The book explores the creative potential of humanistic disciplines,
mostly in the fields of philosophy, literature, language and cultural
A studies. The concept of the “transformative humanities” emphasizes the constructive rather than purely explorative aspect of these disciplines. The book offers a fresh look at the old division between theoretical and practical fields of knowledge and calls for a reexamination of the far-reaching questions: What can the humanities do? How can they affect the areas of their study? Which cultural practices can be built on the basis of our studies of language, literature, and philosophy?
The book’s central concern is the need for deep methodological changes in the humanities that would add a new, practical dimension to them. For example, can the analysis of language lead to the synthesis of new lexical units and grammatical models that expand the power of intellectual expression? Can philosophy be involved in creative thinking about alterna-tivel worlds and their technological implementation? The book argues that the humanistic disciplines need to develop their own practical extensions in order to transform the areas of their study, just as technologies extend the effect of the natural sciences by transforming the world of nature, or as politics extend the social studies by transforming society:
Nature – natural sciences – technology – transformation of nature
Society – social sciences – politics – transformation of society
Culture – human sciences – transhumanities – transformation of culture
We need a practical branch of the humanities which functions similarly to technology and politics, but is specific to the cultural domain. When offering a certain theory, we need to ask ourselves if it has the power to inaugurate a new cultural practice, an artistic movement, a disciplinary field, an institution, a life style, or an intellectual community.
The book reexamines some of the central concepts of the humanities, such as “human”, “author,” “sign,” “text,” “interpretation,” “writing,” “self,” and “wisdom,” offering transformative perspectives on them. The value of rigorous scholarship and analytical procedures must not be undermined, but the humanities urgently need new approaches to avoid intellectual and social marginalization and to participate fully in the cultural and technical dynamics of contemporary society.