The Gift of European Thought and the Cost of Living

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Anthropology, Sociology, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy
Cover of the book The Gift of European Thought and the Cost of Living by Vassos Argyrou, Berghahn Books
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Author: Vassos Argyrou ISBN: 9781782380184
Publisher: Berghahn Books Publication: September 1, 2013
Imprint: Berghahn Books Language: English
Author: Vassos Argyrou
ISBN: 9781782380184
Publisher: Berghahn Books
Publication: September 1, 2013
Imprint: Berghahn Books
Language: English

European thought is often said to be a gift to the rest of the world, but what if there is no gift as such? What if there is only an economy where every giving is also a taking, and every taking is also a giving? This book extends the question of economies by making a case for an “economy of thought” and a “political economy.” It argues that all thinking and doing presupposes taking, and therefore giving, as the price to pay for taking; or that there exists a “cost of living,” which renders the idea of free thinking and living untenable. The argument is developed against the Enlightenment directive to think for oneself as the means of becoming autonomous and shows that this “light,” given to the rest of the world as a gift, turns out to be nothing.

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European thought is often said to be a gift to the rest of the world, but what if there is no gift as such? What if there is only an economy where every giving is also a taking, and every taking is also a giving? This book extends the question of economies by making a case for an “economy of thought” and a “political economy.” It argues that all thinking and doing presupposes taking, and therefore giving, as the price to pay for taking; or that there exists a “cost of living,” which renders the idea of free thinking and living untenable. The argument is developed against the Enlightenment directive to think for oneself as the means of becoming autonomous and shows that this “light,” given to the rest of the world as a gift, turns out to be nothing.

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