Oliver Kozlarek Book order

The book explores "Critical Humanism" through the lens of representatives from the Frankfurt School, presenting it as a political practice rather than a mere theoretical framework. It emphasizes the importance of critical social research in understanding and engaging with humanistic culture, advocating for an active, rather than passive, approach to humanism. The author argues that this orientation is vital for addressing contemporary social issues and fostering meaningful change.

Exploring the sociological dimensions of Octavio Paz's work, this book connects his ideas to contemporary discussions on the post-colonial condition in Mexico. It emphasizes the distinct post-colonial experiences in Latin America compared to other regions. Additionally, it critiques Modernity through Paz's lens, revealing how his perspective redefines it as an interplay of global and local influences. The analysis points towards a new humanism, highlighting Paz's unique contributions to understanding Modernity from a Latin American viewpoint.

The generation of meaning is the primary precondition for acting and thinking. The essays in this volume contribute to a discourse on this matter with a decentred, globalized world in mind. The notions civilization, humanism and modernity - far from being exclusively Western ideas - may facilitate joint efforts of reflecting on the universality of current human conditions, particularly since such reflexion is possible from particular cultural perspectives. Modernity presents us with a second Axial Time in which the quest for a plural, but shared, humane world is the challenge.

Octavio Paz is one of the most recognized Latin American writers. His essays offer a sophisticated critique of global modernity. Although his work has advanced many of the arguments that orient our contemporary debates in the social sciences and in philosophy, it has hardly ever been seriously taken into consideration in these disciplines. The volume suggests that this may have been a mistake. Its authors indicate ways in which Paz' essays can be read as substantial contributions to the contemporary debates in various fields. The aim of this book is to present to a non-Spanish speaking audience some of the discussions about Paz' offerings to the ongoing debates. It also wants to make a clear statement: a critique of our contemporary modernity must go hand in hand with a non-exclusive intercultural understanding of Humanism.