Welcome to the blog of the Senior Seminar in Comparative Politics at St. John's University.
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www.stjohns.edu
For more information about the Department of Government and Politics, please see:
http://www.stjohns.edu/academics/undergraduate/liberalarts/departments/gov_pol
Monday, November 15, 2010
Riz Khan - Are we living in the end times?
This is an interview with the philosopher and social critic Slavoj Zizek. It's kind of a fun discussion, and pretty perceptive at times.
COMMENT PART 1(SYSTEM SAID MY COMMENT IS TOO LONG):
This is one the relatively few interviews by the media with a philosopher where the philosopher wasn't vigorously trying to promote their views on what is wrong in the world and how to fix it. I appreciate how Slavoj Zizek was able to answer Riz Khan's questions by introducing his views on important issues and/or solutions to problems. Mr. Zizek wasn't extremely biased in presenting his beliefs. He was able to explain multiple views on different issues.
What was very interesting to me was when Mr. Zizek stated that he believes capitalism was initially used to develop and spread democracy and now he believes that capitalism doesn't lead to democracy anymore. He mentions China and Singapore as examples of where the government of each state has been able to benefit from capitalism at a higher rate than most Western Democracies but at the same time have been able to keep their non-democratic political systems. I agree with him in his belief that capitalism can be manipulated in a way where a democratic political system is no longer required for the economic system of capitalism to flourish. I also agree with him when he stated that people should not mention morality within the scope of capitalism because the system is profit motivated, and functions only on the ideal that things must continue to be expanded and developed. The system should not be personalized because it has been developed and functions without morals. I strong believe that capitalism is the best economic system and I am a strong advocate for the system but I have come to the understanding that without serious regulation in many parts of the system, many economic problems will continue to develop worldwide. The system is organized in a way which it will continue to create extreme imbalances between the well-being of human beings. There is no safety net for people that the system takes advantage of. I am a business man and I would not choose any other system over it, but if the system is not “fixed” it will create more economic problems not just for the “working-class” but it will create bigger problems for the “business-owning class”. I believe that the system should be adjusted in certain areas so the world can avoid future economic disasters.
The other part of the interview that I found very interesting was in regard to "CLIMATE CHANGE & THE FEAR FACTOR". I think Mr. Zizek is extremely correct of his ideas about “climate change & the fear factor” when he presented his idea of “DISAVOWAL” (I KNOW VERY WELL, BUT…). I very much agree that humanity has realized that there environmental disasters looming because of the behavior of humans. But mankind is not ready for the drastic change in lifestyle that will grant humanity the ability to avoid these environmental disasters. People must be able to identify and face the tremendous negative consequences of forthcoming environmental disasters in order to change their ways of life. Even the economic system must be changed to adapt to a new life-style that the world must adopt so they the environment can be preserved. I agree with Mr. Zizek when he states that humanity acknowledges the current and future problems but cannot accept the possibility of future problems. I think individuals who claim that there is no such thing as climate change and that there are no problems with the environment are lost in their own view of the world. Many normal-working class people have accepted the belief that “something must be done.” But most of these people have not been able to create change through their governments. I believe that the only solution to the environmental problems humanity faces and will face in the future will come from the business community. The business community was acknowledge that if they continue to function as they do with no regard to the environment, the economic system of the world will collapse because of environmental problems. The business community must accept that for business to continue to function at a productive rate then the behavior of the business community must change. The business community must take the lead in fixing the problems with the environment and preventing new problems. Only from support by the business community will governments have the strength to change the lifestyle of humanity. This idea is called “corporate social responsibility” and “sustainable development”.
YOUTUBE: IBM STUDY: CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILTY
COMMENT PART 1(SYSTEM SAID MY COMMENT IS TOO LONG):
ReplyDeleteThis is one the relatively few interviews by the media with a philosopher where the philosopher wasn't vigorously trying to promote their views on what is wrong in the world and how to fix it. I appreciate how Slavoj Zizek was able to answer Riz Khan's questions by introducing his views on important issues and/or solutions to problems. Mr. Zizek wasn't extremely biased in presenting his beliefs. He was able to explain multiple views on different issues.
What was very interesting to me was when Mr. Zizek stated that he believes capitalism was initially used to develop and spread democracy and now he believes that capitalism doesn't lead to democracy anymore. He mentions China and Singapore as examples of where the government of each state has been able to benefit from capitalism at a higher rate than most Western Democracies but at the same time have been able to keep their non-democratic political systems. I agree with him in his belief that capitalism can be manipulated in a way where a democratic political system is no longer required for the economic system of capitalism to flourish. I also agree with him when he stated that people should not mention morality within the scope of capitalism because the system is profit motivated, and functions only on the ideal that things must continue to be expanded and developed. The system should not be personalized because it has been developed and functions without morals. I strong believe that capitalism is the best economic system and I am a strong advocate for the system but I have come to the understanding that without serious regulation in many parts of the system, many economic problems will continue to develop worldwide. The system is organized in a way which it will continue to create extreme imbalances between the well-being of human beings. There is no safety net for people that the system takes advantage of. I am a business man and I would not choose any other system over it, but if the system is not “fixed” it will create more economic problems not just for the “working-class” but it will create bigger problems for the “business-owning class”. I believe that the system should be adjusted in certain areas so the world can avoid future economic disasters.
COMMENT PART 2:
ReplyDeleteThe other part of the interview that I found very interesting was in regard to "CLIMATE CHANGE & THE FEAR FACTOR". I think Mr. Zizek is extremely correct of his ideas about “climate change & the fear factor” when he presented his idea of “DISAVOWAL” (I KNOW VERY WELL, BUT…). I very much agree that humanity has realized that there environmental disasters looming because of the behavior of humans. But mankind is not ready for the drastic change in lifestyle that will grant humanity the ability to avoid these environmental disasters. People must be able to identify and face the tremendous negative consequences of forthcoming environmental disasters in order to change their ways of life. Even the economic system must be changed to adapt to a new life-style that the world must adopt so they the environment can be preserved. I agree with Mr. Zizek when he states that humanity acknowledges the current and future problems but cannot accept the possibility of future problems. I think individuals who claim that there is no such thing as climate change and that there are no problems with the environment are lost in their own view of the world. Many normal-working class people have accepted the belief that “something must be done.” But most of these people have not been able to create change through their governments. I believe that the only solution to the environmental problems humanity faces and will face in the future will come from the business community. The business community was acknowledge that if they continue to function as they do with no regard to the environment, the economic system of the world will collapse because of environmental problems. The business community must accept that for business to continue to function at a productive rate then the behavior of the business community must change. The business community must take the lead in fixing the problems with the environment and preventing new problems. Only from support by the business community will governments have the strength to change the lifestyle of humanity. This idea is called “corporate social responsibility” and “sustainable development”.
YOUTUBE: IBM STUDY: CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILTY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdkYieDuVvY