Response to Robbins

Gianni Vattimo

Santiago Zabala

pp. 81-82

in: Silvia Mazzini, Owen Glyn-Williams (eds), Making communism hermeneutical, Berlin, Springer, 2017

Abstract

Commenting on our political use of Heidegger, Jeffrey W. Robbins makes a very interesting point at the beginning his contribution, which we believe can also be applied to the book in general. He believes that by considering Heidegger "an ally" we have not simply taken a risk, but "admittedly a dangerous undertaking." But where does this danger lie? In our support for communism and Chavez? Many others (as Jodi Dean, Domenico Losurdo, and Enrique Dussel) have also taken a clear stance in favor of unpopular ideologies like "communism" that many believe have run their course, as well as radical politicians like "Chavez" who continue to be demonized even after their death. Independently of how unpopular endorsing these ideologies and politicians may seem, they are the consequence rather than the cause of our "dangerous undertaking." This underlying danger rests in "the political becoming of hermeneutics", which is also the title of Robbins' contribution.

Cited authors

Heidegger Martin

Dussel Enrique

Losurdo Domenico

Robbins Jeffrey W.