Vivek Kumar, Lecture on ‘Perspective from Below: A Philosophical and Theoretical Rationale’

Centre for the Study of Developing Societies invites you to a lecture Perspective from Below A Philosophical and Theoretical Rationale by Vivek Kumar Chair: Aditya Nigam Wednesday, 16 July 2025, 4 pm IST Seminar Room and Zoom Link: https://bit.ly/3GzRV3j Meeting ID: 87692208302 Passcode: csdsdelhi The production of knowledge is grounded in ontologies and epistemologies. This talk will examine the philosophical and theoretical foundations of abstraction and conceptualization of reality within this framework. Specifically, it will explore the nature and dynamics of knowledge production from a "Perspective from Below," considering the structural positions of marginalized groups. It will highlight the philosophical and theoretical rationale behind how these groups conceptualize and abstract the natural and social world to generate knowledge. The discussion will draw on the philosophical insights of Descartes, Locke, Kant, and Durkheim, while employing the sociological perspectives of C. W. Mills, Berger and Luckmann, Bourdieu, Kuhn, and Freire to elucidate the "Perspective from Below." Additionally, references to Foucault and Fanon will be used to further support the arguments. Vivek Kumar is Professor of Sociology at the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Aditya Nigam is a Political Theorist formerly with the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi.