Slavoj Zizek - First as Tragedy, Then as Farce

Slavoj Zizek, one of the worlds most influential living philosophers, visits the RSA to discuss capitalism's flawed priorities.
Watch the RSA Animate of this talk: • RSA ANIMATE: First as ...
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[@klarkolofsson]

What I like about Zizek is that he's more of a philosopher in the precise sense, he stands back and analyses phenomenon, where most people have an opinion.

[@Pillowpants8495]

His tics are not caused by drugs, I claim! Because he does it much more at the start of his lecture and when he is transitioning between subjects. It's just anxiety and nervousness, and so on and so on...

[@sunwillriseagain6202]

James Ray and so on so on

[@d0rkiishchris]

I dunno man. The sweating. The red eyes as if he's been up for days. Looks like he is at least prescribed adderall.

[@user-ou8pe9it8j]

--think kidney transplant

[@AArkadij]

@@d0rkiishchris or a cold/hay-fever.

[@Cosmic-Wanderer]

He might of had some coke but that can help with him being confident enough to talk and talk nonestop

[@jimmydooley4832]

I don't think he's a born public speaker, but he is incredibly witty and a genius.

[@jazerazo]

tell us about how you talk fluently about complex topics in a second language.

[@creasicle]

As someone who worked for a charity I totally agree with this. There is a sense of charities becoming the establishment, in that they become more focused on justifying their own position in society than achieving their outcomes. The charity I worked for supported people with mental health problems, often the very fact we were supporting a service user undermined their eligibility to support from statutory mental health services.

[@ajnode]

I love his ticks, to me they epitomize a person with thought processes which fundamentally contradict the leading ideology of power, success and sociology on the planet.

[@dynamitefan8]

@markkeng People learn in different ways, granted the talks are longer, but for visual or kinaesthetic learners the animations are an excellent way of absorbing the argument. Visually stimulating, animated, which is more involving for some, then the speech itself for the auditory receptors. For people to be educated and not just imitate knowledge, they have to undertsand it in their own way, which I think the images help with a lot. I've just watched all of them, I think they are brilliant.

[@markkeng]

i wish more people watch the actual speeches than the animation! its much more educating :)

[@MrBasilion]

and so on

[@murrchops]

@Maphisto86 The perfect system I think is one of constant correction, responding naturally to the needs of the people. The context will obviously define this and we will find the way that works for us the best, what I can say is that when one system gets too extreme it usually has a correction period......

[@klarkolofsson]

No, I base that on a long time looking at clips like these and reading the comment section.

[@ziggyplay]

why so many comments about his tics? pay attention to what he is saying, mononeurals!

[@plastixpoon]

ziggyplay To be honest , it’s quite difficult.

[@farrider3339]

Those poor minded and weak in their back bones robots pretending to be living human's cannot do other but surfing on superficialities. . They no have ear's

[@Social_Mechanic]

RSA, where was this lecture given at?

[@hrolvnir]

@tomitstube i couldnt agree more, though i would add that the best way to change the system is to play the game. the only way to make a difference anymore is to leverage huge amounts of cash; mainstream society just wont listen to anything else. the OWS protesters, for example, arent being taken seriously by anyone in a position of power, but a few words by warren buffet about raising the carried interest tax are still making waves. point being, *WE* need to get into finance and banking.

[@murrchops]

@Maphisto86 I do see your point but with the population density of a large proportion of contemporary society and the high degree of divisional labour involved in our goods and services I don't think it would be too practical. I think the future lies in the west in a sort of mixed economy, community life will become more important for such things as food, clothes and health while also participating in the global economy with a highly specialised divisional economy.

[@tyniecraft]

Great talk.

[@ipwnorcs]

Very good speech

[@tanujSE]

In our society we would keep 20 kind of coffee shop throughout a town In magazine or pamphlet,we might show,how you feeling today,how is your growth index and matched with such coffee shop with last goodbye ticket in every shop,don't forget you are doing coffee One of the understanding But these are connected with English American learning

[@latviandude]

@lunarsandwich He looks like a philosopher! Wonderful! Bravo!

[@Pamba15]

@jorgisdenaam I agree in all that you say. I agree in the diagnostic or critical analysis. My problem is how we offer actual solutions. To say only say 'communism' will save us isn´t enough (plus there is not a ultimate clear definition of communism). I see two big problems 1. how we push a change and 2, what do we do after the break point. I think Zizek is quite aware of this. Can you see what Zizek proposes in these two points?

[@Maphisto86]

@Maphisto86 By the way I was not "championing" Socialism but merely adding remarks about what libertarian (non-government) socialists/anarchists espouse.

[@Maphisto86]

@murrchops Markets are indicitive of trade but not all societies have included markets (nor does capitalism = markets). A gift economy for example does not usually include a market. Most anarchists, libertarian socialists, etc advocate a modern form of gift economy where resources are under community control via direct democracy. According to Syndicalist thought businesses would be replaced by voluntary workers groups and self managed enterprises.

[@10mitchel23]

@murrchops i got it from the last part of his speech :)

[@chinashopmusic]

I love this guy

[@Maphisto86]

@murrchops As for my own economic and political predilictions, I have usually leaned to the left but am not quite sure what economic system is best (as there is no perfect system). I just have a problem with those on the right (libertarian, statist or otherwise) who have a limited knowledge of socialist ideas, limiting their criticisms to the "socialism" of statist regimes like the USSR which were not democratic at all There seems to be misconceptions on both the left and the right.

[@Maphisto86]

@murrchops Many libertarian socialists and/or anarchists would argue the problem is larger than that. To them business cycles and the following bailouts are inevitable as a consequence of Capitalism (also wage labor). In anarchist theory the state from it's very origin as a successor of the feudal system is the protector of the first class. Which is ironic because capitalists who espouse libertarian ideas emphasize the reduction or even the elimination of government power.

[@selvmordspilot]

@Commentary1984 : well, it treats the symptons. Call it what you want.

[@klarkolofsson]

...It's a compliment to Zizek, and I guess (making assumptions) you watch this clip and bother reading the comment section, because you like his work. You don't need to question everything just for the sake of it. Though if you think it's worth our precious time, trying to brake my reasoning, you will not be victorious! ;)

[@civilwarcalls]

@espacement What's your reasoning for saying that?

[@tomitstube]

@scorpiogama ~ it's only the beginning.

[@klarkolofsson]

I usualy don't talk about the majority of anything because of this problem, same as with inductive logic: "how many X is needed to define X's properties as rules in his nature?" and so on. However, as I've some experience in philosophical studies and political debates, I think I can make this assumption that Zizek is more unique than the average (pseudo) philosopher.

[@Maphisto86]

@murrchops I never explicitly stated these were my own political convictions although I do agree with left wing critiques of markets and capitalism in particular. Economic exploitation is usually identified as not being compensated for total labor value traditionaly. Of course this is tied up in the labour theory of value which many economists have either replaced or outright rejected. What you and other right wing libertarians/classical liberals view as "corporatism" others see as capitalism.

[@grandmasterqz]

I agree that the corporate structures as we know them today are inherently corrupt, but we must ask ourselves about our roles in this whole scheme. The corporations depend on money that we spend on their products, and if they have so much of it, and are able to drive so many local businesses out of business, then the people are just as much to blame for their power. I agree with a lot of Zizek's social commentary, but not his socialism.

[@alexshemesh]

Nice TShirt!

[@RokkuNoBushi]

and so on and so on

[@jorgisdenaam]

@Pamba15 No, he only criticises Sloterdijks solution, for not taking into account envy and resentment. We should do something against poverty, but not in a way that recognizes the rich as the few intellegent creative people who first create all the wealth, and then redistribute it in the form of charity for which the poor should be thankful, admitting that they are less capable human beings.

