Preferred Citation: Bencivenga, Ermanno. A Theory of Language and Mind. Berkeley, Calif: University of California Press, c1997 1997.

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A Theory of Language and Mind

Ermanno Bencivenga
UNIVERSITY OF ALIFORNIA !RESS

Berkeley Los Angeles Oxford

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Preferred Citation: Bencivenga, Ermanno. A Theory of Language and Mind. Berkeley, Calif: University of California Press, c1997 1997. http: ark.cdli!.org ark: 1"#"# ft1$%n!#s&

!reface
'his !ook co(ld not have !een )ritten if there )ere not many voices speaking inside of me, voices that !elong to *others.* Pro!a!ly the same may !e said !y any a(thor, !(t most definitely !y this one. +nd the !ook )o(ld not have !een )ritten in the )ay it )as if a n(m!er of friends had not cared for it and had not !een )illing to play )ith it. ,t-s nat(ral to remem!er them no) and to offer the !ook to them: more than any other friends or enemies, they sho(ld !e a!le to find something of themselves in these pages. +nd it-s a pleas(re as )ell as a d(ty to thank them: .ent Baldner, /eff Barrett, 0(ccia Bencivenga, 1aniel Berthold2Bond, Bill Earle, Calvin 0ormore, 3ig(el 4atter. 5ne of them tho(ght the !ook very m(ch a *private* thing and did not )ant me to share it )ith the p(!lic. B(t at least t)o others !ring me the !est possi!le evidence that that )o(ld not !e a )ise choice: they sho) me that if it-s done right, not t(rned into a circ(s, p(!lishing is a good )ay of making ne) friends6friends yo( have never met, and perhaps never )ill. By the )ay, this is not a te7t!ook either. ,rvine, /(ne 1998 919

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# #.1 'he theory of lang(age and mind presented here is a dialectical one. :o it )ill not attempt to define either lang(age or mind !y gen(s and differentia: !y listing a n(m!er of traits that m(st !elong to )hatever is to co(nt as lang(age or mind and that ;ointly represent <the totality of= )hat is characteristic <essential>= to lang(age or mind. 'his analytic logic is hopeless: either yo( get something so general that it does not disting(ish !et)een <say= lang(age and lots of other things <think of the *general ideas* of a cat and a dog6of Berkeley-s o!;ections to ?ocke=, or yo( m(ltiply meanings for the )ord *lang(age,* make the )ord ambiguous, equivocal . /(st as in dictionaries, )hich are constr(cted on this <+ristotelian= !asis: yo( have lang(age1 , lang(age% , and so on. +nd then lang(age <p(n intended: the misrepresentation of the semantics of the )ord *lang(age* reflects6and epitomi&es6a !road mis(nderstanding of the )orkings of language = is considered perverse !eca(se it creates so many *(nnecessary* complications. <@o(ldn-t it !e easier, and )iser, to (se a ne) )ord )henever something different is meant> 0e7t thing yo( kno), someone is trying to saniti&e the area and !ring this (nr(ly !ehavior (nder control: a *logically perfect lang(age* is afoot.= +m!ig(ity is telling yo( something important, if only yo( took it serio(sly. ,f yo( did not $(ickly dispatch it as a pathology. 5r if yo( made the pathology the center of yo(r concerns. 'he disco(rse a!o(t )hat it is to s(ffer, that is6as opposed to the disco(rse a!o(t )hat it is to f(nction *properly,* *nat(rally.* Event(ally to discover, may!e, that there is nothing improper or (nnat(ral a!o(t s(ffering. 5r indeed that there is6that )hile revolting cr(elty is )ell )ithin 0at(re, that doesn-t make it less (n)elcome there. 0ot everyone is )elcome homeA some homes are divided and dysf(nctional, they )ork improperly and h(rt people, and they make them evil and event(ally drive them a)ay <)hich does not mean they are not missed and there is no 6mor!id> here goes sickness

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9%9 again, elevated to a system6longing for a ret(rn to them, for not feeling )elcome, for !eing h(rt=. #.1"1 *0at(ral* lang(age is one of these (nnat(ral homes. ?ots of strange, vicio(s relatives there. E7citing ones, too, like those (ncles yo( so !adly needed as a !oy, in order to !ecome yo(rself <that is , different from yo(rself=.

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'here is a strong ideological !asis for the a(tomatic association !et)een pathology and deviance. 'hink for a second, !efore yo( !lindly !(y into it. <Before yo( c(rse at the hammer that ;(st hit yo(r th(m!A !efore yo( invoke $(ick o!literation on it.= 'he logic here )ill !e Begelian: the meanings of *lang(age* and *mind* )ill consist of narratives, indeed of a single, connected narrative <there is, after all, only one concept, tho(gh in any specific case )e only deal )ith some portion of it=, )hich in its unfolding )ill proceed to capt(re all that is ordinarily regarded as falling (nder *lang(age* and *mind.* 'he narrative )ill not do its ;o! if something important is left o(t: along the )ay, )e )ill have to acco(nt for reference and comm(nication, logic and rhetoric, privacy and conscio(sness, tho(ght and imagination. :ome of these elements )ill contradict each otherA hence in an analytic frame)ork they )o(ld end (p canceling each other o(t, or !eing passed !y in favor of their opposites, or, again, splintering the )ord <and concept= into e$(ivocal do(!les. @ithin o(r frame)ork, any s(ch contradiction )ill signal instead a t)ist in the plot, the necessity of Aufhebung 6 of a ne) stage that incorporates the previo(s ones <if only perhaps in a mode of denial: to say that there )ill have to !e room for everything is not to say that it is possi!le to make everyone happy6sometimes, room can only !e fo(nd in a tort(re cham!er, among electrodes and pliers=. @hat m(st !e acco(nted for incl(des the s)itching from *,* to *it* to *yo(* to *one* to <especiallyC= *)e* in the telling of the story. 'alk of royal or editorial *)e* is only a la!el for an em!arrassing e7planatory fail(re. @hat we say here is the res(lt of a constant, diffic(lt negotiation6indeed, str(ggle6among

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9"9 all of us , and the story )ill have to (ncover the details of this process. #.%%1 *+merica is making enormo(s sacrifices to maintain its role as the greatest )orld po)er )ell into the ne7t millenni(m.* 'hat is, some are making enormo(s sacrifices <!etter yet: are !eing sacrificed= so that others can maintain <and even increase= their po)er. Bo) m(ch fine str(ct(re it is possi!le to hide !eneath a collective referenceC +nd ho) m(ch shame it is possi!le to el(de that )ayC :ome other time *)e* might tell a different story, and in a )ay )e kno) it6it is in the !ack of o(r mind. B(t )e m(st also do o(r !est to keep it !ack there <for all intents and p(rposes, to forget it=, or )e )o(ld !e cheating. Dor the game to !e played right, )e m(st s)eat !lood to tell the (ltimate story: the one after )hich no more stories )ill !e needed <a!o(t the same material=. +s every Begelian narrative, the present one, too, can only rationali&e the e7isting data: it

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can make no prediction a!o(t f(t(re developments. <@hen that )as tried, it failed misera!ly6ca(sing considera!le ;oy to the )rong people. + mistake )e co(ld have done )itho(t.= 0o prediction, at least, that does not amo(nt to reiterating6repeating 6the narrative, and its point of vie), and the <mysterio(s= choice of that point of vie) <the mysterio(s *synthetic act* it e7presses=A hence to t(rning the f(t(re into the <reconstr(cted, rationali&ed, normali&ed= past. ,n effect, then, the narrative ends )here its a(thor is sitting, )ith )hat is availa!le <visi!le= to him. #."1 + good e7ample of retrodictive Begelian narratives: the caref(l analyses cond(cted at the end of a game of !asket!all or soccer, to sho) ho) rational and necessary it )as for the )inner to )in. ,f yo( )ere act(ally )atching the game, yo( often got the feeling that it co(ld have gone either )ay (p (ntil the very end6that it all came do)n to a fe) fort(ito(s episodes. +nd if it had gone a different )ay, a different tale of necessity )o(ld have !een told. ,ndeed, this is not ;(st retrodiction. ,t is more like the <pro;ected=

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9E9 retrodiction of a prediction: ,-m going to tell yo( no) )hy yo( had to kno), and in some sense did kno), that this )as the )ay it )o(ld t(rn o(t. <@hich resonates )ith specific elements of the partic(lar Begelian story told here: for something to !e incorporated in the notion of who I am , it )ill have to !e constr(ed as having !een kno)n all along. +nd this, of co(rse, is more than a coincidence: it points to the s(!stantial identity !et)een Begelian logic and Begelian phenomenology.= #."% :o there is no $(estion that the narrative <and its a(thor= )ill !e s(perseded, !(t that task !elongs to others. 'o try to incorporate it, too, into the narrative )o(ld !e a sordid attempt at making history, really, end )ith oneself. Dort(nately, no s(ch attempt ever )orks. Five those Cronoses some !ig rock to s)allo). B(ndled (p in a shro(d. 'hey )on-t notice. 5thers )ill, )hen s(ch greedy, ;ealo(s parents have died of indigestion. 5n the other hand, this is not to say that ;(st !eca(se others )ill have more data availa!le <or even , )ill, later=, necessarily they <or ,= )ill tell ne) stories. 3any are delighted to forever *live* in the past, spinning o(t a decrepit tale. 'here is a !eginning to this narrative, an origin to lang(age and mind. +nd that, of co(rse, matters. ,t esta!lishes order and priorities. ,t gives one something definite to regret. B(t the origin is no more essential to lang(age and mind than any of the s(!se$(ent developments. Bo)ever m(ch one might despise them <and *,* do6that is, part of me does=, they are as

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m(ch lang(age and mind as the origin is. #.E1 'his is in no )ay a red(ctionist effortA it is rather a genealogical one. <0iet&sche is the ironical Begel, less pompo(s, less ass(red of his position in the story, less capa!le to tell it in earnest, )itho(t shrill so(nds. This te7t is more 0iet&sche than Begel, !(t 0iet&sche is more Begel than yo( )o(ld like to !elieve, than iet!sche )o(ld have liked to !elieve.= +nd there is no reason to think of ancestors <in the genealogy= as in any )ay *!etter* than their descendants. 'ho(gh, of co(rse,

9G9 there may !e reasons to think that some are6*circ(lar* reasons, reasons that e7press commitments, as all reasons do. #.E11 Commitments are (nfalsifia!le, some feisty m(les have discovered6and then they made a redo(!ta!le career o(t of pointing that o(t )ith a reproaching finger. ,t seems that no one can get attention !y !ringing o(t some distinctive features something has: he m(st also call those feat(res names, claim that they are mista"es of sorts. 1oesn-t that tell yo( something a!o(t the genesis of ideas, the h(m(s they gro) on> 1oesn-t it tell yo( that they are !orn o(t of anger, that their *disco(rse* comes mi7ed )ith choleric spit> ,t does not , yo( say> 'hat has nothing to do )ith )hat the ideas are , !(t rather )ith ho) they are presented , yo( say> 0ice try, partner. Head on. +ccording to )hat the narrative says of lang(age, mind, and narratives, the self2description provided a!ove is del(sive: the point of a narrative, more or less )ell concealed (nder its pretense of comprehension, is one of forcing the e7isting str(ct(re <not reflecting it6or may!e reflecting it in a distorted mirror as one ma;or )ay of forcing it= in previo(sly (nanticipated directions <)hich, because they are previo(sly (nanticipated, may need to !e anticipated=. B(t if )e !ased on this concl(sion an *ingenio(s* practice of second2g(essing o(rselves, the res(lt )o(ld !e <at !est= )orthless self2promotion. 5nce again, )e m(st play the game right6limitations, del(sions, and all. 5r the point it <s(pposedly= has )o(ld !e lost. *@orthless* is a val(e ;(dgment, (ttered from a specific stage <in the narrative=, a specific p(lpit. ?a(ghed at !y the acco(ntants, those )ho care a!o(t *net worth ,* )ho think of self2 promotion in terms of *there is no s(ch thing as !ad press.* 'hey also have a stage here, from )hich they can go on la(ghing (ntil some other hyenas are ready to s(!late their cadavers.

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1 1.1 'here are patterns to h(man moves. 3oves are events. 'hey happen, they take time, they !egin and end.

