Alenka Ambrož (Foto: Stefanie Wetzel)

»Democracy, Reason and Madness«

Forschungskolleg Humanwissenschaften (FKH): Ms. Ambrož, your postdoctoral project explores reason and madness as political categories in the Atlantic World. What does it mean to look at these concepts politically, and why is it important?

Alenka Ambrož: Throughout history, the distinction between reason and madness has always had a political meaning, often utilized to exclude and uphold power relations. Women, foreigners, those with differing religious beliefs, or political opponents have frequently been labelled unreasonable or mad to discredit them. My interest in this topic emerged unexpectedly through my research in the philosophy of translation, where I explored strategies used in the past to translate languages and lifeworlds radically different from our own. Ethnologists, when confronted with unfamiliar languages and customs, commonly resorted to labelling the linguistic group as »savage« or possessing a »prelogical mentality«. One of the earliest forms of exclusion based on the reason/madness dichotomy can be traced back to attitudes toward linguistic difference and the tendency of communities to exclude those who don’t speak the same language. For example, the ancient Greeks deemed barbarians unreasonable because they considered their speech incomprehensible. Being included in the community of humans often hinged on sharing a common logos, making exclusion from the domain of logos one of the harshest accusations one could face. Ethnologist Claude Lévi-Strauss suggests that this inclination to regard one’s language and culture as a model for all others is »the most ancient attitude«. During his sojourns in native American societies, he observed that the tendency to confine humanity within the boundaries of one’s own community (tribe, linguistic group, village) applies universally, whether as a colonizer or a native. Sadly, this phenomenon is increasingly apparent today, especially with the emergence of the so-called »migration crisis«. Populist narratives shaping collective imaginaries across Europe often depict displaced people as uncivilized. Refusal to accept different forms of reasoning can lead to justifications of violence.

FKH: What does the idea of the Atlantic World mean to you and your work? What can we learn about madness and reason viewed through this lens?

Alenka Ambrož: The Atlantic World birthed modernity, democratic ideals, and many precious humanistic values, yet it’s also marked by egregious crimes against humanity like the transatlantic slave trade, racial segregation and brutal colonization of indigenous populations in the Americas. Recognizing these contradictions without neglecting either is essential. The Atlantic has been and continues to be a space of intense cultural exchanges. While there is often a reflex to protect cultures from foreign influences, we must remember that our own cultures and languages have evolved through exchanges with others. Modern European humanistic culture owes much to cultural transfers and translations that passed through Ancient Greece, Rome and the Arab world. The idea of the Atlantic World is a reminder that the »other« is always already a part of us. Denying this leads to different forms of relational pathologies like racism and xenophobia, affecting both the oppressed and the oppressors.

FKH: What is your contribution to the Democratic Vistas project, and how does Walt Whitman’s notion that democracy should permeate everyday life inform your work? How do you see the humanities’ role in this?

Alenka Ambrož: The ongoing crises of democracy in Europe and beyond remind us that democracy is always a work in progress and should never be taken for granted. Like Whitman, I see democracy not as a past achievement, but as an ongoing project of a collective life-form yet to come. Democracy continues to evolve as we confront challenges like systemic racism, human rights violations, police violence and more. Whitman’s view of democracy as a fabric of everyday life resonates with me as it emphasizes recognizing the diverse lived experiences of all societal groups, rather than focusing on abstract normative ideals. Through the humanities, we can articulate these experiences while critically examining systemic injustices in line with our shared humanistic values. At the same time, contemporary approaches in the humanities, such as postcolonial, decolonial, feminist and environmental perspectives, help challenge one-sided and interest-ridden approaches to democracy and envision it as a truly global project.

FKH: How has being at the Kolleg and interacting with your colleagues in Frankfurt and Bad Homburg benefited you so far?

Alenka Ambrož: During my stay, I participated in various scientific events at Goethe University, allowing me to broaden my research horizons, particularly in critical theory. I was struck by how different the philosophical horizon is in Frankfurt compared to the one I’ve known in Paris. A mere four-hour train ride away, but a wholly different research culture! I’ll certainly integrate many aspects of it into my future research and teaching. At the Forschungskolleg, interdisciplinary discussions during lunches with scholars from diverse fields have been very stimulating. Working in such a historically rich environment where some prominent thinkers I deeply admire have worked before is a special experience. I really enjoy the serene environment of Bad Homburg which is highly conducive to writing. The staff at the Forschungskolleg are incredibly kind and make me feel at home.

FKH: With its John McCloy Transatlantic Forum, the Democratic Vistas project aims to reach out to a wider public. How have you contributed to it so far? How would you describe the impact such activities can have and what has it meant to you personally to be a part of it?

Alenka Ambrož: It was a wonderful experience to discuss my research with students at the Bad Homburg high school. I was most impressed with the level of curiosity and engagement of the students. They were very well informed on global history and politics, and had their own critical assessment of the current events, from the tragic situation in Gaza to the forthcoming US elections. Personally, it gave me hope to see that, despite the growing polarization in the media, critical thinking is well alive among the young generation in Germany.

Questions: Monika Hellstern

Dr. Alenka Ambrož received her PhD in philosophy at École Normale Superieure in Paris (ENS) in 2021. In her thesis on The Concept of Relation in Philosophy of Translation, she explored epistemic, ethical and political stakes of intercultural translation from a postcolonial perspective. Originally from Ljubljana in Slovenia, she studied at the University of Ljubljana, University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and at École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS). Alenka lectured at Paris 3 Sorbonne-Nouvelle University and was a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Advanced Studies Southeast Europe in Rijeka, Croatia, and at the University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia. In 2022/2023, she held a visiting scholarship at the French department of Columbia University, New York. Her current research focuses on questions of emergency politics, democracy and mental health. In her postdoctoral project at the Forschungskolleg Humanwissenschaften, Alenka investigates reason and madness as political categories in the context of the Atlantic world.

Source: Booklet, »Das John McCloy Transatlantic Forum: Rückblick 2023«, p. 10, available online (Link)