[@murrchops]

@Maphisto86 markets are only readings of society, the economy is society, just because somebody gets rid of markets you can't get rid of capital or an economy. The invisible hand always works and is at work now, crushing sovereign debt and collapsing governments, you can't beat it. The only thing you can do is to try not to artificially manipulate demand or else the invisible hand will come along and squash you.

[@AgentHomer]

I don't want to speculate how long it will take for the social contract to disappear. My only hope is, when it disappears, communism can reappear. this time for real. It's just that I fear that the conditions of turmoil when the social contract has disappeared are not the conditions that will allow the development of communism proper.

[@AgentHomer]

I live in Switzerland.

[@taproots85]

DEEP VEEE!

[@S41GON]

CBDCs are going to be a hell of an improved and perfected implemetation of the same idea behind the Starbucks coffee.

[@pakk82]

"ignore trolls" is one rule of thumb to live by.

[@malcolmlowe16]

"I claim"

[@DeadbeatShadows]

@kapitalismos Solutions, solutions, solutions. The common falacious thinking of modern man is that we must have the end result of a solution. If we can't immediately think of a solution for what we see as wrong with society, economics, or education, then we should just shut up and accept it. No matter what, we must be critical of actions and our systems. If we cannot point out even small flaws or discrepancies, then we cannot fix anything with a solution. You don't have to agree, just listen.

[@Maphisto86]

@murrchops The word "libertarian" in politics was a socialist invention synonymous with anarchism. I have read Rothbard by the way. Socialism is probalby one of the most abused words in the english language. The entire western world has been taught since the rise of Bolshevism equals Marxism and "big government" when as a political "brand" is larger than that. Usually it involves production for use rather than sale, a emphasis on the collective and the end to economic exploitation.

[@shaolinkin]

@GlobalAlternateMedia just sharing the wealth. you're welcome, comrade.

[@shantih433]

I love listening to him, but I can't watch him. It wears me out.

[@S41GON]

We have the same joke about the fairy and the farmer in Hungary, probably many other nations around too so it might be a general Central/Eastern European thing.

[@100ncr]

who turned on the heat? good speech

[@parkt6792]

I have no idea what you're talking about, but it sounds like a pretty standard comment from the yt fray

[@pakk82]

never?

[@tanujSE]

These are human psychology much like a medal It is needed sometimes but it must be used for human growth and better activities and most importantly actually In Capitalism it's much of illness

[@Pamba15]

@jorgisdenaam I can see the critique to ideology. But only criticism without proposals is histeric. And specially in this occasion Zizek isn't histeric (see his book), He is trying to advance a proposal. For him envy and resentment are a sort of revolutionary tools. But we should be aware that envy and resentment will be a problem even in communism or to achieve communism. Isn´t capitalism based on idividualism? isn´t individualism fed by envy and resentment?

[@Pamba15]

Check William Connolly alternative out. In youtube Capital Flows, Sovereign Practices, and Global Resonance Machines... fighting without resentment

[@murrchops]

@tomitstube so please explain how this was to do with capitalism and not just criminality? And how socialism would magically get rid of all this bad stuff. In socialism how would clothes be made differently? Would someone be in charge? I bet North Korea's factories are great to work in.

[@MaurDL]

@tomitstube I'm not sure your interpretation here is entirely accurate. Zizek mentions 'envy' and this is paramount. Human beings have desires and the reason capitalism has been working is because it addresses these desires most realistically because it is constrained by the limits of how hard someone is willing to work to get what they want (and in some cases luck). The capitalistic crisis will come when technology makes it impossible to have enough work for people to fulfill their desires.

[@S41GON]

Hundreds of jobs today were unkown 60 years ago.

[@zisel2]

@Pamba15 Yes, exactly. Or fuel revolutionary spirit by helping the poor and reminding them of why they're there. Churches do it, why can't we

[@parkt6792]

what was the u.s doing of during the cold war in building up enough nukes to destroy the planet? why does america need a military bigger than all other countries combined? well.. it was a realist 'balance of power' (Waltz) or 'balance of threat' (Walt) against the existential threat and influence of the Soviet Union. After the fall, NATO started to be questioned, debates as to U.S. power through the 90s (US military only for humanitarian use?), then 9/11 abruptly stopped the debate.