989 1.11 Events are types, not tokens. 'hat is, they can re occ(r: the same event can happen repeatedly. 0o acco(nt is given here of )hat it is to !e <a repetition of= the same event. @e are concerned )ith a logical str(ct(re, not )ith the concrete modalities of its application, )e might say )ith a s(percilio(s sneer <trying to hide the em!arrassment )e feel, and if )e sho) eno(gh confidence, or are good eno(gh at e7ploiting the other g(y-s lack of confidence, )e )ill get a)ay )ith it=. #oes this str(ct(re have application> :ho(ldn-t )e say instead that there isn$t any <literal= repetition> 'hat any alleged repetition is in fact violation, drift, s$(inting> @ell, )e )ant to say that, too . @hat happens is al)ays the o(tcome of a conflict, al)ays a compromise formation6)hich is )hy it is most often <may!e even al)ays= so different . B(t (p to a point different tokens are a!le to sell themselves <to !e sold>= as of the same type. %oth things matter a lot here. Hepetition is to an event )hat d(ration )o(ld !e to a thing. +nd yo( might think of capt(ring things )ithin an event ontology !y associating them )ith their repeated occ(rrence <they last as long as the event of their e7istence is repeated=. B(t yo( don-t )ant a facile translation to make yo( miss the cr(cial difference of emphasis. + thing-s sta!ility is an inertial property: if no active force is !ro(ght to !ear on it, the thing )ill last indefinitely. Hepetition, on the other hand, demands an e7planation: )e fro)n )hen the same happening occ(rs all over again. <Unless, of co(rse, )e got (sed to it, in )hich case )e no longer notice it6no longer notice the )ork it takes, largely !eca(se of ho) effective that )ork has !een, ho) good at p(tting (s to sleep.= :o if sta!ility is a special case of repetition, it )ill re$(ire an e7planation6indeed, a more complicated e7planation than a repetition that presents itself as s(ch. + se$(ence of events is a pattern. + pattern is a type, too, not a token. <,t, too, can reocc(r. +nd )e are a!o(t to see that there is a lot of metaphysical content to that *can*6as )ell as to previo(s ones.=

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979 1.%% 0o acco(nt is given here of )hat it is to !e the same pattern. B(t <occ(rrences of= the same pattern need not !e constit(ted !y the same events. <+gain, repetition is hardly ever literal 6and soon it )ill !e clear that it-s al)ays *the same* repetition that )e are talking a!o(t.= Each pattern has a certain degree of strength , a certain capacity *to hold itself together.* Io( might even say <)e do )ant to say, yo( may take (s as saying= that the pattern is *its* degree of strength: for s(ch a definition to )ork, )e m(st conceive of a se$(ence as something that is not ;(st given, that m(st !e constantly maintained or it )ill disintegrate6 and no longer !e one se$(ence. 'hink of 1escartes-s contin(o(s creation, of .ant-s second antinomy <all2important steps in the overcoming of the inertial model=. 5f ho) tiresome it is to stay alive, morning after (ncalled2for morning6and ho), conse$(ently, there )ill come a time )hen that pattern is !roken off. 'here had !etter: )hat an (n!eara!le pain )o(ld immortality !eC <B(t, of co(rse, )e don-t reason that )ayA )e !elieve there m(st !e a reason )hy someone dies6some e7traordinary circ(mstance m(st !e invoked. +gain, o(r )hole sense of )hat does or does not re$(ire an e7planation is at stake here.= +nd remem!er: it-s not over )hen it-s over, since a pattern is a type. 'hink of it as forever tending to gra! and arrange events6even )hen it-s not <apparently= s(cceeding in the least . 'he strength associated )ith a pattern may !e a vanishing $(antity, virt(ally ineffective, and make the pattern a *p(rely theoretical,* and far2fetched, possi!ility. 5ne that )ill perhaps manifest itself in a dream, and startle (s, and !e ;(dged a!s(rd, and still !e frightening in spite <or !eca(se= of its a!s(rdity. @ith an intensity, a vigor, )e )ill not !e a!le *officially* to ;(stify. 'his notion of strength is a primitive one for (s, and it introd(ces a narrative element at the very core of o(r metaphysics. Dor telling is connecting, articulating , and conversely )hat is artic(lated can !e told <not necessarily *!y (s*=, and )e are saying that a f(ndamental and irred(ci!le metaphysical factor

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9J9 emerges in an artic(lation process. <'ho(gh concerning ho) specifically this process Kof constit(ting patternsL )orks, we here have nothing to say.= 1."" +nother )ay to p(t it: *Being is )ill to po)er.* That is: *Being is the concept.* <+nd here yo( see the previo(s *methodological* remarks reappear as the flesh and !lood of o(r *claims.* +n analytic logic goes hand in hand )ith an atomistic ontology6a theory of impassive, resilient, o!stinate ob ;ects. @hereas a dialectical logic resonates Kone octave higherCL )ith a *vitalistic* (niverse, a (niverse that is life and not6not to !egin )ith, and

may!e never6someone$s life.= 1.""1 @hen !eing )ill to po)er is (nderstood as )e (nderstand it, this !eing must ret(rn eternally. ,ts mode of !eing m(st !e a relentless <re=assertion of its str(ct(re, ho)ever <(n=s(ccessf(l the <re=assertion might !e. 'hat )alk in the )oods, that time , la(ghed in the teacher-s face, that )atching of Torn &urtain right after the set theory e7am )ill forever !e )orking to make room for themselves, in e7actly the same )ay they did once <some of it is called *memory*=. <5riginally, memory is !(t an echo, a ripple effect, ranging all the )ay from perfectly distinct to faint to impercepti!le6from *conscio(s* to *(nconscio(s,* )e might say, e7cept that this terminology is mystifying, deceptively flat, malicio(sly inclined to hide complicated confrontations.= @henever it occ(rs, an event falls into indefinitely many patterns, of varying strength. 0o s(ch pattern is, in any a!sol(te sense <in any sense that is independent of the pattern itself=, more legitimate or tr(er than any other. ,n partic(lar, an agent is in no <privileged= position to determine the greater legitimacy or tr(th of a pattern incl(ding any of his moves. @hat goes thro(gh the agent-s mind <)hat he *!elieves*=, or )hat he declares he *)ants* to do <and conse$(ently is ready to *take responsi!ility for*=, is certainly not irrelevant or (ninteresting !(t is not definitive eitherA it is, $(ite simply, part of the data, part of )hat m(st !e assigned to a pattern. <'here may !e )ays for the agent-s !ehavior, inclusive of what he thin"s or says

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999 about it , to *stick together* m(ch more strongly than in any story he is prepared to give.= 1.E11 Dor e7ample, , don-t kno) that the act , am c(rrently performing *tr(ly* !elongs to a pattern of my )orking o(t my *philosophical position* rather than to one of settling some *personal acco(nts.* <, don-t even kno) that it makes sense to say that it only tr(ly !elongs to one s(ch pattern. +nd indeed it pro!a!ly doesn-t.= 0or, for that matter, does anyone else kno)6if kno)ledge is read as indefeasi!le, as a necessity operator. <B(t it-s m(ch less common to attri!(te that kind of indefeasi!ility to the *kno)ledge* others have of )hat one is or does. 'o one-s shrink-s, may!e> 'hat indeed is )hat is so devastating a!o(t Dre(d-s attit(de. 'ho(gh )e )ill see that it is devastating *in principle only*: the o(tside, p(!lic point of vie) it ;(dges from )as there already, in conscio(sness. Conscio(sness is the p(!licity6hence the denial6of the self.= +ny mention of *history* is disingen(o(s if it pres(mes to close iss(es or controversies !y referring to *the* )ay something came to !e6in this case, say, to determine the *tr(e meaning* of one of my moves !y referring to *the* history of my !ehavior, or of h(man

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!ehavior in general. 0ot if this mention is (nderstood as naming a pro!lem: as !ringing o(t the inevita!ly historical character of o(r (nderstanding, the )ay in )hich o(r logic is <a= history. 1.E1111 People )ho don-t kno) the first thing a!o(t the specific str(ct(re and pro!lems of history often try the former tack6one of many cases of importing foreign terminology as a terroristic device. B(t <shamef(llyC= it is in this shady area !et)een poorly (nderstood distinct *specialties* <an area )here lo)lifes prosper, and spies= that c(lt(re is most likely to happen: nothing *professional* a!o(t it, or reass(ring. @hen it does get reass(ring, it-s dead. :o , end (p admiring people , don-t respect6and get to !lame everyone, for opposite reasons. Bo) convenientC 'his point is self2applica!le. @hat is given here is one history of lang(age and mind <one logic of them=6the one *,* have chosen, or the one that chose me. 'here is no )ay of ref(ting it !y citing *empirical data,* since any s(ch data al)ays already

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9 1# 9 re$(ire a reading <and hence a logic determining that reading=. B(t, of co(rse, there are )ays of competing )ith it, !y making alternative proposals6!y telling alternative <hi=stories. @hen that happens, there )ill !e no ne(tral standpoint from )hich the iss(e can !e ad;(dicated, tho(gh there )ill !e definite feat(res of each alternative <each )ill have, say, a certain amo(nt of detail and coherence= that )ill sometimes <for some= make a difference. Dor the idealists among <in= (s, when their idealism is acting (p. 'hat is, )hen it-s not stifled !y the partisan pro;ection of one vie) into something e7ternal to all vie)s6 something no vie) can call in $(estion. <'hat there !e an e7ternal reco(rse that esta!lishes the tr(th of a story is transcendental realism6and never mind if )e cannot (se that reco(rse to reach act(al determinations of tr(th Kor falsityL. ,t-s not these practical matters that are at stake here. ,t-s one thing to decide, say, ho) to descri!e the sort of person )e )o(ld )ant to !e a mem!er of the :(preme Co(rt, and $(ite another to decide ho) to find o(t that a given person K!estL fits that description. Both, of co(rse, are important political iss(es.= 1.E1% 'he manifold has priority here. @e re;ect the vie) that the many pres(ppose the oneA specifically, that the manifold of *my* actions pres(pposes the (nity of my person. Unity follo)s <)hen indeed it does= from m(ltiplicity, and it re$(ires considera!le effort to keep it in place. <+ lot more )ork m(st !e done for that *my* to make sense. :elf2identity cannot !e !o(ght at a disco(nt store, or it )ill sho) its cheapness. ,t )ill r(st easily, and crack. +nd yo( )ill )onder a!o(t that o(tcome6talk emptily a!o(t *metal fatig(e.* 'rying to dispel the (ncanny feeling that has taken possession of yo(, all of a s(dden.= :o the sense of familiarity enco(raged !y some of o(r initial statements <there are individ(al events, and they form patterns= is immediately challenged. @e already kno) of a sense in )hich a *single* event is a manifold: it is a type. 0o) )e have also seen that *the

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same* event !elongs sim(ltaneo(sly to different patterns. 1epending on )hich one it !elongs to, can )e e7pect it to al)ays remain *the same*> 5r isn-t it rather that different patterns )ill determine different identity

9 11 9 conditions for it, hence also determine differently )hat its repetition amo(nts to> ,sn-t *the same* event, then, sim(ltaneo(sly many events> +nd doesn-t each of those many events resem!le a pattern , a )ay for the event to !e *shaped,* to !e *modeled*> ,t is along s(ch lines that )e arrive at the follo)ing position: Events are already patterns. 'he t)o differ as roles, not as distinct kinds of entities. 1.E1%% *Me!ras are striped !eca(se they are social animals. ,n the presence of a predator they close ranks, and the predator cannot tell )here one animal ends and another !egins.* #oes one animal end and another !egin> ,s the predator wrong then> Bo) is that to !e (nderstood> 'he vie) )e re;ect is !y far the most pop(lar. ,n a )orld dominated !y this vie), a )orld made of ones, the manifold is proscri!ed. 3(ltiplicity is given a !ad name and often ends (p living do)n to it, deserving it. <'he schi&ophrenic is not really h(man6is not rational, is a !r(te6therefore he m(st !e p(t !ehind !ars. @hich event(ally ma"es him a !r(te: a nice case )here philosophy does not ;(st (nderstand the )orld, !(t changes it, too6for the )orse.= :o m(ltiplicity rears its <(gly> (gly for )hom>= head in all sorts of parado7ical sit(ations, for e7ample, the heap. Confo(nding the sillies )ho str(ggle to define a *logic of vag(e predicates* and can get no)here )ith it. +nd are s(rprised to find o(t that vag(eness is itself <second2order= vag(e, that there is no escaping from it. <5nce again, lang(age is telling yo( something, and )hat yo( do is silence it, streamline it. 5r, !etter, try to6since it-s not going to )ork.= B(t this conf(sion serves a p(rpose. ,t is a tactic. @ho kno)s ho) m(ch of a mess the sillies co(ld make if they t(rned their <often considera!le= !rains a)ay from silly, desperate !rain t)isters> Unsolva!les are intrinsically reactionary. <'ho(gh less so than lethargy: strange things might come to mind )hile trying to *resolve* the liar6and !efore dying of it. Prisons may n(rt(re the most violent and effective seeds of re!ellion. *3ore* *a!o(t* *this* *later.*= 'his politics ;(stifies o(r tone. :ome of o(r tone, at least:

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there are <small, vocifero(s= conte7ts <like those pet(lant little dogs, )ith make(p and ri!!ons6and c(te little pants tooC= in )hich *postmodernism* and m(ltiplicity <allegedly= r(le, so there )ill have to !e places !elo) )here a different t(ne is s(ng. ,t doesn-t take long for onetime revol(tionaries to !ecome tyrants <as they contin(e to (se the )ords that got them there in the first place6and have no) !een taken for a ride=A so )e m(st !e on o(r toes. Io( never )in the !attle for freedom, tho(gh yo( can certainly lose it, especially )hen it looks <to yo(> remem!er: there are a lot of fra(ds o(t there, a lot of )anting certain things to fail6that is, acting that )ay6)hile (nct(o(sly displaying the !est *intentions*= like yo( )on. 1.E1G B(t isn-t the dilemma !et)een (nity and m(ltiplicity a false one> :ho(ldn-t the t)o *dialectically* implicate each other> Ies, and th(s yield a unity of (nity and m(ltiplicityC <@hat a pathetic, la(gha!le stratagemC= Be)are of (nity trying to )in the game after all: assigning the many the s(!ordinate role of a slice in the one cake6possi!ly at the metalevel. 5(rs is indeed a dialectic, not a dialectical (nity !(t a dialectical tension: !et)een the many and the forces that !ring them together6those forces that aim at (nity !(t can never, finally , *reali&e* it, indeed, can only make m(ltiplicity more apparent. :(!scri!ing to a higher level of *integration* )o(ld !e selling o(t. <'he man Begel might not have liked this. B(t he doesn-t have the last )ord here, or the first one either6only a fe) important ones in !et)een.= +nd isn-t the priority of m(ltiplicity ;(st as pro!lematic as that of (nity> :ho(ldn-t )e a!andon the very logic of this confrontation> Be)are of (nity )anting to cancel the game )hen its s(ccess !ecomes (ncertain6!etter, )anting to stall it indefinitely, and )ait in the )ings for its opponent to come !ack into the <m(rdero(s= fold. B(t )e <in the pl(ralC= are not going to fall for thatA )e too )ant o(r day in the s(n. Io( have a hard time seeing things this )ay> 'hink of the antithesis of the second antinomy once again: of the )orld !eing divisi!le all the )ay do)n. 'hink of that as !eing ho)

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9 1" 9 it starts6and stays, (nderneath <and despite= all pres(mpt(o(s declarations of victory and all d(ll ac$(iescence in them. 1.E1G%1 .ant calls this d(ll ac$(iescence <this passivity: the e7tent to )hich one is not , is no )ill to po)er= the *fac(lty* of sensi!ility. +nd he says that sensi!ility faces the infinitely divisi!le manifold and that reason (nderstanding attempts to (nify it. +ll of this m(st !e caref(lly (npacked, or it )ill end (p sending the )rong messages. @e are passive <that is, e7ercise the fac(lty of sensi!ility= to the e7tent that )e offer no resistance to the m(ltiple e'ternal patterns clamoring for recognition6and can assign no priorities, make no choices among them <)hich is precisely )hat makes them e7ternal, foreign to (s=. @e are active )ith respect to that m(ltiplicity <that is, e7ercise the fac(lty of (nderstanding= to the e7tent that

)e identify )ith a specific <internal= pattern <a pattern that is what we are =, and fight for its integrity against all other patterns6th(s !ringing difference into sharp relief. +ny apparent s(ccess in this fight may !e del(sive: the pattern )e <s(ccessf(lly= fight for may !e incorporated in a larger <e7ternal= one6one )e have not chosen. 'he fac(lty of reason re$(ires (s to !e absolutely active, that is, to identify )ith a (niversal pattern <one that cannot !e so incorporated=. :ince this kind of identification is impossi!le, )hat aiming at it leaves (s )ith is the adoption of a constant critical <and destr(ctive= stance )ith respect to any specific pattern )e have in fact identified )ith. 'herefore the rhetoric of esta!lishing (nity goes together )ith a practice of radicali&ing division, and conversely a p(rely passive acceptance of division has the effect <not certainly of eliminating it altogether, !(t at least= of minimi&ing its impact6red(cing the (rgency of the str(ggle, moving it as far as possi!le to)ard sheer side2!y2sideness. <,n this sense, )e agree that the real is rational: the activity of reason6activity as reason6!rings o(t the m(ltiplicity that !eing is, it makes !eing come for)ard as the m(ltiplicity it is, it manifests its *nat(re.* 'hat activity and this nat(re resonate )ith each other. @hen, ho)ever, the same slogan is (nderstood more conventionally, making reason side )ith achieved, actual (nity, )e can only see it as a reactionary tool.=

9 1E 9 1.E% 'here is competition !et)een any t)o patterns encompassing the same event. <Ies, even !et)een a pattern and any of its components: each of the latter is calling attention to itself and threatening to e7plode the *parent* pattern. 'here is no encompassing that is not also an imprisoning, and no *falling (nder* that is not also attempting to (ndermine. @ith friends6or disciples, or teachers6like this, N= ,n the competition, the strength of each pattern is e7pended. Economic ;argon and strategies !ecome relevant no): since strength can !e e'pended , it can also !e managed, saved, capitali!ed, distributed , and, of co(rse, wasted . +nd so do, clearly, political ;argon and strategies: since strength can !e e7pended, it can also force certain o(tcomes, and oppose certain others, and itself be opposed !y e$(al or (ne$(al strength. 4ario(s hierarchical, associative, or antagonistic relations may emerge as a res(lt. 4ario(s *forms of government,* as one might call them <since it is, after all, an iss(e of administering po)er=, )ith vario(s goals6and vario(s degrees of s(ccess and sta!ility, depending on ho) )ell their *economy* is managed. 'he same events and patterns can occ(r any)here, in any medi(m. 'herefore no move or pattern !elongs to a specific agent. @hatever its origin, it can al)ays !e <mis>= appropriated !y anyone and t(rned to *(nintended,* even inimical p(rposes. <'here )ill !e those )ho say that 3o&art *o(ght not* to !e (sed to sell ins(rance or lo)2 sodi(m crackers. 'hey )ill say it )ith an an7io(s tone, in the name of the *integrity* of the )ork of art6or, serio(sly no), of their own integrity, )hich they feel to !e threatened !y

1.E%1

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this !ad e7ample of seepage. Bad !eca(se it is an e7ample, and an e7ample !eca(se it is seepage: e7emplarity is seepage.= 1.G11 <'here are also those )ho are al)ays afraid of !eing $(oted *o(t of conte7t.* 'hey have little confidence that their patterns )ill !e a!le to defend themselves o(tside the little shells )here they have fo(nd a comforta!le home.=

),+
% Patterns may !ecome entrenched.

9 1G 9 %.1 :ome patterns are in fact repeated <the same pattern, )hich, )e kno), can occ(r again, does=. Events <moves= are not there!y *locked* into a single <repeated= pattern: m(ltiplicity is still there, tho(gh repetition might make it less conspic(o(s. <+lso, there may !e several repeated patterns incl(ding the same events, some more conspic(o(s than others, as a conse$(ence of their different strength and economic proficiency. :ome may !e forced (ndergro(nd, and, )hen they come (p for air, !e)ildered denial )ill often !e a last2ditch defense: *Bo) come , al)ays find myself doing the same idiotic thing>* 5r, more ela!orately, *@hat-s )rong )ith me> @hy do , persist in acting so self2destr(ctively>*6 that is, )hy is *my* acting so destr(ctive of the simpleminded idea of a *self* that most often gets *me* thro(gh the night> Dinally, remem!er: there might !e no literal repetition, it might !e that )hat is called repetition al)ays has an element of novelty, of transgression, that calling it repetition is itself an ideological move. B(t that very ideology and the fact that it sticks are indications that the drive to repetition is there, and that, tho(gh possi!ly never completely s(ccessf(l, this drive is often s(ccessf(l eno(gh6eno(gh to force a certain description of the sit(ation, if nothing else.= *Conspic(o(s* as a ne) primitive term> 0ot at all: it can !e defined in terms of the competition among patterns, and of its o(tcomes. + pattern is conspic(o(s insofar as it is a )inner in that competition. <:o a repeated pattern is one that has eno(gh comparative strength to emerge as a )inner over and over again.= 'hat the competition revolve a!o(t6and its pri&e consist in6visibility is an important commentary on this allegedly least offensive <and most *disinterested*= of senses. @hose significance )ill not !e lost on the children )hose <vario(s= potentials co(ld not flo(rish !eca(se the relevant patterns )ere not strong eno(gh to impose themselves onto the environment-s lack of concern <to grab a si&a!le portion of the environment=. 'he (nderachievers )ho ended (p looking like )allpaper6entirely s)allo)ed !y an e7trinsic motif. :ometimes spitef(lly disgorging their long dammed2(p energy <in relatively trivial modes, )hich, of co(rse, )ill not help their

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9 18 9 ca(se: they )ill ;(st !e regarded as )allpaper of a different kind=. %.1% Conspic(o(sness m(st not !e (nderstood as the property a pattern has )hen someone is <or many are= conscious of it. , a(tomatically avoid all sorts of o!stacles as , )alk <they are conspic(o(s eno(gh to infl(ence my !ehavior= )itho(t e7periencing any of the foc(sed attention and the refle7ivity that seem to !e definitional of conscio(sness. 3ore generally, , see and hear all sorts of things, and act on the !asis of )hat , see and hear, )itho(t !eing conscio(s of any of it. 5f co(rse, , could !ecome conscio(s of itA !(t that )o(ld !elong to a different and more tort(o(s sit(ation, )here different and more tort(o(s a!ilities come into play. +nd, of co(rse, yo( )ill say that , )as all along *s(!liminally* conscio(s of it 6*(nconscio(sly conscio(s,* that is6and , )ill read yo(r a)k)ard statement as an indication that a po)er play is going on, that an ideologically !ased re constr(ction of my life <and my *e7perience,* tooC= is trying to e7tend its domination on older and refractory gro(nd. + repeated pattern m(st have some reprod(ctive advantage over the competition: its strength and the )ays it is administered m(st favor it in s(rvival terms. B(t no e7travagant concl(sions are )arranted a!o(t the *larger meaning* of this o(tcome. 'his is no technology of <providential= creation, no tool in the hands of a !enevolent master. 'here are many !lind alleys to evol(tion: many things that are so only !eca(se there is no reason )hy they sho(ld !e other)ise <or no good reason6think of the )ings of the arg(s pheasant and in general of ho) se7(al selection e7plodes the )hole notion of an increasing adaptiveness: yo( m(st, !esides *nat(ral* selection, also admit, N yes, this unnatural kindA and once yo( admit that, the )hole game is over, tho(gh it may take yo( a )hile to reali&e it=. 'here are also many !ranches that get st(nted, independently of ho) adaptive they might have been <had the story !een told differently, had there !een a place from )hich a different story co(ld !e told=. ,n the end, it-s all so very st(pid: so st(pidly self2serving. O(ite effective, too, as st(pid things <and people= often are. <Effectiveness

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9 17 9 may ;(st be st(pidity: *lack of po)er to a!sor! ideas or impressions.* Io( may have to sh(t yo(r ears to )hat else is happening, in order to !e effective.= Cr(el, too. %.%11 Tue!(les tous: #ieu reconna)tra les siens . + simple, even )itty recipe. ,t c(ts do)n on the amo(nt of red tapeA it avoids lengthy e7planations, s(!tle distinguos . Io( have !etter things to do )ith yo(r time. <?ike looking nice on yo(r golf cart.=

%.%% %.%"

*Evol(tion* is the )rong )ord. @orse: (sing that )ord is a form of demagogic propaganda. ,t makes yo( feel good a!o(t e7isting things. ,t makes yo( think of )hat does not e7ist as a lo)er form, one that didn-t deserve to e7ist. *E7isting* is a val(e ;(dgment. ,t validates a selection process that distills a single line in a ma&e and then imposes it as )hat *is the case.* *0onadaptive* amo(nts to *<temporary>= loser in a po)er str(ggle.* +nd , mean here: a po)er str(ggle <and a selection process= among narratives , among <possi!le= histories. +mong patterns. 'here is nothing strange a!o(t that: *the )orld* contains s(ch po)er str(ggles <indeed, is made of them, tho(gh yo( often don-t see them6tho(gh making yo( not see them is part of ho) they are fo(ght, and )on=, hence adapting to the )orld re$(ires adapting to them. + yo(th in so(th central ?.+. m(st adapt not only to a dr(g2 and gang2infested environment !(t also to a !(nch of tales <not necessarily told !y anyone= a!o(t the inevita!ility of his condition <and to ho) those tales inevita!ly contri!(te to shaping the environment=. 'he ordinary (nderstanding of *adaptive* tends to forget s(ch matters6th(s creating more <apparent, !(t then, !eca(se of that, also real= sta!ility. ,t tends to transform the competition of narratives into a narrative of competition. @ritten !y the s(rvivors, in the name and for the greater glory of s(rvival. 'he more a pattern is repeated, the more likely it is that it )ill !e repeated again.

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%."

9 1J 9 %."1 ,f yo( )on once, it )ill cost yo( less ne7t time aro(nd. +nd it )ill cost others more to resist yo(. <*0ever (nderestimate the heart of a championC* ,n some sense, champions have hearts like anyone else, !(t it doesn-t look that )ay. +nd therefore it isn-t.= <'here is something nontrivial a!o(t the old sa) *appearance is reality*: some interesting str(ct(re, some gen(ine insight into ho) it all )orks. ,t-s not ;(st a self2ref(ting, *skeptical* !it of cleverness.= + pattern that is repeated often tends to !ecome more predicta!le. 'hat is, it tends to rec(r )henever certain circ(mstances arise. ,t tends to *complete* those circ(mstances in a standard )ay. Drom the moment he opens his mo(th, there is no stopping his ro(tine. +nd that-s largely !eca(se of ho) many times he ran it, )itho(t sensi!le opposition <only a tired smile, some

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ya)ning6nothing he )o(ld !e forced to come to terms )ith, to act on=. %.E% %.E%1 +nd, conse$(ently, it is e7pected )hen those circ(mstances arise. 'here are s(!;ective resonances to *e7pected* and *predicta!le,* to )hich )e are not committed. +nd yet )e )ill contin(e to (se this terminology. @e are )orking )ith )ords laden )ith a!(sive ideologies. @hy a!(sive> Beca(se they have carried the day for so long, )hich makes for complacency and arrogance. Clearly, open confrontation is favored here, tho(gh in general it re$(ires more of an e7pendit(re than an esta!lished po)er str(ct(re. Co(ld it !e that *,* favor a general economy, an economy of )aste> ,-d say, Ies. B(t there is more going on <and !eing favored= than )hat *,* favor. Even in me. ,t )o(ld !e hopeless <and )rong=, ho)ever, to attempt a ret(rn to some p(re, innocent state. @hat )e need instead is to reclaim those )ords. E7pose the a!(se and its !ackgro(ndA

