Santiago Zabala

Santiago Zabala is a contemporary Italian philosopher and ICREA Research Professor of Philosophy at the Pompeu Fabra University. Born in 1975, his academic career is marked by a deep engagement with continental philosophy and critical theory. His research and writings primarily explore the complex interplay between art, politics, and freedom in the 21st century, a period he characterizes by the 'absence of emergency.' Zabala posits that philosophy's role is to confront and disrupt the pervasive 'return to order' phenomena driven by surveillance capitalism and right-wing populism. He critically examines how issues like climate change and economic inequality are overshadowed by a manufactured sense of stability, advocating for a reawakening to these urgent concerns through philosophical inquiry and artistic expression. His influential books, including 'Being at Large: Freedom in the Age of Alternative Facts,' 'Why Only Art Can Save Us: Aesthetics and the Absence of Emergency,' and 'Signs from the Future: A Philosophy of Warnings,' have been translated into multiple languages, solidifying his international reputation. Zabala also contributes to public discourse through articles in major international media outlets and has had his aesthetic theories explored in exhibitions, demonstrating a commitment to bridging academic philosophy with broader cultural and political conversations.