[@murrchops]

@tomitstube I think you'll find socialism is usually described as the communal ownership of the means of production. In neither Switzerland or Denmark does the government interfere with private industry that much. Companies are free to make a lot of money and in Denmark at least pay a lot of tax In Switzerland they pay very minimal taxes and have a tiny public sector so you are wrong. Like most indoctrinated fascists you should be sent to North Korea so you can witness your ideas ideas in action

[@AgentHomer]

but it also works in Germany, France, Italy, England, Austria...

[@parkt6792]

I don't agree that Zizek suffers from "very severe anxiety". Anxiety is precisely the 'sort of emotion' that psychoanalysis seeks to dissipate, and as such, it would be strange for a Lacaniann psychoanalysist to suffer from "very severe anxiety". I guess there's no law against spreading your personal reactions on the internet though. I do agree with your basic sentiment though. To my mind, Zizek was simply blessed with a relatively high energy level (aside from his amazing intellect).

[@prygler]

What he is basically saying is that the elite get rich by exploiting the poor's Labour, where the elite get profit and the poor get a salary/Money for their Work for the capitalists/elite (owners of companies), which is the common knowledge of socialism and Karl Marx. But then he adds that this psychological Works and is justified, when the rich/capitalists/elite give some of their Money to charity, common good or to the poor etc. That is the main message of this talk.

[@CroisadeNoir]

a man who should never wear a V-neck. Fucking brilliant though

[@10mitchel23]

@murrchops actually he refutes socialism, he regards it as a cause of global catastrophe

[@cloverboat]

He touches his nose 81 times.

[@daimon20021]

sweet, sweat genius talking, talking, talking some truths

[@murrchops]

@tomitstube I don't know where to start, what he calls post modern capitalism is simply corporatism, bank bailouts etc. This is nothing to do with capitalism and has nothing to do with free markets. Socialism is basically the worst form of corporatism you can see it punctuating human development since the beginning of commerce.

[@Foxbat1155]

To me, that is not anxiety, it seems just a normal hiperperspiration problem, no big deal, and an anxious person can not produce this much intellectual work.

[@Minipolce]

Look deep into yourself... Such an awesome sense of how others think...

[@Maphisto86]

@murrchops Sadly, neither Capitalism or Socialism "as it exists" has ever indicated this natural equilibrium. For Capitalism and markets in general it is supposed to be the invisible hand of market forces. In a left wing Communist aspect it is suppossed to be free association and direct democracy. Neither system has truly been established IMO as governments have stepped in at one point or another, exerting an aloof, beauraucratic control that ranges from ineffectual to despotic.

[@chrish12345]

@lunarsandwich yh I'm also thinkin he put on his wife's dress by mistake

[@simpletrixnonsense946]

WHAT IS HE WEARING!!!!

[@pokegui]

He rocked that v neck

[@21stcenturyoptimist]

1 second in and we have nose grab, I repeat 1 second in nose grab.

[@tomitstube]

@MaurDL ~ the "capitalistic crisis" is here now. i think 'envy' is more about greed. capitalism is unsustainable in it's current form. many multinationals spend $10 to make a $1 dollar profit, mostly propped by government subsidies, poverty wages, and the stealing of resources. always at the expense of large populations and environments. this approach is unsustainable and will collapse.

[@tenbull5]

Listen to him with your ears, not your eyes.

[@selvmordspilot]

@kapitalismos : Here's a sollution for ya'! Check out Zeitgeist: Addendum and Moving Forward. Now that's a diagnosis AND a cure. Also.. Zizek is right about his critique.

[@pakk82]

is that most people?

[@Jader7777]

He really needs to get a higher neckline.

[@bullgoosesam]

@InevitableComedown Do people not find Marx profound?

[@123iii123iii]

If only the state would provide a better set of dentures... sylvester's message would be more clearly understood.