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9 19 9 )rite a ne) chapter in this development. Contin(e the development, move for)ard into the f(t(re, tho(gh <o(r story a!o(t= the past may !e o(r driving force. %.E%"1 %.E%"% 3ake some of the st(nted !ranches gro) again> Five them <(s>= another chance> +nd enco(rage their event(al complacency and arrogance> 'here is no )ay of keeping one-s hands clean. @hich doesn-t mean yo( o(ght not to try. <Io( most definitely o(ght toA in fact, that-s the )hole significance of an *o(ght.* 5nly impossi!le tasks6tasks perceived, e'perienced as impossi!le6make yo( appreciate that significanceA only then do yo( have to choose for or against, and can yo( not play games )ith yo(rself. Can yo( not phrase yo(r agenda in the indicative mood. Pretend to !e *realistic.*= Io( o(ght to !e al)ays ready to chastise yo(r former friends6and yo(r former selves. 'o stand firm !efore their p(&&led stare, or their s(dden rage. .no)ing f(ll )ell ho) m(ch yo( contri!(ted to !ringing a!o(t their (ndeserved fort(ne, and ho) m(ch yo( )ill do more of the same in the f(t(re. @e don-t )ant to (se new )ords either. @e can easily see thro(gh that dividing and con$(ering strategy. 'hro(gh the del(sive *peace* it !rings6the peace of death finally

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imposed on the enemy. <'he hypocrisy of *hyphenated +mericans*C= Each in his little c(!icle, forever disconnected, and hence forever harmless. Cla)less, )eaponless. 'ho(gh possi!ly hooked to the ,nternet <the only thing that is still connected, and is en;oying great po)er as a res(lt6at o(r e7pense=. %.E%E1 @hile )e play the game of fragmentation6a game for rich, decadent kids <lemmings ;(dicio(sly engaged in transcendental s(icide=6systematicity <the a!ility to master comple7 patterns and t(rn m(ltiplicity to one-s evol(tionary advantageA the carrot that drives reason-s mercilessly destr(ctive action= is re2created at a different level. @here )e don-t even see it, )here )e don-t e7pect to see it, )here )e e7pect only machinic, *so(lless* aggregation. +re )e in for a s(rpriseC <5f co(rse not, yo( )ill say: science fiction has !een descri!ing things like that for ages. +nd yo( don-t reflect on the importance

9 %# 9 of calling it *fiction*6or, on the contrary, of !ringing it into a *serio(s* conte7t. 0or do yo( reflect on the meaning of yo(r sm(g dismissal.= %.E%E% @hat-s )rong )ith dividing and con$(ering> yo( )ill ask. +ren-t )e s(ppose to side )ith m(ltiplicity here> +nd then , )ill have to repeat <literally>= that )hat-s )rong is the con$(ering, and that the relation !et)een the t)o is not accidental: dividing is one of the !est )ays of unifying <things as divided=. @hich, , )ill also insist, is not necessarily all !ad for all the characters in this story <!(t it is for me, insofar as )hat , am talking a!o(t is a specific danger of !eing con$(ered=. ,n d(e time, )e )ill kno) )hat *s(!;ective* means. +nd that it matters6and )hy. Past a certain threshold of predicta!ility, a pattern is entrenched. 'hat is: it is possi!le to (se its predicta!le character, even in the presence of conspicuous e'ceptions , as a strength2 saving reso(rce. 5r <the other )ay aro(nd=: an entrenched pattern is one that is predicta!le eno(gh for e7ceptions to it to !e ackno)ledged <it is in this sense that the e7ception proves the r(le: only something ackno)ledged as a r(le can have something ackno)ledged as an e7ception=. *Be-s not even consistent eno(gh )ith his shot yet to !e inconsistent,* says a sports)riter of a !asket!all player. 0othing is said here a!o(t the nat(re or location of the threshold. ?ots of things are not said here. B(t that m(ch is said , not papered over !y some vag(e reference to )hat is *int(itive* or *o!vio(s.* @hich is another )ay of not saying, )itho(t

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admitting to it6another )ay of not doing the )ork that philosophy is . @ork that )ill go thro(gh yo(, that )ill happen any)ay, that yo( )ill not !e a!le to restrain. 'hank FodC <Fod m(st !e a philosopher.= %.G%11 <Else ho) co(ld Be create> +nd )hy )o(ld Be need to rest if creation )as not hard, merciless )ork>= 'here is, of co(rse, a resid(e of contingency to any attempt at an e7planation, !(t that is precisely the limit of any s(ch attempt.

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9 %1 9 Io( may call it an ins(rmo(nta!le limit, and even congrat(late yo(rself for having reached it, if it makes yo( feel !etterA !(t it )ill !e s(rmo(nted, and yo( kno) it. 'he e7planation <the story, the poetry6or the dialectic6of it= )ill contin(e to (nfold, bac"ward and for)ard. 'ho(gh it may !e stalled indefinitely, as long as those )ho feel comforta!le )ith its present stage are a!le to sell their limits as *hard facts.* Using )hatever promotes their ca(se, for e7ample, la(ghing at the arg(ments of the *philosophy of nat(re*6trying not to (nderstand, and to make no one (nderstand, )hat heroic, precio(s )ork those arg(ments are doing. %.G" +n entrenched pattern may lose any reason it originally had for repetition <any *advantageo(s* feat(re=. ,ts !eing entrenched )ill in general g(arantee its repetition any)ay. Even if there )as no reason for itA even if the only *reason* for it )as that there )as no reason against it. <Dor (s, of co(rse, that is itself a good reason: if the competition lags, patterns )ill assert themselves.= Heality6in one of its incarnations, another name for conspic(o(sness6has a sno)!alling effect: that it occ(pies space and time makes it occ(py more of them. 'hat , have a chance to !(sy myself )ith intellect(al matters is eno(gh of an *arg(ment* for contin(ing to have this chance, and for denying it to others . , am !etter at it !eca(se I am at it. <@here the *!eca(se* signals a logical connection, not an empirical one6as in, *@ithin transcendental idealism, there are o!;ects because presentations are coherent, connected, and so on.* 0othing is learned !y this statement other than ho) certain )ords must !e (sed. 5f co(rse, )e don-t yet kno) )hat *logic* is6!(t it !egins to da)n on (s that it has to do )ith the military, )ith the enforcement of discipline, )ith !oot camps and sho(ting orders. 0ot necessarily !eca(se it espo(ses that life2from: all , am saying is that it m(st engage it. , am saying that in logic the pro!lem of freedom is posed . @ithin the empirical realm, on the other hand, freedom is no longer an iss(e: )hat iss(e it )as has !een decided, so )e can emptily and happily proceed to *find o(t* a!o(t this and that.=

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9 %% 9 %.GE11 + morality for !igots, and for the faint at heart. Co(rage )as a virt(e once, remem!er <indeed, it )as virt(e itself, virtus =, and it-s not !eca(se of 4ietnam and the like that it-s no) la(ghed o(t of co(rt. <'he !attlefield )as only, at !est, a so(rce of evidence for it6 am!ivalent, as all evidence is.= 'he matter is m(ch deeper, and slimier. Co(rage has !een caricat(red, cartooned to death: it is all over the place <that is, talk of it is= so no one )ill notice its a!sence. <0ot only can a!sence !e a mode of presenceA the reverse may !e tr(e as )ell.= Ham!o )ill provide an ali!i for (niversal co)ardice. Dor the (niversal incapacity to s(stain the most trivial choice, even if it is a choice in favor of <the flight to)ard= *reality.* 3ost co)ards don-t even have the co(rage of their co)ardice. <,s that )hat is co)ardly a!o(t them> , g(ess there co(ld !e a co(rageo(s )ay of !eing co)ardly, and hence not co)ardly after all. , g(ess that-s )hat makes the terrified characters of some )ar movies *good g(ys*: they have K!oldlyL chosen to !e terrified. 'ho(gh, after a )hile, it no longer )orks: it, too, has !ecome a clichP6since it no longer re$(ires any choice, it is no) standard practice, vulgar standard practice.= ,ndeed, not a morality at all, and hence a morality. 5riginally, morality speaks )ith <and from= resentment, regret, reproach, envy6)ith <and from= the many voices of nothing. 'hen it is <dialectically= violated, and !ecomes ;(stificatory in nat(re. Barmonio(s, contented, self2satisfied. 'he ca<n=nons are t(rned aro(nd and made to fire against *one-s o)n* people6)ho at that point, !eca(se of that move, are no longer one-s o)n. 0o longer in the same sense <in the sense of *one-s o)n car* as opposed to *one-s o)n conviction,* of *o)ning something* as opposed to *o)ning up to it*=. ,t takes a long, ro(nda!o(t, dialectical ;o(rney to go from the morality of Freek tragedies <)here gods themselves resent h(man happiness6look at The Tro*an +omen , for e7ample, )here +thena t(rns against the Freeks, for specio(s reasons, as soon as they have finally )on the )ar= to one in )hich kids are ed(cated to !e pleased !y the *good fort(ne* of others. <@e are talking a!o(t ideals, of co(rse, not statistical compliance6let alone spontaneo(s, (nresisting compliance.= @o(ld

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9 %" 9 there !e less depression if envy )ere not so openly disowned, <'here are those )ho take ideals serio(sly, yo( kno), and let themselves !e tormented !y them.= %.GE% Event(ally, the )orkings of the selection that esta!lished reality !ecome virt(ally (nretrieva!le. 'hings become e7isting, indeed. , become an intellect(al, in the sense that , !ecome s(ch that , have always been an intellect(al <and those other losers )ere never good eno(gh=. +ll the other allegiances my moves had <and still have= are no) invisi!le. <3ore so from afar, tho(gh: )hen yo( get closer, a n(m!er of s(rprising little o!scenities s(rface. ,t seems odd that some!ody like that sho(ld even !e associated )ith intellect(al practices. 'hat disg(sting old lecher. 'herefore, discretion is the !est )ay to )ork at one-s

!iography6in case yo( are )illing to trade yo(r life for a hard!o(nd !ook K*+!sol(tely not6only if , get a paper!ack edition tooC*L, or have eno(gh po)er to manip(late the media and force them to !e discreet any)ay.= *'here is* !y no) !(t one pattern, the !est possi!le one. Candide has come to life6and is no *o"e . %.GG Heality has a solid, tyrannical advantage over the (nreal. Better: having that advantage is reality. :o ho) do , speak a!o(t )hat preceded6and still s(ffers from6this tyranny, a!o(t that other reality on )hich the real is !ased, )hich the real has made (nreal> , ;(st do, and scre) the *contradiction.* :cre) )hat selfishness calls *impossi!ilities* <or *necessities*=. <*Io( can-t r(n a red light.* */(st )atch me.*= *?ife is (nfair.* 5r: the most devastating realistic statement. @hat can yo( say to that6if indeed yo( are a realist> @hat can yo( do> Cry> 'hink of ho) many *revol(tions* <)ere= a!orted. +nd ho) they are considered )rong !eca(se of that. 'he fail(re of comm(nism, st(pidC ,t took them seventy years to reali&e it )o(ldn-t )orkC 'o *reali&e* it, indeed. &ould it )ork no), given that it is no longer> <5r is it rather that no) is )hen it co(ld )ork !est, )hen )e sho(ld finally take it serio(sly6no) that its odio(s travesties have !een e7ploded

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9 %E 9 and can no longer !e (sed as convenient e7c(ses> @as it perhaps the notion of *real* that ca(sed all the pro!lems, in *real socialism*>= %.GGE ,deals are )ishf(l thinking, yo( say. ,deality is immat(rity, childishness. 0o need of arg(ing against itA slander and sarcasm )ill !e eno(gh. ,t is eno(gh to em!arrass the idealist, to make him st(tter. +nd the damned fool will st(tter: after all, he-s an accomplice, any day of the )eek6any )eekday <a c(te, sneaky little game is played )ith that )ordA th(m!s are fingers, or yo( )o(ldn-t have ten of the latter, and )eeks incl(de holidays6 K)eekLends, goals, are part of everyday life=. Framsci had it all )rong. 3achiavelli loomed too large for him. :(rvival is only s(rvival. + long period of time is only a long period of time. 0othing follo)s from the fact that a program failed6e7cept that it failed. Be)are of penali&ing it t)iceC +nd nothing follo)s from the fact that people !(y certain things. ,t certainly doesn-t follo) that they need them, or that those things are (sef(l or val(a!le. 'hink of pet rocks !efore yo( idoli&e the market. Before yo( call it *optimal.* Before yo( ;(dge everything else according to ho) )ell it matches its )orkings.

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'he (ltimate e7ample of prostit(tion: the market of ideas. ,f yo( )ant to !e !(ggered, ;(st keep on )alking !ack)ard. Io( may !e s(re that someone )ill accommodate yo(. ,f yo( stick to an idea <a pattern=, ho)ever (ns(ccessf(l yo( might !e, the idea )ill have at least as m(ch conspic(o(sness as yo(r choice gave it. ,f yo( !etray it, it )on-t even have that. <, kno), , kno): someone-s *!etrayal* is someone else-s *ast(te negotiation, promoting the idea-s !etter f(t(re.* , can-t give yo( a single recipe to decide all individ(al casesA , can only disc(ss the meaning of certain general attit(des6the )ays certain general )ords relate to other general )ords. Every time I handle an individ(al case, the stories , tell myself a!o(t it m(st !e m(ch more specific and conte7t2dependent, hence also m(ch harder to pro;ect onto different conte7ts. +nd then, also, in individ(al cases , have to act, )hich means stop telling stories, accept the fact that , do not (nderstand,

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9 %G 9 that (nderstanding6that is, playing6is a l(7(ry , cannot afford.=

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" ".1 'he violation of an entrenched pattern is painf(l. +n entrenched pattern is violated if it does not occ(r )hen e7pected. <Hemem!er: no s(!;ective content to this talk of e7pectedness.= E7pectation of an entrenched pattern is not necessarily a!sol(te <the pattern )ill in general have only a statistically significant degree of rec(rrence=. :o violations )ill also !e matters of degree. 'here may !e no <conspic(o(s= violation if a given rec(rring pattern does not rec(r ;(st once, !(t the more it does not rec(r, the more this )ill !e a violation. +ll sorts of ploys can help ins(late violations <and deprive them of impact=. 'hat s(ch ploys are often perfectly trivial does not detract from their effectiveness. <Effectiveness and st(pidity, once again: it-s ama&ing ho) inane the e7planations are that people are )illing to confidently, indeed enth(siastically, endorse. 5r is it ama&ing> @hich of co(rse is the )hole point.= 'h(s it often *)orks* to call something an e7ception <)hatever that means= 6as does to call it an anomaly, a nonstandard occ(rrence, a dream, a hall(cination. +n (ndesira!le state <called *pain*: the (ndesira!le as such = characteri&es any <admitted= violation of an entrenched pattern <yo( can think of it, to !egin )ith, as an e7pression of the s(dden need for applying strength6!(t soon this pain )ill ac$(ire other meanings and roles=, )hether or not any <additional= (ndesira!le conse$(ences also follo) from the violation <that is, )hether or not the entrenchment of the pattern has !een *damaged* in a

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more or less permanent )ay=. ".%1 , may or may not !e h(rt )hen , violate some of my ordinary ro(tines. <, mishandle a knife and c(t myself, and !leed. 5r , ;(st come (p )ith a lovely ne) trick and derive vast profits from it. 5r !oth6and , !leed all the )ay to the !ank.= @hether or not , am h(rt, there )ill !e some discomfort to the violation per se.

