Radicalism, Self, and the Public Sphere in the Theory of Helmuth Plessner

Abstract

In the following article we argue: firstly, that it’s necessary to take into account in social movement studies, the anthropological ideas of the “Self”, as well as the political views of public sphere’s eidos. We do this in reference to German philosopher Helmuth Plessner ‒ a thinker that is relatively little known for social movement theorists. Secondly, we analyze ‒ following Plessner ‒ the concept of social radicalism and the idea of radicalism as such. We are looking for its meanings and values that have been lost in the common and trivialized discourse, or were attributed to it in an exaggerated way. We don’t agree with the false use of the term “radical” in relation to the ordinary forms of vandalism, stupidity and xenophobia. Thirdly, we try to formulate the principals of the “sociology of radicalism” which for sure require further examination. In opposition to the wide-spread beliefs, we consider radicalism as substantially an open stance, fulfilled with a sense of lack, unsatisfaction, regret and hope. We see in a fair radicalism an attitude that accepts strangeness and as such it’s fundamentally different from extremism or fundamentalism. Finally, we see in it a phenomena singular for small groups, which remain in transition, and standby on borders.