Theory

théorie

Worked through in 8 videos · 11 passages.

What Dominique Pagani says

Dominique Pagani refuses to set theory against practice: a practice is all the more effective when it has theoretical detours at its disposal, as medicine relies on biology1. From 2014 to 2023, he repeatedly takes up the formula that there is no revolutionary practice without revolutionary theory. Even in an emergency, one must go through a theoretical detour2 3. For him, this detour is the most practical thing there is, as the natural sciences show. He sets it against ideology and agitation, and links it to analysis rather than interpretation4 5. Theory consists first of all in reflecting on what one says, in seeking what speaking means. Anyone can thus take a theoretical distance from public speech6 7. He notes that theory requires leisure: its time is that of the detour, which is the very history of reflective thought, political at its starting point as at its end8 9. Speaking of Kant, he describes theory as the last stage, where one falls silent and contemplates the principle10. In 2024, he adds that this detour makes it possible to base revolt on a strategy and a programme of government11.

Summary produced automatically from 11 of the passages below, to be reviewed; the numbers link to the moment in the session.

Season 12 · 24 Jun 2024For a "fresh and joyful" apocalypse?

1:17:30The theoretical detour makes it possible to ground revolt in a strategy and a governmental program.

Series · 3 Jan 2023Why is Clouscard indispensable? (ENG SUBTITLES) And his translation into English too!

0:43No revolutionary practice without revolutionary theory: in the most urgent immediate situation, a detour through theory is needed.

Series · 29 Jan 2016What is to be done? 1/3

1:45To engage in theory in order to be practical: without revolutionary theory, no revolutionary practice.
49:16To transform the world, one must make a theoretical detour, which belongs to analysis and not to interpretation.

Series · 29 Jan 2016What is to be done? 3/3

1:53The detour through theory is the most practical thing there is, as the natural sciences show; it is opposed to ideology and to agitation.

Season 1 · 11 Dec 2015#1.7 Between crisis and war: Philosophising?

25:29At the last stage one falls silent and contemplates the principle: this is theory.

Series · 8 Dec 2015Dominique Pagani on Michel Clouscard - The paths of praxis 2/2

3:09Leisure is needed to be theoretical. The time of theory is a time of detour.
6:05The detour is the very history of reflective thought, political at the start and at the end.

Series · 27 Sept 2014#5 Libertarian liberalism, libidinal consumption and music...

29:40No revolutionary practice without theory; theory consists in reflecting on what one says, seeking what speaking means.
31:22Within everyone's reach: striving to maintain theoretical distance from public speech.

Series · 23 Sept 2014#3 The myth of the noble savage in Rousseau!

23:51There is no opposition between theory and practice: a practice is all the more effective the more theoretical detours it has at its service, as with medicine and biology.