9 %8 9 ".%% Heality kno)s ho) to make itself heard, ho) to protect itself from (nreality, ho) to "eep (nreality (nreal. <Bere is the main secondary (se of the s(dden r(sh of adrenaline, and of the temporary agony that goes )ith it: it makes it possi!le to economi&e )hile !eing forced to spend6indeed, to t(rn the very process of spending to that effectC Hemem!er Dre(d: an7iety t(rned into a signal.= , have already said something like that, (nder a different n(m!erC Ies, and that-s ho) it sho(ld !e. 'his )hole n(m!ering system is clearly +ristotelianA so there )ill have to !e a reappearance of the same themes in vario(s locations to !ring o(t its limits. Cross2 references as a main )eapon for g(errilla )arfare. Hepetition again, this time )ith a saving character> ,t all depends, as (s(al, on )ho <or )hat= is !eing saved. Each conflicting pattern aims at its o)n repetition, and all these repetitions are in conflict: every one of them )ill tend to <at least partially= inhi!it the others. ,n the present case )e have a hierarchical <+ristotelian= str(ct(re incorporating )hat it can and re;ecting all the rest. And )e have )hat is incorporated or re;ected p(tting (p a fight6for e'ample , !y rec(rring here and there, in )ays that the str(ct(re cannot easily acco(nt for. 1epending on )hich side yo( are on, yo( )ill or )ill not look at the latter rec(rrence )ith sympathy and approval. 'h(s a !ook )ill often contain ferocio(s enemies )ithin its o)n !o(nds. @onder )hy certain very self(consciously *<self2=deconstr(ctive* !ooks have no inde7> 0o !i!liography> Bard2to2track2do)n references> <,t-s a matter of national tradition, yo( say> D(nny it sho(ld e7tend to translations then. ,s it o(t of respect> 5r la&iness> 5r something )orse>= 'hink of the kind of !ook yo( )ill have to )rite if yo( )ant to make s(re that it-s read , )hen cross2references are generated electronically in a split second for every te7t6not ;(st those (nfort(nate eno(gh to !e too famo(s <those no one has !een reading for a long time=. 'hink of ho) yo( )ill have to hide yo(r *meaning* (nder the most (npredicta!le )ords, the least o!vio(s ones <)hich pro!a!ly means the least specific,

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9 %7 9 the most (n$(alified6articles and prepositions, may!e>=, so that thoro(gh *searches* might t(rn (p empty2handed and people might act(ally !e forced to face yo(r te7t in the order yo( intended them to. ".%%1E B(t )hy then adopt this n(m!ering system in the first place> <@hy favor this kind of repetition>= Dor more than one reason. <,ndeed, too many of them, )hich makes me )onder )ho is really speaking here.= @e m(st try different paths to *the same* destination, to get to kno) the territory !etter. @e m(st try this path, precisely !eca(se it is so old and respecta!le. <@e )ant to !e respected, too, and deserve to !e, and are not going to offer opponents any cheap )ay o(t. @e kno) o(r +ristotelian logic, and can reveal its defects from the inside.= @e (nderstand o(rselves !etter )hen (sing a tool that offers resistance, )hen forced to !e sagacio(s and reso(rcef(l. +nd, finally, no resistance makes for no action: if it )ere not for the resistance, )e might as )ell not )rite at all. <@hich, often, is e7actly )hat happens, tho(gh the res(lting *activity* is still called *)riting.* Providing a nice cover for the most a)f(l o!t(seness, and the most pervasive totalitarianism.= <, have seen )riting ta(ght !y people )ho never )rote anything themselves, !(t had all sorts of ingenio(s strategies to recommend to others. 'o make s(re that they too )o(ld never )rite. +hatever they did6and especially if )hat they did )as called *)riting.*= 'here is something intrinsically reass(ring and comforting a!o(t the stat(s $(o. Even a stat(s $(o )e firmly !elieve co(ld6or sho(ld6!e !etter. Even one that horrifies (s. *@e m(st !e doing something right, to last t)o h(ndred years.* Ies, and <y=o(r Parthenon is !etter preserved than the one in +thens6and so m(ch closer. +nd all those pretty +(strian villages ne7t to 3a(tha(sen, )ith the railroad tracks going right thro(gh them. ,s this telling me something a!o(t !ea(ty> , think it isA , kno) , )ill have to go !ack to it <it )ill rec(r againA there is no )ay of getting rid of it=.

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9 %J 9 ".%"% ".%"" ".%E ".%E1 *1on-t make )aves.* Io( might dro)n. <5n the other hand, yo( might dro)n any)ay.= *@hen do )e start having f(n>* +n7iety accompanies any ne)s. 0ot s(rprisingly, if an7iety is the anno(ncement of fragmentation. Pain )itho(t painA pain

)ith nothing to sho) for it <a nice deep )o(nd, an amp(tated lim!, a rotten tooth, a ne)!orn=A the pain that !est reveals the nature of pain. 'he sign of the <re=emergence of m(ltiplicity: of this little game a!o(t to !e knocked do)n, s(ddenly in need of s(pport. ".%E% ".%E%1 :o *the ne)s* )ill have to feel old, if advertising money is to !e made. 'here is nothing more predicta!le <o!;ectively and s(!;ectively6)hatever that means, )hatever you mean !y that= than the ne)s format. ')o min(tes of this, five min(tes of that. ,t is as good an e7ample as any of an entrenched pattern. Io( go to sleep in front of massacres and famine. +nd have pleasant dreams, )hether yo(r eyes are closed or open. +nd yo( t(rn (gly )hen they try to )ake yo( (p. *'hey don-t have the right to !other meC 'o intr(de into my spaceC* <5r, *,-m doing nothing )rong. ,-m ;(st having a good time.*= <+nalogo(sly: *, ;(st happen to like e7pensive meals and clothes, and , am paying for them )ith my o)n money. @hat-s the pro!lem )ith that> @hom am , h(rting> , am still a leftist.* 'his is definitely not a digression.= *'he ne)s* is a reass(ring e7pression. 1o(!ly reass(ring, indeed6and deceptive. ,t reass(res yo( )hile it seems to (nsettle yo( and th(s deflates (nsettling itself. <+s (niversities do, and m(se(ms: they let yo( think that yo( are making room for *c(lt(re* and *art,* that yo( are )ise and !rave and tolerant. +nd g(ess )hat: !r(tal censorship and repression (s(ally do a !etter ;o!6not for yo(, of co(rse, not for those )ho think as yo( do. 'he most effective )ay to handle yo(r tro(!led and tro(!lesome self may !e to destroy yo(. 'he 3afia (nderstood that very )ell: a !(llet &ig&agging thro(gh a !rain goes a lot farther than any complicated negotiations )ithKinL

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9 %9 9 the !rain-s o)ner. B(t not al)ays can one afford this straightfor)ard resol(tion. :o it-s !est to have a )ide, diversified array of )eapons availa!le, )hich is conf(sing, and the confusion is an additional weapon .= ".%E%"1 <*@hat )e are doing m(st !e someho) terri!ly relevant and radical, if they are so eager to c(t o(r f(nds.* Ieah, yo( are s(pposed to think that6that-s one )ay they ne(trali&e )hat yo( could !e doing. In addition to threatening c(ts and to enco(raging yo(r increasing irrelevance. +ll are means to the same end.= 'his is fine, shre)d political action. Beca(se it *goes )itho(t saying,* and in the process leaves yo( )itho(t a say.

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'ho(gh it doesn-t )ork all the time. ,f it did, incidentally, there )o(ld !e no significance to talk of *time.* 'here is time !eca(se there is aging, and there is aging !eca(se there is a )ar constantly fo(ght )ithin every one of (s <and )ithin everything else=. 'his is Begel-s limit <and 0iet&sche-s main contri!(tion=: he had no e7planation for )hy the dialectical process )o(ld have to take time6)hy it co(ldn-t occ(r all at once, in a flash. Be talked a!o(t this process as involving hard )ork, of co(rse, !(t did not acco(nt for the necessity of that )ork. Beca(se he did not see that there are several dialectical processes going on, each offering resistance to all the others, ref(sing to !e encompassed !y them and trying to !e the one that does the encompassing. Each constit(ting <part of= the prime matter , <of= the medium , )here the others m(st assert themselves. <'hat is )hat is opa$(e a!o(t matter, )hat ma"es it matter: not that it has no str(ct(re !(t that )e cannot recogni&e its str(ct(re, )hich is some other str(ct(re, some str(ct(re )e have not !een a!le to assimilate. @e cannot make it so m(ch of a concession, allo) it so m(ch dignity, or )e )o(ld already !e half)ay to)ard losing to it.= B(t are novelty and change al)ays painf(l> :ome people perceive them <)ithin certain limits= as pleas(ra!le. +ns)er: only painf(l things can !e pleas(ra!le. 'here is no radical opposition !et)een pleas(re and pain <indeed, the t)o are often

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9 "# 9 diffic(lt to tell apart=, !(t there is !et)een indifference and pain <)hich can give rise to pleas(re, !y !eing overcome6in the sense of aufgehoben: canceled and preserved=. :o )hen it comes to demanding activities also regarded as engaging and gratifying <mathematics, chess, reading something that is not p(lp fiction6that is not entirely *!y the !ook*=, their act(al microphysics is that yo( e7perience discomfort here and there, and find yo(rself a!le to handle it <to e7tend and confirm yo(r patterns=, and that$s what the pleasure is all about . ".%E"1 Event(ally, )e might learn to do this in a systematic )ay. @e might discover the advantages of disciplined effort in handling internal so(rces of discomfort6primarily !oredom, )hich follo)s (pon the lack of e7pected <confirmation and= pleas(re: nothing like overstim(lating yo(r children if yo( )ant them to !e perpet(ally dissatisfied, if yo( )ant a general pattern of hyperactivity to gra! them and control their lives. 1oes that amo(nt to spoiling them> 5r is spoiling them, on the contrary, letting them vegetate in front of the '4 set> 0otice ho) m(ch dialectical confrontation s(rprisingly permeates every )ord, ho) there al)ays t(rn o(t to !e adverse interests at )ork, trying to appropriate the )ord. 'here are even those )ho think that *overstim(lation* applies to )hat the '4 does. 'hey foc(s on the intensity of the stim(li, at the e7pense of their variety. Unreality e7ercises constant press(re.

