Contradiction Studies

Constitution and/or Declaration – Discussing the Question of the (Linguistic) Construction of Contradictions

Nils Kohlmeier, Fiona Makulik, Anna Mattfeldt, Jonas Trochemowitz & Ingo H. Warnke (RTG Contradiction Studies)

07/12/2023 1:30 pm 2:15 pm

U Bremen – GRA 2 0030

In this Lunchbox we want to discuss what it means to consider contradictions a product of declaration. In order to make clear the history and theoretical assumption of this concept, we want to give a brief input on Speech Act Theory and provide some concrete examples of declarations of contradictions. The main part of this event is going to be an open discussion about the question how these ideas seem interesting or relevant for the fellows of the RTG.

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problem to be solved

“Contradiction is not primarily a problem to be solved but a motor we cannot do without.”

Martin Nonhoff
ideal of a contradiction-free world

“Science has long been animated by the ideal of a contradiction-free world in which logical orders could merge with society, politics, culture and language. In the GRC Contradiction Studies we are working on ways of describing the multiplicity and complexity, the danger and beauty of our worlds that clearly go beyond concepts of freedom from contradiction.”

Michi Knecht
name contradiction

“Contradiction becomes real where someone names contradiction.”

Ingo H. Warnke
diversity and plurality

“Join us to create more diversity and plurality in knowledge production.”

Gisela Febel
Afterlife of colonialism

“Contradiction comes in many different forms. None is so debilitating than when the coloniser transitions, textually not politically, to decoloniality without taking the responsibility for the afterlife of colonialism, which they continue to benefit from. Self-examination and self-interrogation of the relations of coloniality, a necessity, seem nearly impossible for the coloniser who continues to act as beneficiary, masked in the new-found language of White fragility, devoid of an ethical responsibility of the very system of White domination they claim to be against.” (Black Consciousness and the Politics of the Flesh)

Rozena Maart