The oblique perspective: philosophical diagnostics of contemporary life sciences research

Hub Zwart

doi:10.1186/s40504-017-0047-9

Abstract

This paper indicates how continental philosophy may contribute to a diagnostics of contemporary life sciences research, as part of a “diagnostics of the present” (envisioned by continental thinkers, from Hegel up to Foucault). First, I describe (as a “practicing” philosopher) various options for an oblique (or symptomatic) reading of emerging scientific discourse, bent on uncovering the basic “philosophemes” of science (i.e. the guiding ideas, the basic conceptions of nature, life and technology at work in contemporary life sciences research practices). Subsequently, I outline a number of radical transformations occurring both at the object-pole and at the subject-pole of the current knowledge relationship, namely the technification of the object and the anonymisation or collectivisation of the subject, under the sway of automation, ICT and big machines. Finally, I further elaborate the specificity of the oblique perspective with the help of Lacan’s theorem of the four discourses. Philosophical reflections on contemporary life sciences concur neither with a Master’s discourse (which aims to strengthen the legitimacy and credibility of canonical sources), nor with university discourse (which aims to establish professional expertise), nor with what Lacan refers to as hysterical discourse (which aims to challenge representatives of the power establishment), but rather with the discourse of the analyst, listening with evenly-poised attention to the scientific files in order to bring to the fore the cupido sciendi (i.e. the will to know, but also to optimise and to control) which both inspires and disrupts contemporary life sciences discourse.

Highlights

For continental philosophers working in interdisciplinary environments and committed to assessing the philosophical and societal dimensions of contemporary technoscience, the methodology section of grant proposals may pose a challenge
The signifier “continental philosophy” began its career as a pejorative term and remains difficult to define, a family likeness is discernible among adepts (Critchley 2001; Glendinning 2006; Zwart, Landeweerd and Lemmens 2016), including the conviction that outstanding techno-scientific developments may be regarded as symptoms or exemplifications of the zeitgeist, providing relevant input for a diagnostics of the present, as Hegel1 phrases it and perhaps even pointing to a “metaphysical mutation” (Houellebecq 1998), a new “dawn of day” (Nietzsche 1881/1980)
Compared to other areas of inquiry, continental philosophical reflections tend to stay relatively close to activities human beings already engage in in every-day, non-academic settings, such as talking, reading, listening and thinking

Summary

Introduction

For continental philosophers working in interdisciplinary environments and committed to assessing the philosophical and societal dimensions of contemporary technoscience, the methodology section of grant proposals may pose a challenge. The oblique perspective and the four discourses The key objective of the intentio obliqua is to bring to the fore (“herauspräparieren”) and critically assess the basic philosophemes (premises, imperatives, performative signifiers) of contemporary scientific discourse.

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Results

Conclusion