Theory is a necessary detour into concepts to break through the chaos of appearances
Evidence
I am an intellectual in Gramsci’s sense because I believe in the power and necessity of ideas. Of course, as a sort of materialist, I do not believe ideas alone make the world go round. And I certainly do not mean that I think my task is to produce theory. I would do without theory if I could! The problem is, I cannot. You cannot. Because the world presents itself in the chaos of appearances, and the only way in which one can understand, break down, analyze, grasp, in order to do something about the present conjuncture that confronts one, is to break into that series of congealed and opaque appearances with the only tools you have: concepts, ideas, and thoughts. To break into it and to come back to the surface of a situation or conjuncture one is trying to explain, having made “the detour through theory.” — Stuart Hall, Essential Essays, Volume 2, 1195
Categorization
Category: Definitional Content
- DEFINE: Defines the Gramscian intellectual as one who believes in the power of ideas while being materialist — and defines theory’s role as a necessary detour, not a destination.
- XREF: Connects to Gramsci’s notion of the organic intellectual and to the ‘detour through theory’ as a methodological move readable alongside later Islamophobia theory readings.
Related
- Understanding requires breaking into congealed appearances via the detour through theory. (similarity 0.84)
- Theory breaks deceptive appearances but cannot justify choices (similarity 0.83)
- A philosophy becomes historical and living only through contact with the simple (similarity 0.79)
- Organic intellectuals must both advance theory and transmit it beyond their class. (similarity 0.79)