First as Tragedy, Then as Farce
By Slavoj Zizek
Verso, 2009.
Summary of First as Tragedy, Then as Farce book by Slavoj Zizek
A philosophical scrutiny of how capitalism permeates all aspects of our lives, the crises it has caused and will continue to cause, and how we might break away and create a new, fair political-economic system.
Chapters in First as Tragedy, Then as Farce book summary
What do you get from this book? A thought-provoking argument about how capitalism is a fundamentally flawed system
Capitalism is an ideology and political force which is so dominant in today’s world that we don’t question it
Major disasters of the recent past are a direct consequence of capitalism
Capitalist ideology falsely claims that it’s the source of freedoms we have, while it hides exploitation
The “new spirit” of capitalism is seen in rampant consumerism and cultural imperialism, both promoting “happiness”
Ideology hides the truth from us, making us think we are being “rational” when we are actually being fooled
There are four basic “antagonisms” that are the most critical challenges of our time
There are potential answers to prevent the imminent disasters created by capitalism, but they’re not as promising as they seem
We need a radically different system to fix the current mess we are in – a new communism is the answer
“We are the ones we’ve been waiting for”: we need to unite and create a different future for the good of all people
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
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First as Tragedy, Then as Farce — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read First as Tragedy, Then as Farce book
- Anyone interested in society and politics
- philosophy students
- political scientists
- freethinkers
About the author of First as Tragedy, Then as Farce
Slavoj Zizek
Slavoj Z̆iz̆ek is a renowned political philosopher and cultural critic who has also written Living in End Times and In Defense of Lost Causes. Z̆iz̆ek is a professor at the European Graduate School, the University of London, and a researcher at the Institute of Sociology, University of Ljubljana in his home country of Slovenia.
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