Philosopher Chantal Delsol: Restoring a lost order is as futile as pursuing utopia
French philosopher Chantal Delsol has presented her essay 'The Hatred of the World,' published in Chile by the IES. In the book, she critically examines the human aspiration to abolish reality and establish a new world. Delsol critiques both progressive utopias and reactionary right-wing ideologies, viewing attempts to restore a lost order as equally misguided and destructive as pursuing utopian ideals.
In an interview discussing her work, Delsol addressed contemporary issues including feminism, gender discussions, and the rise of new right-wing movements. She also touched upon her controversial decision to invite Peter Thiel, a figure associated with some of these new political currents. Her essay posits that the desire to escape or fundamentally alter reality, whether by recreating a past ideal or inventing a future one, is a dangerous and ultimately futile endeavor.
Philosopher Chantal Delsol's critique highlights a recurring tension in human thought: the tension between accepting present reality and striving for an idealized future or past. Her framing of these aspirations as 'insensate and terrorist' suggests a concern that radical attempts to reshape society, whether through revolutionary progressivism or reactionary restoration, can lead to destructive outcomes by devaluing existing structures and human experience. This perspective invites consideration of the systemic risks associated with ideologies that prioritize abstract ideals over empirical realities and incremental societal evolution. The analysis prompts reflection on how political movements, particularly those gaining traction in the current era, leverage dissatisfaction with the status quo to advocate for potentially destabilizing transformations, and the long-term governance challenges that arise from such approaches.
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