Roberto Unger
Roberto Unger
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Roberto Mangabeira Unger is a Brazilian philosopher, politician, and former minister of strategy and social development in Brazil.
Birth and Death Dates
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Unger was born on March 17, 1947, and is still alive.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Brazilian; Philosopher, Politician, and Former Minister
Roberto Unger's work spans multiple disciplines, including philosophy, politics, and law. As a philosopher, he has made significant contributions to the fields of social theory, political theory, and metaphysics. In his capacity as a politician, Unger served as minister in the Brazilian government from 2003 to 2008.
Early Life and Background
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Unger was born into a prominent family in Brazil. His father, João Mangabeira, was a well-known politician who played an important role in drafting Brazil's constitution. This background instilled in Unger a strong interest in politics from an early age.
Growing up in Recife, Brazil, Unger was exposed to the social and economic disparities that existed within his country. These experiences would later influence his work as a philosopher and politician, shaping his views on inequality and social justice.
Major Accomplishments
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Unger's most notable contributions are found in his philosophical works. Some of his key accomplishments include:
Developing a comprehensive critique of modernity, which challenges the dominant liberal and Marxist perspectives.
Proposing an alternative to traditional notions of democracy, focusing on participatory governance and citizen empowerment.
Creating a new approach to social theory, incorporating insights from philosophy, politics, and law.Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Unger's notable works include:
"The Critical Legal Studies Movement: A Critical Introduction" (1987): This book is considered a foundational text in the field of critical legal studies.
"False Necessity: Contemporary Critiques of Neo-Liberal Reasons" (1996): In this work, Unger critiques modern notions of rationality and necessity, arguing that they are based on flawed assumptions.
"Democracy Realized: The Model Politics of Direct Democracy" (1997): Here, Unger outlines a model for direct democracy, which he believes could provide a more participatory and inclusive form of governance.
Impact and Legacy
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Roberto Unger's work has had a significant impact on various fields. His contributions to social theory and political philosophy have influenced scholars across the globe, while his involvement in Brazilian politics has shaped the country's development policies.
Unger's emphasis on participatory governance and citizen empowerment has inspired movements for democratic reform worldwide. His ideas continue to shape debates around issues like inequality, justice, and human rights.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Roberto Unger is widely quoted and remembered due to his innovative and provocative approach to philosophy and politics. His commitment to challenging established views has made him a respected figure in academic and policy circles.
Unger's work continues to resonate with people seeking new perspectives on pressing global issues, such as inequality and social justice.
Quotes by Roberto Unger
The Amazon is not just a set of trees. It is a set of 25 million people. If we don’t create real economic opportunities for them, the practical result is to encourage disorganized economic activities that results in the further destruction of the rain forest.
The scientist should treasure the riddles he can’t solve, not explain them away at the outset.
The embodied self is the same person who woke to the world in a burst of visonary immediacy, who soon found that he was not the center of that world but on the contrary, a dependent and even hapless creature, and who then discovered that he was doomed to die.
At every level the greatest obstacle to transforming the world is that we lack the clarity and imagination to conceive that it could be different.
At every level the greatest obstacle to transforming the world is that we lack the clarity and imagination to conceive that it could be different
Social solidarity must rest (instead) on the sole secure basis it can have: direct responsibility of people for one another. Such responsibility can be realized through the principle that every able-bodied adult holds a position within a caring economy - the part of the economy in which people care for one another - as well as within the production system
The essential thing, the ultimate goal of politics and thought, is a bigger life for the individual. A bigger life – that remains the main objective…to increase our divine attributes to have moral life.
The embodied self is the same person who woke to the world in a burst of visonary immediacy, who soon found that he was not the center of that world but on the contrary, a dependent and even hapless creature, and who then discovered that he was doomed to die
Insofar we are death-bound, existence is urgent and frightful. Insofar as are groundless, it is vertiginous and dreamlike. Insofar as we are insatiable, it is unquiet and tormented.
