The Decolonial hubris: Descartes versus the zero point

Abstract

Latin American decolonial theory has been presented as a critique and overcoming of Western thought insofar as this tradition carries Eurocentric biases. However, this approach has been based on reductionisms and raw generalizations that have spread many other prejudices instead of contributing to critical thinking. In this sense, I discuss one of the fundamental interpretations of decolonial theory: that of Cartesian thought. Specifically, I criticize the idea, defended by the philosopher Santiago Castro-Gómez, that Descartes based his thought on a zero point, that is, from a supposed point of view dissociated from space and social relations. Such a proposal not only does not capture the spirit of Cartesian thought, but it spreads more prejudices than it helps to debunk.