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Universality, Conflict, and Social Critique in Jean-Francois Lyotard and the Frankfurt School

Project description

Checking tensions between social heterogeneity and universality

Europe’s society is heterogeneous due to its diverse cultures, people and traditions. There is tension between heterogeneity and universality - key for contemporary political theory. Today, societies have become so heterogeneous it is nearly impossible to reach a universal agreement on some issues. To gain a deeper understanding, the EU-funded UCONCRI project will study the work of Jean-Francois Lyotard and the Frankfurt School tradition of critical theory. It will trace a series of discussions and exchanges between the two to gauge both sides as different, yet closely related. The project will also seek to explain the sources of ideological extremism and how to respond. The findings will also improve our understanding of universality, conflict and critique.

Objective

The project examines the tension between social heterogeneity and universal principles for political action and judgment through a comparative reading of the work of Jean-Francois Lyotard and the Frankfurt School tradition of critical theory. Frankfurt School critical theory and agonistic political theory influenced by French philosophy are predominantly read as two separate and mutually exclusive perspectives in political philosophy. This project traces a series of explicit and implicit discussions between Lyotard and the Frankfurt School in order to read both perspectives as different yet interrelated. The connections and contrasts between both perspectives are then used to develop a new framework to address three central issues within critical theory and political philosophy more broadly. Specifically, the project pursues three specific objectives: 1) To assess the possibilities and limitation of consensus and dissensus as grounds of universal political action and judgment, by means of a contrast between Lyotard and Habermas; 2) To understand the causes of social conflict as well as the role of critical theory is their articulation, by means of a contrast between Lyotard and Honneth; 3) To explain the sources of ideological extremism and determine the capacity of critical theory to respond to it, by means of a contrast between Lyotard and Adorno. Relying on a comparative methodology that involves intertextual reading, genealogical analysis, and intellectual history, the research will illuminate and generate dialogues between perspectives that are often considered separately from one another, thus improving our understanding of universality, conflict, and critique in heterogeneous societies.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITE DE STRASBOURG
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 184 707,84
Address
RUE BLAISE PASCAL 4
67081 STRASBOURG
France

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Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 184 707,84
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