[@daquidi]

he has quoted sloterdijk correctly... however, he doesn't understand that sloterdijk is in no way a ideological philosopher... sloterdijk merely analyzes and interprets and analyzes and interprets with a certain narcissistic attitude and has no problem adapting different points of view, so to speak different perspectives of ideological perception. then he determines a solution following the ideological model... with ironic folly

[@Tethloach1]

I was just saying that this economic model is flawed, money is created out of debt companies compete and some get eliminated, this trend can lead to monopoly or collusion, the wealth will continue to rise into the hands of the very few, soon 99% of the worlds wealth will be in the hands of less than 1% maybe in 5 to 10 years, if that's the world you look forward to than you will get it chances are you will be in the bottom halve like everyone else, unless your a multi billionaire

[@murrchops]

@tomitstube Denmark and Switzerland, Socialist? I don't know where you got that idea, pretty much complete economic freedom actually/

[@AndyChannelle]

Interesting that he highlights Starbucks ethics - shame their ethics doesn't include honesty in taxation.

[@murrchops]

@tomitstube I completely disagree, this crisis is all the fault of government interference, not having proper interest rates, bailing out failing enterprises and countries throughout the last 20 years and protecting their friends just like you have had in any socialist country since time began. Look at Singapore though or Norway and Canada and you can see capitalist countries that are very successful for the very reason that they get out the way of the free market.

[@tomitstube]

@hrolvnir ~ we aren't interested in "playing the game". the game has been corrupted, money too easily buys politicians, those in power better be taking ows seriously because fundamental change is what the "system" needs. around 1979 in america, our economy was moved from a labor intensive economy to a finance economy. business instead of being concerned about their workforce and long term investment became interested in short term profits and the pockets of shareholders. bad idea...

[@prygler]

So instead of looking at the capitalist economic system as the problem, then they see the capitalists as saints and great people, because they brilliant people, because they earn a lot of Money, and at the same time gives a large portion of their Money to the poor. So they are brilliant and generous, so they are heroes or angels. The creation of the poor is merely seen as people that are too incompetent to get a job or simply unluckily somehow became poor.

[@tomitstube]

@murrchops ~ look it up, they have the highest amount of public sector economies. you knew that's what socialism is right? also, countries with the largest social programs have had the best growth, most stable economies, and least financial problems due to corrupt financial markets. of course, like most indoctrinated capitalists, you confuse democracy with capitalism. and freedom with "free markets".

[@philipscott3241]

He’s engaging as all heck, but get him a handkerchief! 🤧

[@pakk82]

most people as in your friends?

[@scorpiogama]

yes, now with OWS you can see you were right!

[@nobitte]

Agh Slavoj, you should be president of the world

[@bain19]

Dont argue with anyone wearing a V-Neck :D

[@murrchops]

@tomitstube you know, you are totally right I can't believe I've been so wrong for so long! My God how could all those happy wealthy people around the world get it so wrong as well, I have to go over to Norway and tell them they need massive regulation and Denmark also. They would be much better off if the government was in control. The Swiss, we have to save them from their centuries old unregulated economy and get the government to start getting a handle on their success. You are a fool....

[@ChrisPowa-]

4 people took their petty charity and won the lottery.

[@xXxassmonkey69xXx]

Why is he so sweaty

[@tomitstube]

@murrchops ~ lol, you realize those countries you laud have significant socialist governments right? in fact, you are arguing my point for me. thanks.

[@shaolinkin]

every time he itches his nose it makes me itch mine. bah!

[@Pamba15]

So, what he suggests is to do nothing against poverty, to wait for poor people high levels of envy and resentment towards rich capitalist people. In this way, poor people together we could burn the global capitalism (the world). Then, we finally could make visible the ultimate contradiction of capitalism... mmh Clear, clever...but really, should we do nothing against poverty? only wait for poor people envy and resentment?

[@capereyda]

brilliant... too bad I live in Alabama and pretty much the average person doesn't give a flying fuck about the ethics behind any of their economic transactions.