Between optimism and pessimism: a materialist-dialectical analysis of Bauman’s thought
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5212/PraxEduc.v.20.24649.101Abstract
Throughout his career, Zygmunt Bauman published over fifty titles, which were widely received both inside and outside academia. Such popularity was not without controversy. Critics such as Rancière (2014) accuse him of focusing more on social problems than on solutions, which could lead to political immobility among readers. Although this criticism holds some relevance, it does not do justice to Bauman’s unwavering defense of human rights and of a society grounded in collective well-being. Thus, this study aims to demonstrate, in light of dialectical materialism and through bibliographic research, to what extent Bauman’s work approaches and distances itself from postmodern pessimism, in order to assess its educational applicability. The conclusion is that his playful dialogue with literary fiction represents a major contribution to establishing a form of sociability guided by values beyond mere individualism.
Keywords: Postmodernity. Dialectical materialism. Education.
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