Not just theory

Abstract

Donna Haraway suggests that traditional Western knowledge is inherently linked to the marginalization of non-Western visions. Similarly, Walter Mignolo criticizes the “colonial matrix of power” that dominates not only epistemology but also excludes incommensurable perspectives. He embraces Humberto Maturana’s idea of “objectivity-without-parenthesis” to highlight the exclusive nature of Western knowledge and its aspiration toward universality. On this basis, this essay argues that the traditional view of academic authors as impartial and detached needs to be reconsidered. Academic practice must move beyond this framework to create a more comprehensive and inclusive understanding of knowledge. To achieve this, the text will explore the concept of “queer writing,” which views the context in which academic expression occurs as the necessary condition for its possibility. Therefore, the text will (1) specify the image of Western knowledge and universality, (2) identify the crucial shifts in the course of its development, and (3) outline possible interventions.