Existential and Phenomenological Perspectives on Sacrifice and Gender

Sacrifice is a popular theme in philosophical and theological discussions. The concept remains ambiguous, however, and the field is contested across anthropological, ethnological, sociological and ethical perspectives. The objective of this workshop is to discuss gendered aspects of sacrifice from the perspectives of phenomenology and existentialism – disciplines that view sacrifice through the lens of the sacrificial experience.  

The springboard for our phenomenological and existential explorations will be the works of Søren Kierkegaard and Jan Patočka and their interpretation in Derrida’s Gift of Death. The primary focus will be the experience of sacrifice. Although none of these authors offers a systematic account, we will build on Kierkegaard’s idea of ‘weaning the child’ and Patočka’s ‘sacrifice of the mother for her child’ to tease out the gendered aspects in their respective systems. We will then seek a more complete development of the theme of gender in sacrifice in the works of feminist thinkers such as Simone de Beauvoir, Julia Kristeva, Luce Irigaray and Judith Butler.  

The workshop will address questions such as: ‘Is it possible to overcome the sacrificial logic that seems to be inherent to humanity?’; ‘Is it possible to transform and share the sacrificial experience so that it is not so obviously lopsided with respect to gender?”

The event will be held in person. Please, register through the IWM website.