The Traditional Faith System and the Challenges of the Modern World

The text of a paper delivered to a conference on democratization in Europe that took place in August, 2003.

Abstract

While it seems a reasonable argument to point out to the dialectic nature of the monotheistic traditions in the ME, at least as far as the daily communal aspects are concerned, as offering an opportunity for integration and mutual acceptance between the various existing religious and secular currents, we should not, however, neglect the historical context which allowed for the success of this system of dialectic compromise, a context that was completely shattered with the advent in Modernity. This paper will attempt to shed some lights on the contemporary psychosis that seems to make the reintroduction of the aforementioned system of dialectical compromise well-nigh impossible. Continue reading “The Traditional Faith System and the Challenges of the Modern World” →

Empire and Conspiracy

A Heretic’s Log: A series of philosophical essays written between September 20, 2002 and July 15, 2004.

Does the abundance and proliferation of conspiracy theories preclude the actual existence of conspiracies? Or are conspiracies an established fact of our political subsistence, a fact which we cannot afford to ignore? Continue reading “Empire and Conspiracy” →

The Imperium and Its Discontents: A Few “Metaphysical” Remarks

A Heretic’s Log: A series of philosophical essays written between September 20, 2002 and July 15, 2004.

Usama Bin Laden was a disinherited man. His wealth notwithstanding, his voice was inaudible, his concerns irrelevant, his dreams and aspirations moot. He was not the only one in this position, of course. The world is full of such disinherited and dejected men. But then, not too many of them have had the opportunity to think of themselves as allies to the Powers That Be in this world, joined in a common cause against “Godlessness,” and not too many have had a taste of “victory,” albeit achieved through that old-fashioned, yet not so “honorable,” way that is gorilla warfare. Continue reading “The Imperium and Its Discontents: A Few “Metaphysical” Remarks” →

The Imperium between East and West

A Heretic’s Log: A series of philosophical essays written between September 20, 2002 and July 15, 2004.

It may not be so important to know the exact date on which the American Western Imperium, with all its pretensions at universality [1], had its real beginning. After all, the beginning is no longer with us, and the way the Cold War ended, i.e. with the utter ideological defeat of the other side, if anything, denotes the improbability of its abortion. The genie is out of the lamp and no Aladdin is in sight. Dealing with the consequences at this stage is, therefore, much more urgent than dealing with the causes. Or so it appears, at least for those interested in “crisis management.” Continue reading “The Imperium between East and West” →