Revolution

Summary

Dominique Pagani first distinguishes revolution from revolt. Drawing on Rousseau and Paoli's Corsica, he argues that revolt is necessary but insufficient: it only becomes revolution by passing through theory, just as medicine became effective through biology1. He then defines revolution as an absolute beginning whose effects are not yet exhausted, and locates one of its origins in the Socratic initiative. By putting the question "what do you call?" to someone who can answer, Socrates founds dialogue, non-contradiction and democracy2. He relies on the preface to the Elements of the Philosophy of Right, where Hegel makes Plato's principle the pivot of the world revolution32. Discussing Clouscard, he contrasts Plato, philosopher of revolution, with Heidegger, philosopher of counter-revolution. He adds that counter-revolution lasts longer than revolution, from the Convention to the Restoration and from 1789 to 1917, and that the gains of the Liberation are owed to the Red Army3.

1. 1#3 The myth of the noble savage in Rousseau23 Sept 2014
2. 2From Plato to world revolution14 Jul 2022
3. 3Michel Clouscard, the paths of praxis (1/2)8 Dec 2015

Introduction produced automatically from the 3 sessions on this theme, to be reviewed; the numbers link to the sessions.