Fictive Theories: Towards A Deconstructive And Utopian Political Imagination (studies In European Culture And History)
by S. McManus /
2015 / English / PDF
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Fictive Theories is a significant and innovative intervention in
key debates in political theory concerning the ways theory should
be philosophically grounded, and the task that political theory
should set itself. Susan McManus argues that political theory has
been grounded in controlling fictions (from fictions of human
nature, to morals laws) that function to close possibility.
Starting by interrogating the often hidden work of fictions in
political theories, she argues that all theorizing is a form of
world-creating. Rather than hiding the fictions at work in
political theory, McManus argues that theory should become
self-consciously fictive, and that there are political and ethical
advantages to so doing. She then develops a uniquely deconstructive
and utopian understanding of the project of political theory
grounded in the 'fictive': a creative and future-oriented
imagination. Rather than seeking to provide blueprints of how a
polity should be organized, fictive theories seek to fabricate
futures through the anticipatory articulation of possibility.
Drawing on a rich range of thinkers from the traditions of
political theory (Hobbes, Rousseau, Kant), deconstructive theory
(Roland Barthes, Jacques Derrida) and utopian studies (Ernst
Bloch), this book will be of interest to researchers, teachers and
students in the fields of political theory, utopian studies,
literary theory and cultural studies.
Fictive Theories is a significant and innovative intervention in
key debates in political theory concerning the ways theory should
be philosophically grounded, and the task that political theory
should set itself. Susan McManus argues that political theory has
been grounded in controlling fictions (from fictions of human
nature, to morals laws) that function to close possibility.
Starting by interrogating the often hidden work of fictions in
political theories, she argues that all theorizing is a form of
world-creating. Rather than hiding the fictions at work in
political theory, McManus argues that theory should become
self-consciously fictive, and that there are political and ethical
advantages to so doing. She then develops a uniquely deconstructive
and utopian understanding of the project of political theory
grounded in the 'fictive': a creative and future-oriented
imagination. Rather than seeking to provide blueprints of how a
polity should be organized, fictive theories seek to fabricate
futures through the anticipatory articulation of possibility.
Drawing on a rich range of thinkers from the traditions of
political theory (Hobbes, Rousseau, Kant), deconstructive theory
(Roland Barthes, Jacques Derrida) and utopian studies (Ernst
Bloch), this book will be of interest to researchers, teachers and
students in the fields of political theory, utopian studies,
literary theory and cultural studies.
