Identifying the causal chains of one’s oppression is itself freeing.

Evidence

Bat’s second question raised more important issues; doesn’t talking about reflexive impotence reinforce the very interpassive nihilism it supposedly condemns? I would say that the exact opposite is the case. I’ve had more mail about the reflexive impotence post than any other; mostly, actually, from teenagers and students who recognise the condition but who, far from being further depressed by seeing it analysed, find its identification inspiring. There are very good Spinozist and Althusserian reasons for this — seeing the network of cause-and-effect in which we are enchained is already freedom. — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk, 506

Categorization

• XREF: The Spinozist claim that understanding necessity is freedom connects to the Frankfurt School’s critique of how domination works through unrecognized determinism. — connects to: Perceiving possibilities for freedom enables breaking with existing patterns. — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man: Studies in the…, 13; Liberating perception of oppression arises only through praxis, not reflection alone — Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, 489

Broader Connections

• Perceiving possibilities for freedom enables breaking with existing patterns. #expands (0.80) — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man, 13
• Liberating perception of oppression arises only through praxis, not reflection alone #qualifies (0.78) — Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, 489