Gostujoči predavanji dr. Karla Hlavačka na Oddelku za sociologijo, 20. in 21. maj

Vabljeni na dve gostujoči predavanji dr. Karla Hlaváčka z Univerze v Ostravi na Oddelku za sociologijo Filozofske fakultete. Obe predavanji bosta potekali v angleškem jeziku.

• Postsekularni sociologiji nasproti / post-secular sociology (20. maj 2024 ob 10.15 v 430)

In the presentation, the post-secular turn in philosophy will be introduced and the consequences for sociology will be discussed. The main topic of discussion will be the relation of sociology towards religion. Weber’s approach - which consists in a strict division of „knowledge“ and „belief“ and in concentration of sociology on „knowledge“ creation - will be emphasised as the most influential in the history of sociology. I will suggest that the so-called „neutrality“, „value-freedom“ or „objectivity“ of Weber’s approach functions as a great „concealment“ of sociologists‘ unfounded beliefs. Even after postmodern criticism, the air of neutral „expert“ knowledge or „statements of facts“ is in the air and sociologists draw their privileged cognitive status in the public sphere from it. I will suggest a different frame of how sociology functions: it works much more according to Comte’s recipe, i.e. positive knowledge (facts, theories) is built on the basis of a specific religion which Comte called religion of humanity. Recognition of this reality leads us to the great question whether the religion of humanity is the true one. As there is no positive proof of it and history of the 20th century can be seen as a great warning that this may not be the case, I will suggest that real diversity should be embraced by sociology, creating space for „Christian sociology“, Buddhist sociology“ etc.

• Kaj je modernost? Postsekularna perspektiva / What is modernity? A post-secular perspective (21. maj 2024 ob 18.00 v 430)

In the presentation, a Heideggerian approach towards modernity will be introduced. Modernity will be understood in a close yet discontinuous relationship with Christian type of premodernity. Premodernity will be described as circulating around the gravitation centre of what it believed was God’s will. In this conception, human being was like a planet circulating around the centre, a creature that should answer God’s calling which could be recognised by following the cognitive authority of the Church. On the contrary, modernity will be described as performing a great replacement as to the very gravitation centre where it enthroned men. Thus, modernity will be presented as circulating around the gravitation centre of humanity, God becoming like one of the circulating planets, mere men’s creation alongside society and politics. This exchange will be interpreted as men effectively becoming gods and the project of modernity as consisting in bringing once extra-historical „kingdom of God“ on earth. In this vein, history of the 20th century will be looked at and Karl Popper’s warning that „he who wants to bring paradise on earth will create hell on earth“ will be thought over. In contrast to Bruno Latour I will claim that „we are still modern“, we still did not quit the modern project. That results in a series of deadly dangers ranging from atomic bombs to climate crisis or genetic manipulation. I will suggest that the risky god-like quality consists in limitlessness of modernity, the solution consisting in looking for limits – of growth and human power. As the inclination to become god-like may be a deep human need, limiting our external growth and power would have to be enacted in parallel with re-discovery of possibility to become god-like by growing spiritually.