How relational and "non-Western" is Bakhtin's theory of mind?
Slavica litteraria January 1, 2025 Jarosław Płuciennik
Mikhail Bakhtin's theory of mind presents a relational and dialogical conception of subjectivity, emphasizing that consciousness is a participant in lived experience rather than a detached observer. The author discusses how Bakhtin has been embraced by Western literary theory, particularly in postmodernism and poststructuralism, and highlights the tension between his views on discursive plurality and ethical participation. Bakhtin's critique of modern Western culture focuses on the autonomy of technological systems and their detachment from ethical values. The article compares Bakhtin's dialogical concept of mind with Buddhist traditions, arguing that his philosophy serves as a critical intervention in dominant Western models of thought, though it does not offer a fully developed ontology of the embodied self.