You are the best. Please don't ever stop making these intellectually enriching videos that are benefitting thousands of interested scholars all throughout the world.
I love it when someone breaks down a "complex" term, concept or idea and by the end of the video you actually feel like you understood something. Thank you
Dear David, I'm starting with the PhD studies in philosophy and your comment on "Homo sacer" was really helpful. Thank you very much. Greetings from Croatia. Ante
I can't help but view slavery in America through the lens of this new term. Regarded as only property to the sovereign, and replaceable instruments in the capitalistically influenced institution. Recently I've started to think critically while listening to your podcasts, it pushes me out of my comfort zone and encourages me to really analyze and internalize how the topics you communicate relate to our history and our present times.. It's much easier than actually reading theory lol. Thanks for the upload. Interesting as always.
Thank you for providing a clear explanation of Agamben's complex concepts. I now have a clearer understanding of the relevance to sacred sovereignty and the Holocaust.
Covering Agamben in a seminar today at a literature conference. I presented on Jean-Luc Nancy yesterday. Really appreciate this bare bones explanation and especially your criticisms and the way it works with/against Foucalt's biopolitics
You do a great job introducing or briefing these kinds of books. I'd like to suggest you add links to the other videos/explanations you mention throughout your video, so we don't have to look for them : ). Thanks!
I’m in the process of reading a text called Habeas Viscus by Alexander G. Weheliye and he mentions this term and Agamben a few times. Made a note to do a little more research on it so I’m glad you made this!
thank you for helping me understand biopolitics! your videos are even more clear than my 2 hours lecture! good for preview or review! undergrad year 4 student saying thanks!
This reminds me of the way we treat non-human animals, beings reduced to alive beings of little to no value other than biological phenomena wherein their value is measured in the pleasure we can then derive from their flesh. We are told that we need to eat them, and yet only certain ones are worth having in our own home. Of course, we now no longer need them strictly speaking, and what's worse is we believe we are a society that loves animals. I am vegan btw 🌱
That's so funny because I spoke about that but then took it out because I knew I was going to be talking about the Holocaust and did not want to, in any way, imply some commonality there. But ya I think it's a very interesting point!
@@TheoryPhilosophy I too used to be afraid to point out the commonalities between the way jews, homosexuals, and Romani ppl were treated in the holocaust with the way we treat animals. But then I listened to holocaust survivor Alex Hershaft: "When I first saw the slaughterhouse, I saw all those bodyparts and it brought back memories." He founded Farm Animal Rights Movement(F.A.R.M.)!
@@R3dTi3nJ3ans that's an anecdote and so I still find it problematic and is a glaring problem within some vegan circles to draw parallels between the killing of people (in any capacity, but especially so in terms of religious affiliation or race, etc...) and the killing of animals. So while I think that factory farming must come to an immediate halt, I don't think we need to make that argument by drawing paralleles to the suffering of others
I think the value of Agamben's theory is that he uses this concept of bare life to warn us that we must reject the division of the definition of life by sovereign states. This division between life with political quality and a simply biological life (e.g citizenship v.s statelessness) leads to a dangerous consequence and anyone can face this degradation or, in Agamben's words, become a bare life that can be killed with impunity.
As a staunch republican writing my doctorate on the numinosity of the evangelistic texts of the much misinterpreted Jerry Falwell, I have found the Agamben's concept of Homo Sacer, like that of the poetics of inoperability central to my analysis and I thank you for your continued guidance.
Thank you for directing me here from your biopolitics video! I'm looking at Homo Sacer in particular for my presentation so this helped me heaps! I really appreciate how you break things down to simple terms as I'm not always sure that I interpret philosophical readings right :)
This is interesting. I have never been exposed to this idea before. In the United States this applies in many ways. It applies to most citizens and noncitizens in different aspects and in different categories. It actually tries to reduces everyone except a few to a nothing. For example, in 2008, I had my nest egg stolen when my house was foreclosed upon. The banks foreclosed upon my home AND got bailed out. It was a double win for them. The banks and Hedgefunds owned the executive, legislative and possibly the Supreme Court. This reduced me to a nothing. But this reduction to nothing also has existed here in many forms. Blacks, (Native) Americans , Immigrants, Women, and even children to a form of nothing.
So to break it down into like a really small piece: it's about how the reduction of some groups into "bare life" (home sacer) plays a big role in granting sovereignty or securing sovereignty of others?
The -ce in the latin word sacer sounds like the first part of the english word chess. Just for the sake of the big work you do for all of us! Thanks, Luca
In ecclesial Latin, the c would be the ch in chess; in classical Latin, it would be a harder k sound. Agamben uses the latter, though with an IPA ä, sounding more like soccer.
It would be interesting to hear you revisit this philosopher post-pandemic. From what i understand he fell out of the good graces of "The Left" because he didn't support lockdowns and mandates
I'm not totally unfamiliar with the term Homo Sacer but I never understood which particular people could be termed Homo Sacer. I'm glad that you gave the example of the people who died in the holocaust, but I'm struggling to come up with more examples. Are enslaved people Homo Sacer or do they still have 'value' in that they do work for their master? Is a homeless person a Homo Sacer? I'm not quite sure and it would be great if you could help me out here. Anyway, love your videos, they're very enlightening for someone who never studied philosophy!
This was just amazing tj learn... Everything was so crystal clear to hear..I just have one question, i will be grateful for your response ... Q: how is it related to post modernism?
Is there any thinker who picks up on this concept of naked life and tries to think other consequences that are not political? I ask this because it seems this concept can have various ontological/ethical developments.
Your critique of Agamben being too quick to prioritise the acclaimed teleological nature of the sovereign in bare life, over the historical reality of the persecution of the Jewish peoples, is very apt - what about other group of peoples that were targeted during nazism? Namely, Roma, Sinti, disabled, Religious groups, different nationals (poles, russians) etc. How might these groups fit in to that theoretical gap you identify?
There must be some meaning behind the juxtaposition of the profane fleshy ‘homo’ and the deified ‘sacer’. Such a combo cannot really exist (outside a special religious framework)and so it is easy to see it in a satirical, deprecating, ironic light.
your criticism is really not a criticism tbh. it's kind of just like a neo-liberal expectation that we revere past horrible deeds to an arbitrarily satisfactory degree. the history of anti-semitism can be seen as continuations of the homo sacer towards jews, propagated by culture exchange. idk maybe i'm wrong
Someone here from olivias Video?
You are the best. Please don't ever stop making these intellectually enriching videos that are benefitting thousands of interested scholars all throughout the world.
I love it when someone breaks down a "complex" term, concept or idea and by the end of the video you actually feel like you understood something. Thank you
Dear David, I'm starting with the PhD studies in philosophy and your comment on "Homo sacer" was really helpful. Thank you very much. Greetings from Croatia. Ante
FYI - Derrida deconstructs Agamben's concept toward the end of The Beast and the Sovereign vol. 1.
Your explanation is much better than the one Routledge Critical thinkers series gave. Keep up the good work.
I can't help but view slavery in America through the lens of this new term. Regarded as only property to the sovereign, and replaceable instruments in the capitalistically influenced institution.
Recently I've started to think critically while listening to your podcasts, it pushes me out of my comfort zone and encourages me to really analyze and internalize how the topics you communicate relate to our history and our present times.. It's much easier than actually reading theory lol. Thanks for the upload. Interesting as always.
Thank you for providing a clear explanation of Agamben's complex concepts. I now have a clearer understanding of the relevance to sacred sovereignty and the Holocaust.
Thank you. This was excellent. I found Agamben almost impenetrable to read - your summary was very clear.
thank you! philosophical reads are too hard for me to comprehend, just entangle in words lol keep making it accessible for the ones like me❤
Covering Agamben in a seminar today at a literature conference. I presented on Jean-Luc Nancy yesterday. Really appreciate this bare bones explanation and especially your criticisms and the way it works with/against Foucalt's biopolitics
Starts here: 1:07
or here: 1:22
or eventually here: 1:45
You do a great job introducing or briefing these kinds of books. I'd like to suggest you add links to the other videos/explanations you mention throughout your video, so we don't have to look for them : ). Thanks!
