“Hidden Behind the Supplement” Agamben contra Functionalism on Purity and Impurity

Duschinsky, Robbie (2014) “Hidden Behind the Supplement” Agamben contra Functionalism on Purity and Impurity. Critical Horizons: A Journal of Philosophy & Social Theory, 15 (3). pp. 249-265. ISSN 1440-9917

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Abstract

In contrast to functionalist explanations of themes of purity and impurity as an expression and affirmation of the social order (e.g. Emile Durkheim, Mary Douglas), Giorgio Agamben considers purity and impurity as comparisons of phenomena with their imputed essence. From the perspective offered by Agamben, judgements regarding purity and impurity can be seen as in part constructing the essence against which they supposedly simply measure phenomena. Agamben’s investigations suggest that on occasions when themes of purity or impurity are invoked within Western discourses on subjectivity, the full human subject tends to be placed as relatively pure: neither too close nor too distant from human essence. FollowingWalter Benjamin, he suggests that such a classification gives the full human subject a certain social protection and inviolability, separating relatively pure and protected human life from impure subjectivities unprotected by social or legal conventions.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	essence, Durkheim
Subjects:	V500 Philosophy
Department:	Faculties > Health and Life Sciences > Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing
Depositing User:	Ay Okpokam
Date Deposited:	06 Mar 2015 17:16
Last Modified:	12 Oct 2019 14:37
URI:	http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/21563

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