Critical Doxology and Timenergy Theory is a monthly seminar that has two components: A discussion, and a lecture session. If you’re here, then you already know what it is about, but if you need a refresher, read TIMENERGY or watch this
This seminar will do deep dives into aspects of Timenergy Theory while conducting research through the history of philosophy and theory. This course will focus on different theories of time, leisure, and freedom, that will fundamentally change how you think about everything, forever. More importantly, you will gain a new critical edge from which to challenge dominant discourses both inside academia and online.
“Critical doxology” is a way of saying the critical study of doxa, i.e. common sense. Timenergy theory is a fundamental challenge to the self-help and business success industries, as well as the related industry of progressive memoirs about enlightened and responsible representation. McKerracher argues that this spectrum of literature is more fundamental to the default common sense and ideology of the American public than anything people watch or read for entertainment or escapism. The books people turn to when in times of crisis, or when trying to build one’s life back, that form the substratum of the working and middle class imaginary and symbolic coordinates.
There are two ways to get involved: Enroll via one of the tiers, or become a Tier 3 or 4 subscriber to TU – either via the app (available on Apple and Android app stores) or right here on the site.
David McKerracher (M.A.)
David McKerracher (M.A.) is the organizer for, and founder of, Theory Underground, a course-based social media site and app by and for people who don’t belong anywhere: drop outs, blue collar intellectuals, and renegade PMCs. McKerracher’s background is in critical theory, political philosophy, existentialism and phenomenology. All of McKerracher’s work revolves around a single question: What is the Good Life? His questioning into the conditions of possibility for living the Good Life led McKerracher to an M.A. thesis on “Timenergy, the existential basis of labor power.” This work draws heavily from Marx and Heidegger. McKerracher develops this concept further in his first book called Waypoint: Timenergy, Critical Media Theory, and Social Change, and Timenergy (coming out Fall 2023). Because “Timenergy Theory” requires a more robust theory of libidinal economy and ideology, McKerracher has spent the last few years learning Žižekian and Lacanian theory from his compatriot Michael Downs. Theory Underground is McKerracher’s vehicle for cultivating the kind of research and conversation necessary to take this project to the next level, the long-term goal of which is to overcome the current culture war deadlocks by inquiry into their conditions of possibility. The goal of this work is to pave a way forward for humanity to maintain the conditions of a robust cultural plurality, harness automation-for-all, and ultimately, explore the universe, but without creating indefinite civil war with those who try to “stay natural” and remain on Earth.
Tier 1: AUDIT: Access to the lecture Zoom calls + 6 months of access to the lecture recordings and the forum.
Tier 2: LONG-TERM BUY-IN: Everything from Tier 1 + Long-term buy-in and access to the course, forum, recordings of the seminar sessions, and lectures.
Tier 3: DISCUSSION GROUP: Everything from Tiers 1 & 2 + Timenergy seminar discussions meeting to reflect on practical experiments related to time-management and the conservation, harnessing, and directing of our energy into a more meaningful and effective life + invitations to participate in the live exegetical discussions of related texts.
Tier 4: ASSESSMENT & ACCOUNTABILITY: Everything from Tiers 1-3 + (1) Direct constructive critical feedback from Dave (via voice messages and/or marked up reviews of your assignments) (2) Access to any of the live and recorded exegetical reading sessions of this text + (3) Two 1-on-1 Zoom calls with Dave going over your theory reflections: The first is to be scheduled while the course is ongoing, and the second is to be conducted after the course is over, for a constructive criticism session dealing with your final project.
