Slavoj Žižek and Dialectical Sophistics: On the Relationship Between Dialectical Philosophy and Philosophical Rhetoric

Abstract

This article approaches the problem of post-truth and the opposition between philosophical dialectics and sophistic rhetoric. The antagonism is addressed through a reading of Žižek’s depiction of the ongoing discussion between Alain Badiou and Barbara Cassin, the “new version of the ancient dialogue between Plato and the sophists,” as stained by sexual difference, and the dialectics between Parmenides and Gorgias.

The article argues that only through acknowledging the inescapable failure of these sides to ever establish a complete totality are we capable of overcoming the antagonism that resides at their core, thus making a dialectical sophistics, on the basis of Žižek’s thought, possible.

Cite

APA

Stagnell, A. (2020). Slavoj Žižek and dialectical sophistics: On the relationship between dialectical philosophy and philosophical rhetoric. Philosophy & Rhetoric, 53(2), 134–156. https://doi.org/10.5325/philrhet.53.2.0134

@article{stagnell2020,
  author  = {Stagnell, Alexander},
  title   = {Slavoj Žižek and Dialectical Sophistics: On the Relationship Between Dialectical Philosophy and Philosophical Rhetoric},
  journal = {Philosophy \& Rhetoric},
  volume  = {53},
  number  = {2},
  pages   = {134--156},
  year    = {2020},
  doi     = {10.5325/philrhet.53.2.0134}
}