur Judith Butler och Giorgio Agamben läser Walter Benjamin}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}