Publisher's Synopsis
The Word That Questions the World: A Critical Genealogy of Problematization is a powerful and provocative exploration of one of the most subversive concepts in contemporary thought. Far from being a piece of academic jargon, problematization emerges in this book as a transformative way of seeing, speaking, and being-one that challenges the taken-for-granted and opens space for critical reflection in philosophy, politics, and everyday life.
Tracing the concept from its etymological origins in ancient Greek to its radical reinvention by Socrates, Nietzsche, Foucault, and Carol Bacchi, this book weaves a compelling narrative that blends philosophical inquiry with political urgency. It examines how "problems" are not neutral facts, but constructs shaped by power, discourse, and historical struggle.
Through clear prose and a deeply ethical lens, Andreas Michaelides shows that problematization is not about finding solutions, but about asking better questions-questions that destabilize the obvious, reveal hidden assumptions, and make space for justice, complexity, and possibility.
Whether you're a student, academic, activist, or critical thinker, this book offers a fresh and accessible entry point into the world of poststructural critique and genealogical analysis. It invites readers to embrace uncertainty, reject simplification, and engage in thinking that resists finality.
In an age saturated with slogans, shortcuts, and soundbites, The Word That Questions the World is a clarion call to slow down, think deeper, and keep the world open.
