Laurin Mackowitz
Laurin Mackowitz
Laurin Mackowitz, PhD Candidate in Philosophy at the University of Innsbruck, Austria
Born in a time and place of immense social security and relative peace I have often felt obliged to dedicate my energy to the cultural advancement of humanity, a term that despite its ambiguity is central to both my thinking and my determination. From the time on when I was first startled by the wonders and atrocities brought into this world by various members of mankind, I have been striving for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms and driving forces that structure human cultures.
My current research is focused on secular interpretations of the Exodus. This biblical tale of the Israelites' liberation from slavery in Egypt remains the most influential narrative of emancipation. While Sigmund Freud, Thomas Mann, Arnold Schoenberg, Michael Walzer and most recently Paolo Virno, Antonio Negri and Isabell Lorey have criticized nationalist and messianic re-narrations of the myth, they have also recognized its pertinence in putting emancipatory efforts on a cognitive map, thereby shaping a secular narrative of cosmopolitan endeavors for liberation. This not only denies the alleged end of grand narratives but is also relevant for both describing and prescribing human efforts of emancipation from oppression or voluntary servitude.
Contact
E-mail: mackowit@ualberta.caTelephone: 780-492-6390
Address:
University of Alberta
Wirth Institute for Austrian and Central European Studies
300-F
Arts & Convocation Hall
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T6G 2E6