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Unreality is al)ays there. +nd so, conse$(ently, is pain. Io( need to !e constantly anestheti&ed against it. Constantly forgetf(l. Endorphins are an indispensa!le component of the life process. 'here )here> In reality. Contra the conventional )isdom, reality <the reality of it= is highly precario(s and al)ays on the verge of collapse <think of a fa(lt, of an earth$(ake in the midst of the $(ietest night, of little )hirls gro)ing into a tornadoA and think of all the earth$(akes and tornadoes that did not happen6that are waiting to happen=. +ny report on reality is a gross oversimplification of a complicated s(perposition. @hich of co(rse has s(rfaced in o(r most !asic scientific

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9 "1 9 theory <the one fools implicitly refer to )hen they talk a!o(t the great s(ccess of *science* and try to !(ild their pet ideology on that *solid fo(ndation*=6e7cept that )e don-t yet kno) ho) to reason that )ay. *O(ant(m logic* )as only a short2lived, s(perficial evasion <!(t an important symptom=. "."% 'his is not a peacef(l and serene garden. @e )ere chased from one s(ch garden long ago, and that act instit(ted (s, o(r time, and o(r )orld. 'herefore, )e )ill also never reach that ideal state6not as long as this contin(es to !e o(r )orld <and )e contin(e to !e we, =. 'ho(gh it might help to think of s(ch an ideal, and of )hat it )o(ld mean to reach it, and that )e are in some sense *approaching* it. Belp )hom> Both parties, in fact: if the dynamics of yo(r condition can !e descri!ed as an improvement, yo( )ill feel !etter a!o(t )hat yo( have, the )ay yo( are . 5n the other hand, an improvement is still a change, it is still non!eing having an impact, sho)ing its po)er6and it may !e that no changes are possi!le (nless they are descri!ed that )ay. 'he same moves may !e serving <!e o)ned !y= opposite masters. Prolonging their lives and their str(ggle. 3aking the str(ggle possi!le !y helping keep !oth parties aro(nd )hile also making it real: constit(ting its very s(!stance, the daily )orkings of it. <+ str(ggle a!o(t whose moves these are.= Chaos has not !een finally van$(ished. Cosmos has not !een finally esta!lished. 4iolations )ill happen, *for no reason,* ho)ever solid and po)erf(l the forces of conservatism might !e. Pain and an7iety )ill invade (s. ,n this sense <)e kno) already=, all that is real is not rational. +s yo( esta!lish the most forcef(lly )hen yo( try to prove other)ise. <B(t yo( might !e smarter and never do that,

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and call it $(its !efore yo( even play6th(s p(rchasing a cheap, shallo), *pragmatist,* no2 $(estions2asked form of *rationality.* +voiding the tiresome, relentless *la!or of the negative.* +t the cost of over)helming, revealing !oredom, for those of (s )ho were overstim(lated children. Pragmatism is the negation of philosophy made into a philosophical stance. @ith an ironically dialectical t)ist6!(t the ;oke is on themC=

9 "% 9 ".""11 <Pragmatists are the most consistent and sta!le a!sol(tists: they are a!sol(tely committed to a!sol(tely nothing, and can maintain that kind of commitment in the face of a!sol(tely everything.= ,t might hit yo( )hen yo( least e7pect it. :o yo( !etter learn to e7pect it. Drom a !ooklet on ho) to deal )ith dr(nk drivers: e7pect the (ne7pected. Heality is some)hat into7icated <to !egin )ith6!efore it !ecomes reality, !efore it !ecomes )hat it is =: as f(&&y as a dr(nkard-s vision, made of several <s(perposed= patterns. 1r(nkenness is dangero(s. ,t might make yo( lose *control* <of m(ltiplicity=, lose yo(r one self. 3ake yo( see the ridge yo( are riding on. 3ake the ridge speak <and the a!yss on !oth sides=. 3ake yo( feel the attraction of the a!yss <of all that )as s(pposed to !e m(&&led=. Io( m(st stay a)ay from this revelation. Dor *yo(r o)n* sake, for yo(r o)n s(rvival, for the sake of s(rvival6)hich s(rreptitio(sly has !ecome *yo(.* +nd this yo( might accomplish !y doing more of the same. By drinking yo(rself into a st(por. 'oo m(ch of anything )ill kill yo(6even too m(ch l(cidity. <,n moderate amo(nts, an animal-s (rine is a fertili&er, !(t too m(ch of it )ill !(rn the grass.= +nd )ill reesta!lish a neat division !et)een real and (nreal. 3aking the latter dead, o(t of commission. 0o longer a threat. <@hat-s threatening is the reality of the (nreal6or, for that matter, the (nreality of the real. @hen those are forgotten, )hen the division is perceived to !e a hard2 and2fast one, the danger is past. @e can !reathe again.= 1on-t try to red(ce the )hole iss(e to the in;ecting or smoking of some chemical s(!stances <and th(s to resolve it=. 'hings don-t stay p(t: they go aro(nd, making (p strange fig(res, and t(rn against themselves. <Beca(se they are not, *really,* things: not the )ay *realism* conceives of them. *'here are no s(ch things.*= ,f yo( think that dr(g (se per se is an eye2opener, yo( are <trying to !e= foolish. Io( )ill never gain that kind of certainty, and yo( <sho(ld= kno) it.

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'here are no progressive or repressive dr(gs. 'here are only dr(gs that are !oth. 3ay!e everything m(st !e !oth <of something=, or it )o(ld not !e. 3ay!e everything needs at least t)o <antagonistic= props to stand (p. +dvice to tightrope )alkers: think that yo( are al)ays )alking in ordinary s(rro(ndings, that yo( are on solid gro(nd. 'hink that there is nothing yo( can fall into. 0othing does not e7ist. E7cept that it does. &alling it nothing is a (sef(l first step to)ard silencing it. 'hink of ho) m(ch po)er m(st !e enforced !efore yo( can even pose the pro!lem of the possi!ility of a creation *from nothing.* 'hink of )hat m(st have !een done to nothing !efore that pro!lem can arise. *Being and nothingness* is an ideological pairing6tho(gh it may !e the !est )e can do. *+merica )as virgin land !efore the arrival of the )hite man.* 5r, more vicio(sly <!eca(se more cleverly6there is something hatef(l a!o(t this kind of @all :treet, 3adison +ven(e cleverness, )hatever its intent and o(tcome, and a!o(t feeling good a!o(t it: it-s o(r rationality re!elling, feeling violated, o(r re!ellio(sness feeling dislocated from its rational !asis, deprived of it, *rationali&ed*=, *'hose other g(ys )ere not (sing the land.* Better still: yo( do something a!o(t it.

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E ,t pays to perform efficient anticipations of violations. <Pays )hom> Everyone, as (s(al6 or it )o(ldn-t !e eno(gh. Unilateral payoffs don-t provide lasting advantages. 'oo great a tri(mph )ill s(ffocate yo(.= Fiven a set - of events, a set T of events is an abstraction of - <mod(lo f = if there is a f(nction f mapping - into T . Hemem!er: events don-t necessarily *happen,* that is, are not necessarily ackno)ledged, do not necessarily make it to official *reality.* :ome of the most important ones never do <their great strength is effectively co(nteracted=, and force o(r

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lang(age to a)k)ard, a!s(rd convol(tions <*parapra7es,* *(nconscio(s )ishes*=. E.111 +nd )hen lang(age does <is done= that, it is making its most fr(itf(l contri!(tion. 'hen something is really going on in <)ith= lang(ageA everything else is dead calm6the dream of a *logic of identity.* @hich, for some, is capa!le of <a temporary= reali&ation: they are a!le to keep things still <for a )hile=6the things that seem to )ork for them. @e haven-t introd(ced lang(age yet, )ithin o(r narrativeA so )hat )e say a!o(t it is !o(nd to have a provisional character. *'he same* statements ac$(ire different resonances at different stages of the narrative, especially as the narrative proceeds to incorporate them. Drom no) on, )e )ill disregard the f(nction f . B(t !efore )e do that, )e need to !ring o(t its significance6the cr(cial element of varia!ility introd(ced !y this parameter. ,n a p(rely mathematical sense, there is al)ays a f(nction f !et)een any t)o sets <indeed, e7cept in trivial cases, more than one=. :o, in that sense, any set is an a!straction of any other. ,f the notion of a!straction is not to !e emptied of all content <)hich )o(ld also have a negative effect on every other notion defined in its terms6incl(ding anticipation and lang(age=, it m(st not !e read mathematically. 0or can it !e read phenomenologically, as something that *sho)s (p* in conscio(sness, !eca(se conscio(sness has no primordial stat(s for (sA on the contrary, it is one of the later <and more devio(s= epicycles of o(r development. :o )hat )e are left )ith looks like an ar!itrary positing: some f(nctions <in the mathematical sense= simply are <posited=, and some are not. 5f co(rse, once they are <posited=, they can <and often )ill= !e identified )ith the <possi!ly conscio(s= point of vie) of a h(man6or !etter, )ith the several points of vie) of a h(man. B(t s(ch identification cannot ;(stify their !eing <posited= in the first place. 'ho(gh e7iled )ithin a parenthesis, the act of positing <positing as an act= is still playing a decisive role. ,t cannot !e red(ced to a state <of ;(st !eing=6)ith all its associations of a

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9 "G 9 coherent field to !e $(ietly s(rveyed, at yo(r leis(re, changing nothing in it thro(gh the process. 'hat f(nctions are posited intimates rather that they are al)ays competing )ith, and contradicting, one another, and are al)ays at risk of !eing s)allo)ed !y the competition, of !eing denied. 0othing peacef(l a!o(t it, nothing stagnant, nothing that can !e <or )orse, has !een= settled once and for all. +nd again, this agonistic character e7tends to all other notions that <)ill !e made to= depend on the positing of f(nctions. /(st as it itself derives from the generally agonistic, *political* nat(re of o(r metaphysics: that certain patterns are associated in a certain )ay is also a pattern, hence the competition among f(nctions is !(t a special case of the competition among patterns. <+nd the positing of f(nctions is *ar!itrary* only for those )ho are taken in !y the s(perficial, static pict(re

sketched a!ove. 'ho(gh more m(st, and )ill, !e said a!o(t this )ord.= E.% Fiven a set - of events and t)o a!stractions T and . of - , . is more e'pressive than T if there are more <distinct= val(es for <distinct= mem!ers of - in . than there are in T . ,t )o(ld !e a lot of tro(!le to e7tend this notion to infinite sets <)here the tro(!le may )ell !e )ith set theory itself: it does make a lot of sense, after all, to say that there are more nat(ral n(m!ers than primes, !(t set theory is not a!le to do ;(stice to that sense in any straightfor)ard )ay=. Bere )e remain largely (naffected !y this iss(e, since infinite sets don-t matter m(ch for o(r concernsA so )e might as )ell make all infinite a!stractions ma7imally e7pressive <or, if yo( prefer, rank them according to )here they stand in the transfinite hierarchy=. , can hear the r(m!ling as , say the a!ove, and , can imagine the complaints as its significance sinks in in )hat follo)s. *@hat do yo( mean !y lang(ages !eing finite> ,nfinity is one of their most characteristic feat(resC* :o , m(st point o(t right a)ay that this is a controversial vie): that lang(ages )ill !e treated here as fragments of !ehavior, as !its and pieces cas(ally thro)n together, and that the ideal of a lang(age as an ine7ha(sti!le, perfectly smooth mechanism )ill !e considered a political <repressive= device. ,nevita!le, as

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9 "8 9 every other t)ist and t(rn in o(r narrative, !(t still misleading <to the e7tent that it deviates from the origin, that it leads a)ay from it and o!f(scates it=. E.%% Dor e7ample, all my moves co(ld !e mapped into a single inter;ection. 5r they co(ld !e mapped into ver!al descriptions of them. 'he latter mapping <a!straction= )o(ld !e more e7pressive than the former. B(t co(ldn-t a simple *)o),* (ttered !efore a s(nset, !e very e7pressive6m(ch more so, say, than a lengthy <literary>= description of the s(nset> +nd aren-t )e doing (nmotivated violence to the )ord *e7pressive* !y ref(sing to take s(ch phenomena into acco(nt> 0o, )e are not: )e are offering a frame)ork in )hich the specific character of s(ch phenomena can )ell !e capt(red6!etter, indeed, than in any ordinary frame)ork. Dor )hat is !eing mapped in these circ(mstances are <some of= the events constit(ting an e7perience, )hat they are mapped into are <some of= the events constit(ting another <possi!le= e7perience, and *)o)* is the mapping. <@hereas, $(ite likely, a lengthy literary description of the s(nset )o(ld only !e mapping the e7perience of reading a certain literat(re into an inartic(late e7perience of self2satisfaction, and hence )o(ld !e part of a process that is as little e7pressive as possi!le. 'he s(nset, and the e7perience of it , )o(ld never even come into play.=

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+ny set is a ma7imally e7pressive a!straction of itself. B(t that a!straction is <in general= (nlikely to have <or to maintain= eno(gh strength to !e posited, in vie) of its <general= (selessness. <'here are e7ceptions, of co(rse. Dorms of life may !ecome e7tremely sta!le, psychotically so, and Knear>L perfect iteration may then !e their only *e7pressive* strategy. Hepetition, again6here )ith m(ch less of a *saving* a(ra.= Past a certain threshold, an a!straction )ill !e called <simply= e'pressive . 0othing is said here a!o(t the nat(re or location of the threshold. Fiven an e7pressive a!straction - of a set T of <possi!le= events, a mem!er a of - is an anticipation <at a time t = of a

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9 "7 9 mem!er b of its inverse image if <at t = a occ(rs )hile b has not occ(rred. E."1 *0ot occ(r* means *not !e conspic(o(s, admitted as part of reality,* )hich, of co(rse, is perfectly compati!le )ith <indeed, re$(ires= !eing *real* in o(r more !asic, *contradictory* sense. :o that an event co(nts as an anticipation is the res(lt of a play of forces6and might itself constit(te a device for maintaining a certain e$(ili!ri(m among those forces. , might find myself anticipating events that have already !een happening for a long time6 that have indeed !ecome a ha!it )ith me, e7cept that they )ere never conspic(o(s. +nd it might )ell !e that anticipating them has a lot to do )ith keeping them at that lo) level of visi!ility: that having them s(rface as p(rely hypothetical is precisely ho) , avoid recogni&ing them <conscio(sly or (nconscio(sly=. b might never occ(r. ,t might forever stay (nreal. +nticipation has nothing necessarily to do )ith the real f(t(re. ,t has everything to do, ho)ever, )ith !eing directed to the f(t(re. That is , )ith )hat *the f(t(re* is first and foremost a!o(t, )ith its original <and often *forgotten*= meaning. @hat *the f(t(re* signifies, originally, is that reality is at stake, that the selection has not happened, that all competing patterns are via!le options. Even the cra&iest, even the most frightf(l6especially the most frightf(l. <'he f(t(re can only )orry (sA )e can only !e afraid of it.= +ny attempt at *predicting* the f(t(re is one more attempt at con$(ering the manifold. +t avoiding its impactA at denying the irr(ption of none7istence it represents. <1on-t conf(se predicting the f(t(re )ith composing it, creating it. @hen yo( ma"e the f(t(re, yo( face the opposition and ackno)ledge that there are alternatives to !e overcomeA )hen yo( predict it, alternatives are not assigned any dignity. +nd yo( have lost yo(r dignity, too: )hat is predicted is simply received . 5nce more, co(rage is at stake.= +ny

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s(ccess at s(ch an attempt, any feeling that the f(t(re has !een legislated, t(rned into a linear str(ct(re, that one can !e reconciled )ith it after all <)hat a revealing e7pressionC=, ro!s o(r e7perience of its defining feat(re. ,t leaves (s )ith the empty shell of an empirical <or again,

