Playing the identity game: Inferentialism and expressivism in the normative struggle and resistance

inferencialismo e expressivismo na luta e resistência normativa

Abstract

We will argue, based on semantic inferentialism and expressivism, that socially minoritized groups do not need to give up the concept of identity in their resistance movements against injustice and systemic violence, even if identity does not find an ontological counterpart in reality. Our argument will follow the following structure: first (I), we will defend the rejection of essentialism proposed by several anti-identitarian authors. However, we qualify this refusal of identities as ‘theoretical’, as opposed to the need to maintain the concept due to its pragmatic and strategic level. Thus, in (II), we will show the consequences that the abdication of the concept of identity can trigger in the pragmatics of the political field. The third moment (III) will be dedicated to showing that we can deflate identities ontologically and still guarantee the pragmatic handling of the concept of identity adequate to face injustices on their own terms. We will show at the last moment (IV) how to dissolve the ambivalence of the concept of identity, namely: assuming the semantic distinction between a referentialist view and an inferentialist view of identity. As a consequence, we must learn to play the identity game without falling into the ontological traps of essentialism. We can, therefore, make explicit, resist, dispute, and normatively change the meaning of the concept of identity based on its inferential articulations.

Keywords: Identitarianism; Anti-identitarianism, Normativity, Inferentialism, Expressivism.