Philippine E-Journals

The paralysis of philosophy is the mark of a crisis. It is the surrender of thought to that which impedes thinking. Institutionally carried through, its cultural bearers hegemonically become unknowing enforcers who police the space of philosophy. The task of the thinker would then be to reclaim thought, a task which no less, because of its magnitude, requires thinking courageously and seeking alliances among kindred spirits. The first part of the paper will articulate the notion of crisis, both as a breakdown, a cause of distress, and as situation of decision making, of discretion, of judgment. The second part will discuss the notions of technic of Heidegger, Steigler and Foucault and its relation to knowledge production and thinking. The third part will try to articulate the problematic of technic and thinking. The final and concluding portion of the paper will assess the crisis of philosophy as it is mediated through institutions and recommends some reflexive and reflective measures to reorient the subject to a certain stance against the stifling of thought.