O pensiero debole de Gianni Vattimo e Pier Aldo Rovatti

Abstract

We propose a study of the concept of pensiero debole, proposed by Gianni Vattimo and Pier Aldo Rovatti, taken as a notion of contemporary philosophical thought that has attracted significant attention. This conceptual mode challenges the traditional foundations of philosophical thought and seeks to undermine the notion of absolute truth. Starting from the work "Il pensiero debole", specifically "Premessa", written by Vattimo and Rovatti (2011), we investigate how that notion emphasizes the ambiguity and uncertainty inherent in human existence, and how the authors argue that our understanding of reality always depends on our subjective perspectives and interpretations. By embracing this outlook, pensiero debole opens new possibilities for dialog and pluralism in philosophical discourse - in other words, it establishes new ground for contemporary philosophical intellectual exploration. In recent decades, the discussion around the "crisis of reason" has gained great prominence in Italian philosophical culture. This debate has revealed that there is no longer a comprehensive narrative of history, as well as no universal knowledge that can unify specific knowledge into a supposedly "true" understanding of the world. However, there have been cases in which new and limited forms of rationality have been hastily established, marking unlikely "returns" to traditional values. Based on this premise, here we seek to delve deeper into this issue, using the idea (or concept) of "pensiero debole" (weak thinking) presented by Vattimo and Rovatti (2011). In "Il pensiero debole", several voices, even from different disciplinary fields that may not align, propose a more radical approach: and so, what is provisionally referred to as "weak thinking" aims to break down the persistent resistance of entrenched notions of reason. This is why, at this point, we are referring specifically to the analysis of the book's "Premessa", a text that is still untranslated for the Brazilian publishing market, in order to delve deeper into the way in which the authors construct a contemporary philosophical way of thinking: the understanding of a more fluid, precise and acceptable concept of truth, which can only happen if we free ourselves from the remnants of modern rationalism. According to the philosophers, this alternative perspective of thought may be less comforting, but it certainly brings us closer to the current reality and, consequently, offers greater practicality.