Tamara Caraus

Praxis-CFUL, University of Lisbon

Husserl, Foucault, and the ‘functionaries of humanity’

7 December 2021, 17h00 (Lisbon Time — GMT+0)

Sala Mattos Romão (Departamento de Filosofia)* | School of Arts and Humanities – University of Lisbon

Abstract

In The Crisis of European Science and Transcendental Phenomenology, Husserl declares philosophers the ‘functionaries of the mankind’, asking ‘How can we avoid it?.’ In The Courage of the Truth,  Foucault declares the Ancient Cynic ‘a functionary of humanity in general’. This paper examines how and why these two different philosophers make similar declarations despite the general mistrust in functionary. The similarities between Husserl’s and Foucault’s arguments point to a double resistance which is part of the process of becoming a ‘functionary of humanity’: resistance against the very stance of a functionary, with its hierarchy and constitutive vicariousness, and resistance against the current meanings of humanity. This resistance makes possible a ‘life in truth’ and opens the potential imprisoned in the current understandings of humanity. Thus, Husserl’s and Foucault’s use of expression ‘functionary of humanity’ allows mapping a ‘function’ that could justify the invocation of this peculiar functionary: to keep humanity open, which enters into a challenging dialogue with the recent accounts on post-humanism.

* The event will also be available via Zoom for those unable to attend in person. Pre-registration required at: praxis.cful [at] gmail.com until a day before the event. Those registered will receive the Zoom link by e-mail the same day of the Seminar.