The Suspension of Seriousness: On the Phenomenology of Jorge Portilla, with a translation of Fenomenología del relajo

Description

First in-depth analysis of this important Mexican philosopher’s work. The Suspension of Seriousness engages the Mexican philosopher Jorge Portilla (1919–1963), taking note of Portilla’s philosophical methodology, insights, and contributions to our understanding of value, being, and subjectivity. Portilla lived a short, troubled life and never held a teaching appointment, but his works, though few in number, were nevertheless philosophically penetrating. He is a legendary character in the Mexican popular imagination of the 1940s and ’50s, but little has been written about him or his philosophy. His posthumously published Fenomenología del relajo is a phenomenological analysis of what Portilla calls “relajo” or the state we assume when we do not want to do what is seriously being asked of us—what is demanded of us. It is, Portilla says, “the suspension of seriousness.” Carlos Alberto Sánchez uses Portilla’s Fenomenología del relajo as a point of departure to consider the dangers both of our uncritical adherence to values as well as our urge to reject values altogether. He argues that Portilla provides a framework in which to situate the modern condition, ourselves, and our future. The first authorized English translation of Portilla’s Fenomenología del relajo is included. “Carlos Sánchez does an excellent job of bringing [Portilla’s] concepts and ideas to life in a way that can be understood by anyone. He explores the themes, contexts and times of Jorge Portilla and why he is an important figure. This is a major work in the field of Latin America philosophy.” — Portland Book Review “The Suspension of Seriousness is an in-depth scrutiny of a critical aspect of human consciousness and behavior, highly recommended for the philosophy shelves of college and graduate school libraries.” — Midwest Book Review Carlos Alberto Sánchez is Associate Professor of Philosophy at San José State University. Acknowledgments Chapter 1. Matters of Life and Death Introduction Jorge Portilla— An Anonymous Life A Crisis of Relajo The Context of the Method On Subjectivity A Critic of Modernity Predictions Chapter 2. Reading Fenomenologá;a del relajo: Part I Situating Ourselves: El Grupo Hiperiòn Approaching the Fenomenologá;a del relajo The Descriptive Project 1.What is Relajo? 2. Four Examples of Relajo 3. Seriousness 4. A Theory of Value 5. Relajo is not mockery [“burla”], sarcasm, or “choteo” 6. Laughter and Relajo Chapter 3. Reading Fenomenologá;a del relajo: Part II On Freedom On Irony On Humor On Personality Types The Fenomenologá;a as a Mirror of Society Chapter 4. Phenomenology and Fenomenologá;a Mexican Philosophy in Profile The Descriptive Method The Destructive Method Normative Considerations Concluding Remarks Chapter 5. Metaphysics of the Subject Leopoldo Zea and “lo mexicano” Portilla’s Confrontation with Oretga y Gasset 1. Oretga’s Views on Subjectivity 2. Portilla’s Ideal of Subjectivity Beyond Oretga Relajo and Subjectivity Subjectivity and Modernity Chapter 6. The Presuppositions of Modernity Presupposition (i): Socratic Seriousness Presupposition (ii): Fecundity and Relajo Post-Seriousness A Crisis of Modernity Concluding Remarks: Portilla and Mexican Philosophy Notes Bibliography Appendix