Philosophy Critiques Western Dominance

Researchers in Brazil have found that the dominant Western philosophical and psychoanalytic theories are often used to co-opt and neutralize alternative perspectives from the Global South, without truly acknowledging their radical critiques of colonialism. This practice, known as epistemic extractivism, strips dissenting knowledge of its power and context, turning it into a commodity that serves the interests of the dominant elite. By doing so, it undermines the potential for meaningful change and perpetuates the existing power structures.