We, singular plural (fragments of a conversation)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47456/rf.rf.2132.49313

Keywords:

collective identity, singular plural, relational ecology, public sphere

Abstract

This philosophical essay examines the problematic nature of the pronoun "We" as a contested political and ontological concept. Drawing on Jean-Luc Nancy's notion of "singular plural," the text critiques fixed collective identities (national, ethnic, or ideological) as reductive and exclusionary. It explores the tension between the need for community articulation for political agency and the risks of homogenization, highlighting how "We" oscillates between emancipatory potential and coercive appropriation. Contemporary thinkers such as Judith Butler, Tristan Garcia, and ecological theorists (e.g., Baptiste Morizot) inform discussions of fluid collectives, intersectionality, and nonhuman alliances. The author advocates for "We" as an open and procedural practice—anchored in shared action, not identity—to navigate fragmented public spheres, ecological interdependence, and ethical responsibility in the face of polarization.

Author Biography

  • Rodrigo Rebelo Silva, LIDA, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria: Caldas da Rainha, Leiria, Portugal

    Rodrigo Silva (b. 1976) holds a degree in Philosophy (1998) from FCSH-UNL, with a thesis on Image and History in Walter Benjamin, and a PhD in Communication and Contemporary Culture (2007) from FCSH-UNL, with research on the issue of space in contemporary philosophy. He is an adjunct professor at the Caldas da Rainha School of Art and Design, teaching art theory, aesthetics, and contemporary philosophy since 1998. Between 2010 and 2014, he was deputy director of ESAD.CR and later director from 2014 to 2016. Since June 2017, he has served as President of the Scientific Council of ESAD.CR.

References

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Published

30-06-2025

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 32 (2025)

Section

Ensaios

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Rodrigo Rebelo Silva

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How to Cite

We, singular plural (fragments of a conversation). (2025). Farol, 21(32), 10-22. https://doi.org/10.47456/rf.rf.2132.49313