I’m in the process of reading a text called Habeas Viscus by Alexander G. Weheliye and he mentions this term and Agamben a few times. Made a note to do a little more research on it so I’m glad you made this!
One of the best books you will ever read
This is off topic but you should do some videos on Georges Batailles work
thank you for helping me understand biopolitics! your videos are even more clear than my 2 hours lecture! good for preview or review! undergrad year 4 student saying thanks!
That's true!
every possible thing i would want to read, david has explained it! feeling #blessed
Recently bought "Homo Sacer" and started reading it this evening, I must say your video was really helpful.
This reminds me of the way we treat non-human animals, beings reduced to alive beings of little to no value other than biological phenomena wherein their value is measured in the pleasure we can then derive from their flesh. We are told that we need to eat them, and yet only certain ones are worth having in our own home. Of course, we now no longer need them strictly speaking, and what's worse is we believe we are a society that loves animals. I am vegan btw 🌱
That's so funny because I spoke about that but then took it out because I knew I was going to be talking about the Holocaust and did not want to, in any way, imply some commonality there. But ya I think it's a very interesting point!
@@TheoryPhilosophy I too used to be afraid to point out the commonalities between the way jews, homosexuals, and Romani ppl were treated in the holocaust with the way we treat animals. But then I listened to holocaust survivor Alex Hershaft: "When I first saw the slaughterhouse, I saw all those bodyparts and it brought back memories." He founded Farm Animal Rights Movement(F.A.R.M.)!
@@R3dTi3nJ3ans that's an anecdote and so I still find it problematic and is a glaring problem within some vegan circles to draw parallels between the killing of people (in any capacity, but especially so in terms of religious affiliation or race, etc...) and the killing of animals. So while I think that factory farming must come to an immediate halt, I don't think we need to make that argument by drawing paralleles to the suffering of others
I think the value of Agamben's theory is that he uses this concept of bare life to warn us that we must reject the division of the definition of life by sovereign states. This division between life with political quality and a simply biological life (e.g citizenship v.s statelessness) leads to a dangerous consequence and anyone can face this degradation or, in Agamben's words, become a bare life that can be killed with impunity.
So helpful for my thesis on migrant females in Mexico. Thank you so much!
Thank you for this explanation. Makes reading a lot easier.
Well this was weirdly perfect timing for me.....great job! Fantastic and clear explanation-one I’ll be drawing on soon. Cheers 🍻
This book is about to become immensely relevant thanks to cvid clampdowns
As a staunch republican writing my doctorate on the numinosity of the evangelistic texts of the much misinterpreted Jerry Falwell, I have found the Agamben's concept of Homo Sacer, like that of the poetics of inoperability central to my analysis and I thank you for your continued guidance.
Thank you so much. Deeply Appreciated !
Has there been an recent comment from Agamben? I’d love to hear what he thinks of the state of things now….
Thank you for directing me here from your biopolitics video! I'm looking at Homo Sacer in particular for my presentation so this helped me heaps! I really appreciate how you break things down to simple terms as I'm not always sure that I interpret philosophical readings right :)
This is interesting. I have never been exposed to this idea before. In the United States this applies in many ways. It applies to most citizens and noncitizens in different aspects and in different categories. It actually tries to reduces everyone except a few to a nothing. For example, in 2008, I had my nest egg stolen when my house was foreclosed upon. The banks foreclosed upon my home AND got bailed out. It was a double win for them. The banks and Hedgefunds owned the executive, legislative and possibly the Supreme Court. This reduced me to a nothing.
But this reduction to nothing also has existed here in many forms. Blacks, (Native) Americans , Immigrants, Women, and even children to a form of nothing.
Amazing explanation! Thank you so much :)
I think the way Agamben builds up his approach towards biopolitics explains more about identity politics then the Holocaust.
Thank you so much! Such a simplified and clear explanation.
