Cornelius Castoriadis' work on the social imaginary and regulative regimes of historicity offers a unique perspective on the establishment of power and the legitimacy of institutional order. Sean McMorrow argues that Castoriadis' theorization of the social imaginary's creative capacity is often presented in a dichotomous manner, limiting its potential insights. He suggests that an implicit dimension of instituting power, involved in the reproduction of dominant social imaginary articulations, should be considered to further develop Castoriadiss work and analyze the depoliticization of contemporary liberal-democratic regimes and their authoritarian tendencies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 238 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2023
Publisher: Lexington Books

Cornelius Castoriadis and Regulative Regimes of Historicity: Exploring the Social Imaginary's Role in Human Societies
Cornelius Castoriadis' work, "The Power to Assume Form," has significantly contributed to our understanding of the role of the social imaginary within human societies. Sean McMorrow argues that Castoriadis' work presents a unique perspective on the regimes of historicity, which are modes of instituting power that establish the legitimacy of institutional order in relation to the extensive social imaginary articulations of the world. Castoriadis' theorization of the radically creative capacity of the social imaginary is assessed, and it is suggested that there remains a tendency to present an overly dichotomous view of autonomous and heteronomous modes of institution. McMorrow assesses how adherence to this inclination hinders the development of further insights into the creative capacities of the social imaginary, while also imposing limits on Castoriadis' own assessment of the 'partially autonomous situation of modern societies. The author suggests that one way forward is to consider the role of an implicit dimension of instituting power, involved in the reproduction of dominant social imaginary articulations of the world, and which also shape the regulation of historicity more generally. The main purpose of this book is to develop the critical depth of Castoriadis' work, showing how it remains an insightful framework to analyze the significance of the deepening depoliticization of contemporary 'liberal-democratic regimes and the 'partially autonomous dynamics that underlie their shift toward increasingly authoritarian modes of governance.

Cornelius Castoriadis and Regulative Regimes of Historicity: Exploring the Social Imaginary's Role in Human Societies

Cornelius Castoriadis' work, "The Power to Assume Form," has significantly contributed to our understanding of the role of the social imaginary within human societies. Sean McMorrow argues that Castoriadis' work presents a unique perspective on the regimes of historicity, which are modes of instituting power that establish the legitimacy of institutional order in relation to the extensive social imaginary articulations of the world. Castoriadis' theorization of the radically creative capacity of the social imaginary is assessed, and it is suggested that there remains a tendency to present an overly dichotomous view of autonomous and heteronomous modes of institution. McMorrow assesses how adherence to this inclination hinders the development of further insights into the creative capacities of the social imaginary, while also imposing limits on Castoriadis' own assessment of the 'partially autonomous situation of modern societies. The author suggests that one way forward is to consider the role of an implicit dimension of instituting power, involved in the reproduction of dominant social imaginary articulations of the world, and which also shape the regulation of historicity more generally. The main purpose of this book is to develop the critical depth of Castoriadis' work, showing how it remains an insightful framework to analyze the significance of the deepening depoliticization of contemporary 'liberal-democratic regimes and the 'partially autonomous dynamics that underlie their shift toward increasingly authoritarian modes of governance.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 237 x 158 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781666918045