When Bodies Speak Differently: Putting Judith Butler in Conversation with Mahatma Gandhi on Nonviolent Resistance
This article puts political philosopher Judith Butler in conversation with Gandhi, on the topic of nonviolent resistance. More particularly, we compare them on a systematic philosophical level. Although we focus on Gandhi’s more activist side, by delving into the ontological presuppositions that But...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/8/627 |
| _version_ | 1797522219833753600 |
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| author | Louise Du Toit Jana Vosloo |
| author_facet | Louise Du Toit Jana Vosloo |
| author_sort | Louise Du Toit |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article puts political philosopher Judith Butler in conversation with Gandhi, on the topic of nonviolent resistance. More particularly, we compare them on a systematic philosophical level. Although we focus on Gandhi’s more activist side, by delving into the ontological presuppositions that Butler and Gandhi share, we can do some justice to how his activism is firmly rooted in a faith-based understanding of the world. We discuss four themes in each of which they complement each other: namely, the ontological roots of the nonviolent imperative; their rejection of an instrumental view of violence; nonviolent resistance seen as communicative action; and nonviolence viewed as a way of life. This discussion shows that while they have very different starting points and vocabularies, and while some tensions remain, there is much scope for cooperation, solidarity and alliance between religious and nonreligious practitioners of nonviolent resistance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:26:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6d0cc5e3b1584471a543662ef89f2772 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:26:22Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-6d0cc5e3b1584471a543662ef89f27722023-11-22T09:30:14ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442021-08-0112862710.3390/rel12080627When Bodies Speak Differently: Putting Judith Butler in Conversation with Mahatma Gandhi on Nonviolent ResistanceLouise Du Toit0Jana Vosloo1Department of Philosophy, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South AfricaDepartment of Philosophy, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South AfricaThis article puts political philosopher Judith Butler in conversation with Gandhi, on the topic of nonviolent resistance. More particularly, we compare them on a systematic philosophical level. Although we focus on Gandhi’s more activist side, by delving into the ontological presuppositions that Butler and Gandhi share, we can do some justice to how his activism is firmly rooted in a faith-based understanding of the world. We discuss four themes in each of which they complement each other: namely, the ontological roots of the nonviolent imperative; their rejection of an instrumental view of violence; nonviolent resistance seen as communicative action; and nonviolence viewed as a way of life. This discussion shows that while they have very different starting points and vocabularies, and while some tensions remain, there is much scope for cooperation, solidarity and alliance between religious and nonreligious practitioners of nonviolent resistance.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/8/627nonviolent resistanceButlerGandhiperformativityrelational ontology |
| spellingShingle | Louise Du Toit Jana Vosloo When Bodies Speak Differently: Putting Judith Butler in Conversation with Mahatma Gandhi on Nonviolent Resistance Religions nonviolent resistance Butler Gandhi performativity relational ontology |
| title | When Bodies Speak Differently: Putting Judith Butler in Conversation with Mahatma Gandhi on Nonviolent Resistance |
| title_full | When Bodies Speak Differently: Putting Judith Butler in Conversation with Mahatma Gandhi on Nonviolent Resistance |
| title_fullStr | When Bodies Speak Differently: Putting Judith Butler in Conversation with Mahatma Gandhi on Nonviolent Resistance |
| title_full_unstemmed | When Bodies Speak Differently: Putting Judith Butler in Conversation with Mahatma Gandhi on Nonviolent Resistance |
| title_short | When Bodies Speak Differently: Putting Judith Butler in Conversation with Mahatma Gandhi on Nonviolent Resistance |
| title_sort | when bodies speak differently putting judith butler in conversation with mahatma gandhi on nonviolent resistance |
| topic | nonviolent resistance Butler Gandhi performativity relational ontology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/8/627 |
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