Presence and the Political: Performing Human

ISBN-13: 9783030594893 / Angielski / Miękka / 2022 / 312 str.

Farhang Rajaee

Opis

This book deals with a concern of how humanity performs toward itself and how it performs within the public realm, and where it must be in relation with others. Public life is not solely about politics but also the political, i.e., intellectual, moral, economic, religious, and collective habits—including fashions and amusements, artefacts, histories, and legacies. This book argues that man raison d'être in worldly life is to have a civil presence and create civilization. It contends that what makes it possible is the coming together of “presence, ethos, and theatre” and their working in concert. The first half of this book elaborates on the nuances of these three pillars, and the second half offers three examples of civilizations that have succeeded to achieve this within what it claims to be three major worldviews that he calls “divine-immanence, the divine-transcendence, and human-immanence.” 

Spis treści

Preface and Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1: Why are we here? Civility and Civilization

The Good: Satisfaction, Achievement, Serenity

Impetuses: Love, Reason, Freedom

Impulses: Enthusiasm, Appreciation, Generosity

Apparatus: Heart, Mind, Soul

Ethics: Consequential (utility), Deontological (contract), Virtue (good)

Hallmarks: Conviviality, Allure, Balance

Pillars: Presence, Ethos, Theatre (PET)

PART I: A Theory of Civility and Civilization (PET)

Chapter 2: Presence or Modus Vivendi; Personhood

Agency: Impulsive, Vigilant, Prudent

Selfhood: Isolated, Lonely, Solus

Pathos (Love): Longing, Wholeness, Immortality

Logos (Reason): Utilitarian, Demonstrative, Normative

Attitude: Authenticity, Tenacity, Reverence

Commitment: Personal (Private), Collective (Culture), Universal (Human)

Activities: Labor, Work, Action

Chapter 3: Ethos or Modus Operandi; Mechanism

Temporal Scope: Past, Present, Future

Spatial Scope: Economy, Politics, Society

Approach: Meritocracy, Isonomy, Inclusive,

Ends: Fairness, Order, Dignity

Means: Open Competition, Rule of Law, Dialogue

Freedom: Negative, Affirmative, Assertive

Spheres: Private, Public, Civilizational

​Chapter 4: Theater; Space, Structures and Institutions

Governance: Fairness, Efficiency, Friendship

The Political: Security, Participation, Identity,

Economics: Agriculture, Industry, Information

The Legal: Protection, Due Process, Justice

The Societal: Individual, Collective, General

The Cultural (Belonging): Family, State, the world

The Educational: Authenticity/Originality, Innovation, Universality

PART II: Praxis, Civilizations in History

Chapter 5: The Persians; a World View with Accent on Divine Immanence

Presence: Soldier of the Divine; Cyrus and Darius

Ethos: Multiculturalism; Cyrus’ Cylinder and Darius’s Tablets Theatre: Shahdom, Satrops and Hydraulic Agriculture

Chapter 6: The Mughals; a World View with Accent on Divine Transcendence

Presence: God’s Deputy; Zahīr ud-Dīn Muhammad Babur and Zahīr ud-Dīn Muhammad

Ethos: Divine Religion and the People of the Book

Theatre: Sacred King, Agriculture and Raid/Trade

Chapter 7: The Westerners; a World View with Accent on Human Immanence

Presence: Agent of Freedom; Washington and Lincoln

Ethos: Isonomy and General Will

Theatre: Social Contract and Acephalous Society

Chapter 8: the Future

O autorze

Farhang Rajaee is an Emeritus Professor of Political Science and Humanities at Carleton University, Canada.

Blurb

This book deals with a concern of how humanity performs toward itself and how it performs within the public realm, and where it must be in relation with others. Public life is not solely about politics but also the political, i.e., intellectual, moral, economic, religious, and collective habits—including fashions and amusements, artefacts, histories, and legacies. This book argues that man raison d'être in worldly life is to have a civil presence and create civilization. It contends that what makes it possible is the coming together of “presence, ethos, and theatre” and their working in concert. The first half of this book elaborates on the nuances of these three pillars, and the second half offers three examples of civilizations that have succeeded to achieve this within what it claims to be three major worldviews that he calls “divine-immanence, the divine-transcendence, and human-immanence.” 

Farhang Rajaee is an Emeritus Professor of Political Science and Humanities at Carleton University, Canada.