9 "J 9 e$(ivalently and ideologically, real = f(t(re, no longer )orthy of its name. E.""1 *Empirical* means *(n$(estioned*: it points to the resid(e of the $(estioning process <)hat )as earlier called *contingent,* as )e )ere foc(sing on a different aspect of it6on *there is no reason )hy it sho(ld !e so,* as opposed to *it ;(st is*=. 'his is not to say that $(estions cannot !e asked a!o(t itA it is only to say that they are not <conspic(o(sly=. @hen they are, the *empirical* is e7ploded. ,t !ecomes the transcendental <or, in other )ords, the logical 6*transcendental logic* is a revealing red(ndancy: it reveals that something is !eing done to logic, that logic is !eing sho)n to matter a lot more, to pervade *the )orld* m(ch more intimately, than one might K)ant toL think=. :o e$(ating *empirical* and *real* means denying the reality of $(estioning, of str(ggle, of the f(ndamental indeterminacy and activity that lie )ithin !eing. 'he empirical *data,* indeed6!eing as something that is handed to meC B(t $(estioning can itself !e flattened into the empirical, t(rned into a cop2o(t. 5ne might gloss the f(t(re !y saying that anything can happen and thereby reconcile oneself )ith it. 'hat the f(t(re is addressed transcendentally means that its definition is open, not that its definition is openness. *'ranscendental* and *original* come do)n to the same thing !eca(se, to !egin )ith, everything is (p for gra!s. @e kno) that it-s no different )ith the past. 'he past too is nonlinear, and is forced into a linear mold. '(rned into a )asteland, a cemetery, a fact: *)hat is done cannot !e (ndone.* <+nd predicting the f(t(re amo(nts to red(cing it to this past. *'he f(t(re )ill resem!le the past.* Hemem!er )hat *predicta!le* meant for (s: *s(ch as has already happened.*= 'ho(gh it )ill sometimes react s(ccessf(lly against this violence, and s(rprise yo(, and reveal its enormo(s potential. +nd tho(gh locally its very coloni&ation may !e t(rned against the coloni&ers: sho) them (ndenia!le evidence of conflict, force them to admit that conflict itself is a fact that is not going to go a)ay, !e signed off !y a treaty6treaties are part

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of it. @ith the f(t(re, ho)ever, the forcing enco(nters more opposition: it is more immediately vivid, harder to deny, that what the future is is in $(estion. @e are not so )illing to give that (p. @e are more attached to )hat )e are not yet/ )e feel more strongly that that-s e7actly )hat )e are , that depriving (s of it is depriving (s of o(r !eing. E.""%1 1on-t !lame this ro!!ery too $(ickly on *science.* +nd don-t feel relieved too $(ickly )hen science *goes indeterministic.* :cience may !e the main opport(nity for freedom that is left to (s: its <alleged= goal of predicting the f(t(re is the main e7c(se socially availa!le for follo)ing (p the most a!s(rd dreams6and sometimes making them real, making them o(r present . 'ho(gh, of co(rse, politicians are not to !e told that, nor are their agents in the la!s: the !(rea(crats )ho are o(t to close this opport(nity, to t(rn freedom into the slavery of adding meaningless n(m!ers and )riting (seless grant applications. 'hey are the real enemies, not *determinism,* )hich traditionally has !een a very val(a!le ally. <@hat a grand, s(per!, inspiring mirage a ?aplacean (niverse isC Bo) it gets the ;(ices flo)ing, the !rain stormingC= @hatever the c(rrent theory6the c(rrent e7c(se for play6the same confrontation )ill !e staged !et)een e7perimentation and administration. 'hink of the vicio(sness of thro)ing an *anything goes* at scientists. 5f ho) it might dampen their enth(siasm, kill their morale. 3ake them stare emptily at (seless !attles, start )ondering )hether perhaps a !(ck co(ldn-t !e made. + series of events that anticipate all mem!ers of a pattern constit(te an anticipation of that pattern. 'he relation of anticipation !et)een t)o patterns is not in;ective. +s )ith a!stractions in general, distinct elements in a pattern may !e related to a single element in the other one. Hemem!er the risk element in all this. 'he very same se$(ence of events might or might not !e an anticipation, and )hether or not it is cannot simply !e *decided* once. 'hat it is an anticipation depends on a positing, and s(ch positing is constantly, essentially threatened. ,t is constantly, essentially possi!le for a se$(ence of events to !e ;(st that6a se$(ence

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9 E# 9 of events. 'o !e opa$(e, meaningless, to !e what it is . , am not speaking a!o(t )hat is not, yo( )ill say <and ho) co(ld ,, since there is nothing that is not>=A , am not e7pectant or afraid of the f(t(re <since, again, the f(t(re is not =. , am ;(st moving my tong(e and prod(cing artic(lated so(nds. +nd shivering, perhaps, , am not s(re )hy. <, m(st !e cold, , m(st have gotten the fl(, , m(st N, , m(st N= E.G +n anticipation of a violation of an entrenched pattern is an anticipated violation of that

pattern. E.G1 +nticipated violations of patterns are themselves patterns6on a par, *theoretically,* )ith any others. 1on-t make too m(ch of their *fictitio(s* character, or yo( )o(ld !e denying them )hat impact they can have, despite their <comparative= )eakness: denying ho) m(ch they can help <themselves and others=. Io( m(st !e constantly )atching for the kind of disrespect that !reeds o!literation. *@e m(st remem!er, or the Boloca(st )ill happen again.* Hemem!er )ith passion, )ith commitment, )ith (rgency: remem!er something <as m(ch as possi!le= as real. 'o do it ;(stice: to make room for it, to let it !e, to resist one-s greed. Hemem!er so that ;(stice can !e done6or in;(stice cannot. *E7amples* like these !egin to s(ggest that repetition in memory can !e an alternative to real repetition, that the former can serve to e7orcise the latter. 'hat the real commitment to it <commitment to it as real= might prevent (s from !eing committed to it in reality. <B(t, of co(rse, these are no mere e7amples, insofar as )e are talking a!o(t evil itself , a!o(t the Platonic idea of )hat m(st !e e7orcised. :o there is a sense in )hich every other case of e7orcism )ill t(rn o(t to !e an *e7ample* of this one.= @e !egin to see ho) lang(age originates in magic: in the rit(alistic con;(ring (p <mimicking= of events one is trying to chase a)ay. 'o get the f(ll significance of this origin, )e need to e7pand o(r vie) <of )hat is !eing chased= from the past to the f(t(re. +nticipated violations of patterns may !e less painf(l than the violations themselves.

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9 E1 9 E.81 'he child in %eyond the 0leasure 0rinciple s(ffers less !y playing the *Dort* *1a* game than !y having his mother leaving and ret(rning. B(t that is not all there is to it. ,ndeed, it-s not even the most important part. +n anticipated violation of a pattern may also red(ce the pain associated )ith the violation itself, )hen the latter occ(rs. ,f it does, it-s called efficient . ,t may red(ce the component of the pain associated )ith the violation ;(st !eing a violation <*,-ve !een there !eforeA , kno) )hat it-s like*6)e-ll say a fe) nasty things a!o(t that in a min(te=A and it may red(ce any other pain <deriving from (ndesira!le conse$(ences of the violation=, !ased on the familiarity )ith the ne) conte7t vicario(sly achieved thro(gh its anticipation.

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'he first time , am o(t at sea , may find the )hole thing less scary !eca(se of ho) many stories a!o(t it , told myself <or read=, and , may also avoid !eing hit !y the steering )heel !eca(se of ho) many times , )as *hit* !y it in those stories6and ho) event(ally , th(s *learned* to *handle it.* *Damiliarity )ith the ne) conte7t* is a misleading e7pression: those familiar and those (nfamiliar )ith *one and the same conte7t* are act(ally in very different conte7ts, so familiarity )ith a conte7t changes it. 'his is a cr(cial point, and )ill come (p again. B(t there is no g(arantee of itA it all depends on ho) m(ch familiarity is in fact achieved <ho) m(ch )e have changed the conte7t=. ,n my stories , may have spent too m(ch time )atching the s(nset or making love to the native girls, and too little learning to handle the steering )heel. 5r my mapping of the steering )heel may have !een very very sketchy. +nd , may live to regret it. , may never get to *really* )atch the s(nset !eca(se , didn-t play eno(gh *in tho(ght* <)e don-t yet kno) )hat tho(ght is= )ith the steering )heel. 5n the other hand, tho(gh storytelling might teach me nothing (sef(l a!o(t sailing <make me ac$(ire no val(a!le familiarity

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9 E% 9 )ith it=, it )ill pro!a!ly teach me a )hole lot a!o(t telling stories about sailing <make me familiar )ith that =. +nd this other teaching may t(rn o(t to !e $(ite (sef(l to me. 'he )orld may !e s(ch that !eing good at storytelling is a m(ch more !anka!le commodity than !eing good at sailing. E.7%% Bail fell (ne7pectedly on the 1allas airport on +pril %9, 199G, ca(sing millions of dollars in damage. 3ean)hile, a comp(ter program in 0orman, 5klahoma, designed to mimic the !ehavior of the atmosphere, )as tracking the same gro(p of storms and anticipating their !ehavior. E7cept that it anticipated it t)o co(nties off. 'he pro!lem: *data sparsity.* 1ur pro!lem: how much data is going to !e eno(gh> <+nd eno(gh for )hat>= Io( kno) ho) it-s done: to !egin )ith, yo( don-t kno) )hat yo( need. :o yo( start some)here, and if it doesn-t )ork yo( keep adding st(ff, (ntil it )orks !etter. +s it does, yo( come to !elieve more and more that yo( *(nderstand* the process6that yo( have the right *pict(re* of it. 'ho(gh, of co(rse, yo( never have a pict(re of it 6or al)ays do: pict(res can !e very !adly dra)n. @ell, )hat yo( need to do no) is start thinking of )hat goes on in yo(r *mind* the same )ay. @hen not eno(gh familiarity is achieved, and the same (ndesira!le conse$(ences follo),

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they are often tempered !y the idle smile of those )ho *co(ld see it coming* and can tell <themselves>=: *:ee, , told yo( so.* 'hey are still getting something o(t of their anticipatory )orkA they can say that that )as not a violation <it didn-t violate their e7pectations=6tho(gh, of co(rse, they are still s(ffering from it <it still is a violation=. 'he irony of it is ho) del(ded6and !adly off6ironists are. Bo) theirs is a mere sim(lacr(m of control: control t(rned into an irrepressi!le, e7ha(sted tic <into sheer, o!t(se socia!ility )ith their discomfort=. E.7E 'he advantageo(s conse$(ences of familiarity constit(te the cash val(e of the claim that theories can !e *informative* a!o(t practices <and, in general, a!o(t matters of fact=. 'heory constr(ction and manip(lation is also a practice, )hich may end (p *infecting* other practices: making ne)

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9 E" 9 patterns conspic(o(s <that o(tcome is called *m(tation*= )hich are credi!le competitors, )hich m(st !e reckoned )ith, )ith )hich compromises m(st !e reached. <'hink of the genetic *pattern* of a vir(s that has iss(ed from la!oratory )orkA think of it spreading o(tside the la!.= +lso, a pattern that does not have eno(gh strength to make it <yet= all the )ay to reality may so;o(rn indefinitely in this ne(tral make!elieve area6and there!y possi!ly gather the strength it needs for that momento(s step. E.7E% 'ho(gh )hether it ever )ill, or ho) long it )ill take !efore it does, cannot !e decided in advance. ,ndivid(al cases )ill have to find their individ(al, a posteriori resol(tion. <+gain, saying so amo(nts to accepting the f(t(re for )hat it is, remaining open to it6in a state of listening, of concernf(l attention. Io( can6indeed, yo( m(st6!e in that state to)ard yo(rself, too: al)ays affectionately ready to learn more from yo(r o)n moves, to revise yo(r self2description accordingly, (n)illing to !r(tally s(!mit yo(r comple7ity to a !arren, r(dimentary set of preconceived *intentions.*= <*, am going to )rite it do)n, to find o(t )hat , think.*= 1oes riding a motorcycle help )hen yo( event(ally get !ehind the )heel of a car> 1oes riding a horse> + toy car> 1oes )atching others drive> Heading or !eing told a!o(t driving> 'hinking a!o(t it6a!o(t ho) it )o(ld go> <+gain, )e don-t yet kno) )hat thinking is.= 'hese $(estions )ill !e ans)ered differently relative to different people, depending on their capacity for aping6on their *imagination.* 'he most h(man of skills, the po)er of calling (p )hat is not <present=, is s(!stantiated !y the most apelike !ehavior: it gets *reali&ed* thro(gh patient, h(m!le imitation <possi!ly, indeed often, of oneself6of some other *oneself*= and thro(gh the painstaking, intrinsically illegitimate e7pansion of learned ro(tines to ne) conte7ts6conte7ts for )hich

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those ro(tines )ere not originally *intended.* +nd , am talking a!o(t physical ro(tines, involving hands and feet and <sometimes= mo(th: a!o(t ho) , have seen a certain clearing of one-s throat, a certain f(rro)ing of one-s eye!ro)s, a certain c(rio(s inflection, *migrate* from one person to another. <5ften