Can you please do a video on border studies.
thanks for sharing this, i need to understand this homo sacer for my lecture
"its a life and life only" - Dylan
thank you for your channel, you make it so accessible and I have learnt so much
So to break it down into like a really small piece: it's about how the reduction of some groups into "bare life" (home sacer) plays a big role in granting sovereignty or securing sovereignty of others?
The -ce in the latin word sacer sounds like the first part of the english word chess. Just for the sake of the big work you do for all of us! Thanks, Luca
In ecclesial Latin, the c would be the ch in chess; in classical Latin, it would be a harder k sound. Agamben uses the latter, though with an IPA ä, sounding more like soccer.
@@michaeljtoy Sorry, I didn’t mean to know-it-all, I was just referring to the way he (Agamben) pronounces it during lectures.
It would be interesting to hear you revisit this philosopher post-pandemic. From what i understand he fell out of the good graces of "The Left" because he didn't support lockdowns and mandates
morgoths review writes a great article about this on his website.
enjoy your explanation always❤
Wow! Thank you so much for the explanation! It was really helpful! I just subscribed and I will be watching more of your videos!
This gives strong Orlando Patterson “social death” vibes
Thank you for the explanation!
I'm not totally unfamiliar with the term Homo Sacer but I never understood which particular people could be termed Homo Sacer. I'm glad that you gave the example of the people who died in the holocaust, but I'm struggling to come up with more examples. Are enslaved people Homo Sacer or do they still have 'value' in that they do work for their master? Is a homeless person a Homo Sacer? I'm not quite sure and it would be great if you could help me out here. Anyway, love your videos, they're very enlightening for someone who never studied philosophy!
Well, I think what is lacking in Agamben is exactly this. He does not give a clear explanation on who is chosen to become homo sacer.
Sharp haircut Dave 👌🤙
Haha my partner and I did it because we're in lockdown again. I'll tell her she did a good job XD
Small world, Matt.
@@danceatbacchanalia haha it sure is 💚
Regarding the exceptionality of the Holocaust, I would recommend to whoever is interested, to read the works of Enzo Traverso!
thank you!!
This was just amazing tj learn...
Everything was so crystal clear to hear..I just have one question, i will be grateful for your response ...
Q: how is it related to post modernism?
I suspect Frederick Niche might have something to do with it since he stated we killed God.
Is there any thinker who picks up on this concept of naked life and tries to think other consequences that are not political? I ask this because it seems this concept can have various ontological/ethical developments.
Is H.S Agamben's bare life too?
Form India ❤️...
great explanation! How can this related to racism in our modern times?
I believe it's the bedrock of racism.
Thanks
Your critique of Agamben being too quick to prioritise the acclaimed teleological nature of the sovereign in bare life, over the historical reality of the persecution of the Jewish peoples, is very apt - what about other group of peoples that were targeted during nazism? Namely, Roma, Sinti, disabled, Religious groups, different nationals (poles, russians) etc. How might these groups fit in to that theoretical gap you identify?
They were all labeled undesirables by the state. Why calling people "animals" is a major red flag.
There must be some meaning behind the juxtaposition of the profane fleshy ‘homo’ and the deified ‘sacer’. Such a combo cannot really exist (outside a special religious framework)and so it is easy to see it in a satirical, deprecating, ironic light.
Hi, What do you think about enslaved blacks?
Awesome!
I love you
If you believe biopolitics, I recommend studying Afro-Pessimism
your criticism is really not a criticism tbh. it's kind of just like a neo-liberal expectation that we revere past horrible deeds to an arbitrarily satisfactory degree. the history of anti-semitism can be seen as continuations of the homo sacer towards jews, propagated by culture exchange. idk maybe i'm wrong
Cmt for algorithms
Sovereign power, Israel, Gaza!
This is a comment
PLEAS FIX THE FUCKING SOUND, IT'S THE 3 VIDEO IN A ROW WITH SOUND PROBLEMS. THANKS FOR THE VIDEO AND CHANNEL. CHEERS!!!
I have no idea what you mean, lol.
@@TheoryPhilosophy Yes now is perfect, it had sound drops before......or I'm going fucking crazy, anyway thanks for the channel.