Presenter: Facundo Vega, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez  

Description: What can and should be the promise of politics today? How does politics begin anew? In his talk, political philosopher Facundo Vega examines the strengths and limitations of Hannah Arendt’s account of “beginnings”. Vega shows how Arendt’s reflections on “the beginning” attempt to avoid theories of pure spontaneity, great-event history, and historical contingency, arguing instead that, for Arendt, beginnings are ultimately dependent on what she calls “the principle of beginning”. The talk excavates this principle of beginning in Arendt’s work, showing its curious an-archic features and revealing how it can be a powerful tool for calling into question certain myths of contemporary politics, such as the charismatic populist leader.

Date: Monday, October 16, 2023

Time and location: 6pm in Gilman 479