9 EE 9 , co(ld tell that t)o people had met )itho(t ever seeing them together.= ,n the case of (tterances, , am talking a!o(t the <modalities of the= (ttering, not a!o(t its content. And , am talking a!o(t the possi!ility that <;(st as *the same* clearing of someone-s throat can !e reprod(ced !y someone else, or *the same* finger movement can migrate from a type)riter to a comp(ter key!oard= *the same* pattern of (tterances !e reprod(ced as a pattern of non(tterances, and someone-s nonver!al !ehavior !e invaded !y str(ct(res that originated in a ver!al medi(m. @hen that happens6)hen something that !egan as ver!al activity iss(es in a constellation of physical moves6people )ill often say that they found the content of the ver!ali&ation to !e tr(e <that it )as tr(e all along, and they ;(st fo(nd o(t a!o(t it=, !(t all s(ch talk is del(sive <in the same )ay in )hich the e7pression *familiarity )ith the ne) conte7t* is misleading=: )hat-s really going on is that their practices are no) different and those different practices started o(t small, )ith an e7perimental ver!al *copy* of them6or rather )ith something that )ill t(rn o(t to have been a copy after the e7periment proves s(ccessf(l, largely because of this s(ccess. :o don-t think of a theory finding application in reality !(t rather of the *application* changing the moves reality consists of, and of the change !eing initiated in a ling(istic la!. 'hink of theori&ing as a )ay of appropriating deviance and playing it o(t, and of this !eing a process !y )hich often deviance appropriates the )orld. E.7E%%% 5ne might !e a!le to check this e7pansion to ne) conte7ts against the *original,* and as a res(lt get grad(ally more confident a!o(t )hat one is doing. 'ho(gh this confidence is no g(arantee that one is not getting it *)rong.* +nd tho(gh, in the end, it doesn-t m(ch matter. 5n the contrary, it is in s(rvival-s !est interest if time and again this sort of thing is done slightly )rong. 'hat-s )hat makes m(tation possi!le, and a large part of )hat makes imagination productive . <'he other part, )hich is (s(ally regarded as merely re prod(ctive, is the deconte7t(ali&ation process itself. B(t, of co(rse, the t)o are strictly relatedA after all, deconte7t(ali&ing is already altering to some e7tent.= @e get angry )hen *the right* challenges o(r relationship to

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9 EG 9 apes, !(t )e are hardly making this relationship a respecta!le intellect(al iss(e. @e pay lip service to *evol(tion* and then contin(e to reason according to creationist models. 3odels !y )hich !eing2h(man <the set of moves, of practices that !eing2h(man consists of= is not

;(st a sophisticated, stratified, comple7ified form of apingA in )hich instead an incomprehensi!le, (nresolva!le, highly dignified chasm e7ists !et)een (s and *o(r nearest co(sins.* 'here )ill !e no real contin(ity as long as distinct kinds of e7planation are (sed. E.7E%%E @e need to give gorillas and chimps their philosophical d(e. Bring them o(t of the closet )here )e hid them <o(t of em!arrassment and an7iety=. Five them at least as m(ch credit as )e give dogs <and comp(ters=. B(t, yo( )ill say, ho) can , at the same time assign as m(ch fo(ndational val(e to narratives as , do and red(ce the (ttering of stories to *!lind,* apelike mimicry> + silly $(estion, and also, !eca(se of that, an e7tremely (sef(l one. ,t pres(pposes the very anthropocentrism , am denying: it collapses *stories* into *h(man stories,* stories a h(man co(ld tell <and (nderstand=. ,t red(ces the metaphysical stance defended here to the most trivial *empirical idealism.* @hereas the significance of placing stories at the core of !eing, and the monstro(s challenge evoked !y that move <monstro(s like a chimp-s grin: it-s yo(r o)n face that is !eing distorted=, consists precisely in setting the <impossi!le= task of thinking nonhuman stories: stories apes tell )ith their hands and electrons )ith their spins. +nd of rethinking h(man stories in s(ch a )ay that )hat is essential a!o(t them is )hat they share )ith nonh(man ones. Ultimately, then, the conte7t in )hich )e place this disc(ssion of mimicry is the metaphysical primacy of patterns over *things*: their *)ill* to d(plicate themselves indefinitely, hence their capacity to gra! different media for s(ch d(plication. @hat happens )hen *the same* e7pression stamps a ne) face, for (s, is that that partic(lar e7pression has had eno(gh strength <s(stained, pro!a!ly, !y an (nderlying emotional c(rrent connecting the o)ners of the relevant faces= to e7tend its area of infl(ence a !it farther. <0ot that this form(lation

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9 E8 9 really makes anyone (nderstand anything: one )ill pro!a!ly kno) )hat the )ords mean, !(t it-s $(ite another matter to see it that )ay.= E.7E%%7 <+s a step to)ard developing that kind of vision, consider the follo)ing $(estion o!;ection: @hat is the difference !et)een saying that )e have hit (pon the right theory of a storm-s !ehavior and saying that the storm-s !ehavior has the same pattern as o(r comp(ter sim(lation> +ns)er: 5nce yo( p(t it that )ay, the difference is largely goneA !(t that is !eca(se yo(r form(lation is already committed to the traditional vie). Dor (s, there is no s(ch thing as the pattern of the storm-s !ehavior6or of the comp(ter sim(lation. Hemem!er the primacy of m(ltiplicity: indefinitely many distinct and conflicting patterns apply )ith e$(al legitimacy to Kany portion ofL the manifold6are )ith e$(al legitimacy Kthat portion ofL the manifold6and they constantly compete for conspic(o(sness. Hesonance at different locations Ksay, the storm and the comp(terL is a cr(cial element in determining Ka temporaryL s(ccess in this competitionA and s(ccess )ill mean that )hat

else the storm-s !ehavior is Kincl(ding anything other than a storm$s !ehaviorL is forced (ndergro(nd Kinto (nrealityL, )here it may remain indefinitely long. B(t that is all there is to a *correct* anticipation: no *carving of 0at(re at its ;oints* or any s(ch nonsense.= E.7E" + ma;or practical effect of theory constr(ction and manip(lation is to give more )eight to theories6and theori&ers. :aying that the )orld is a te7t might make te7ts more prominent. 5r saying that one )ill !etter master something if he has access to its idea <or to an acc(rate description of it= might empo)er those )ho ideate <or descri!e=. +lternative tactics for defending the same privilege. :ometimes vicio(sly opposed to one another. 0othing like a little tempest in a teac(p to make s(re yo( )ill contin(e to en;oy tea <and those others )ill contin(e to serve it=. @hen people )ho are good at )ordplay s(cceed in making )ordplay *the thing,* they )ill congrat(late themselves for it6for ho) smart they are. @hich, in a <l(rid= )ay, is indeed the case.

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9 E7 9 E.J E.J1 :o anticipated violations are *(ltimately* in the interest of the real. 'hey )o(ld not !e possi!le other)ise. ,t )o(ld not !e possi!le for them to !e real <as anticipations=. +nd for the <possi!le= f(t(re to !ecome real thro(gh them6ho)ever far that process is allo)ed to go. 0o one )o(ld !e f(nding the think tanks, the researchers, the scholars. 'he lackeys. @ho kno)s> @e p(t a little money into the H+01 Corporation and )e might even )in the cold )ar. + side !et, )hich )e can afford since )e have plenty of !read and !(tter. 5f g(ns, too6in case things get o(t of hand. B(t still, they are possi!le. +nd, ho)ever diligently )orking for the stat(s $(o, they are still )orking after their o)n fashion. Bence, perhaps, still making tro(!le. 'he lackeys might kill yo(. ,ndeed, they pro!a!ly )ill. <,t-s al)ays the godfather-s !odyg(ard6or the Homan emperor-s, or the English king-s6)ho ends (p doing him in.=

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Io( might *)in* the cold )ar and s(ddenly lose all yo(r po)er and national identity. +nd forever )onder ho) it co(ld happen, in the midst of s(ch great fort(ne. Io( did not see that one comingC <+nd are not la(ghing a!o(t it.= B(t I do <>C=. Bo)ever (sef(l *in the long r(n* <and ho)ever minimal their impact, as compared )ith *the real thing*=, anticipated violations still h(rt. 'hey are sadistic practices, not at all redeemed !y having the practitioner <often= s(ffer the most. Being *on the side* of transgression, even )hen the transgression is mediated thro(gh *sym!ols,* is !eing on the side of pain, of that !reaking do)n of integrated tiss(es and organs )hich ca(ses pain. +nd there is no denying that *,* am on the side of transgression <do *,* have a choice> and am I the s(!;ect of the previo(s $(estion>=. 'here is no denying the cr(elty of all of this.

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9 EJ 9 5ther than !y ;(st, (napologetically, denying it, that is, calling it a pretense, *academic.* <,f yo( )ant to kno) )hat-s really going on in academia, think of .onrad ?oren&-s caged doves.= E7onerating the e7ec(tioners !y t(rning them into clo)ns. @hich sho)s )hat-s so scary a!o(t clo)ns. E.9% @hat, then, a!o(t the !anality of evil> ,s there a ;(stification for the rec(rring attacks against tho(ghtlessness> Ies, there is: )e have already s(ggested that playing things o(t in tho(ght may help avoid doing them for real. 5ne might vicario(sly *e7perience* horror and regret, and use those sentiments to a!stain from *tr(e* violence. B(t don-t go to sleep on thisA don-t take it as the end of the story. 'here is no end to it: there is only the necessity of constant vigilance. 5nce yo( create a *harmless,* protective environment for the n(rt(ring of horrifying nightmares, those nightmares will be nurtured , and it )ill al)ays !e possi!le for them to spread o(tside the la! )here yo( are trying to have it !oth )ays <and may!e, for a )hile, are s(cceeding6)hich remote possi!ility acco(nts for the fe), brief *Henaissances* of h(mankind, and for their !eing steeped in !lood=. Ed(cation to freedom is a s(premely important tool, and a d(ty6necessary insofar as h(manity is defined !y reference to freedom <all necessity is !ased on a definition, and on the choice of it: on the decision to esta!lish a certain constit(tive connection, to !(ild and maintain a certain !ridge=. B(t ed(cators sho(ld !e a)are of the fire they are playing )ith. 'hey sho(ld still play )ith it, of co(rse, !(t e7pect no !lanket reass(rance that they are doing *the right thing.* 0o comforting pat on the !ack, no a!sol(tion. 'hey, too, o)e it to themselves and others not to !e co)ardly. 0o ed(cation is possi!le )itho(t risk takingA none occ(rs (nless one is prepared to !et on a f(t(re one )ill not live to see. ,s indoctrination ed(cation> ,s advertising> Ies: tho(gh the !et and the risk are not

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s(!;ectively felt, they are still present. <0or, for that matter, are they s(!;ectively felt, (s(ally, )ithin an ed(cation to freedom. 5ne (s(ally needs to6and does6tell oneself vario(s deceptive, edifying stories. 3ake it so(nd as if one kne) a lot a!o(t ho) it )ill t(rn o(t6)hereas of

9 E9 9 co(rse one doesn-t.= ,ndeed, there may !e more risk and more at stake there. 3aking people respond very predicta!ly means making them very stiff, and conse$(ently very fragile. 'he )hole thing might !lo) (p in yo(r face !efore yo( have a chance to cash in. <'ho(gh, if yo( do cash in, it might !e a nice payoff6ass(ming yo( live long eno(gh to spend it.= +nd it will !lo) (p, event(ally. Io( are setting a time !om!: that-s the f(t(re yo( <hope yo(= )ill not live to see. +nd, at some level, yo( are afraid of it.

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G + lang(age is an e7pressive a!straction <of some set - = that makes possi!le efficient anticipated violations of patterns. 0ot every <e7pressive= a!straction co(nts as a lang(age. Bodily moves might !e mapped into other !odily moves )ith no significant advantage in terms of diminishing pain <say, certain forms of tort(re co(ld !e mapped into other, e$(ally agoni&ing forms of tort(re=. + lang(age m(st offer means of staving off (ndesira!le events <s(ch as (ndesira!le conse$(ences of one-s actions=. @e don-t )ant to red(ce lang(age to homomorphisms in general6not even to those )hich are *e7pressive,* or posited . 'here is an emotional, caring aspect to lang(age, a )ay for it to matter for (s, to !e protective and ;oyf(l, and also, because of that , to <occasionally= h(rtA this element )e intend to capt(re thro(gh the notion of efficiency. 'hink of people sitting aro(nd a fire at night, talking a!o(t the hardship of the day <and th(s making for less hardship tomorro)=. ?a(ghing, too: finding consolation and relief in the ver!al familiarity they ac$(ire )ith their misery <and the learning that follo)s from it=. +nd think of a pearl generated !y the intr(sion of an irritating particle: of ho) its !ea(ty co(ld not arise )itho(t an initial discomfort. <'here is a lot a!o(t lang(age that is ;(st as !ea(tif(l: )ords are precio(s, enchanting gifts. Bence they are also dangero(s, like all gifts.= @hat is ins(lting and demeaning a!o(t the alge!raic notion of lang(age is that it misses this element6this protectiveness and creativity. '(rning lang(age into an alge!ra is not only a mis(nderstanding

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9 G# 9 <is there any s(ch>=. :ome definite interests are e7pressed there!y6not the ones endorsed here, for s(re. <5nce the caring element is gone from lang(age, )ho is going to still care for it> Perfect emotional stillness )ill !ring a!o(t its demise.= G.1%1 Be caref(l not to read this position as, again, anthropocentric. , am not saying that, !eca(se only h(mans <or, may!e, higher animals= care, only h(mans can have a lang(age. 'here is care <and strength, and str(ggle= any)here in !eingA )hen yo( define lang(age as an alge!ra, yo( are not red(cing the h(man to the nonh(man6yo( are dismissing vital aspects of the h(man and the nonh(man alike. Io(r ravishment of h(manity is the nat(ral clima7 of a general ravishment of !eing. +re yo( shocked !y the tho(ght that electrons might care for their environment <and vice versa=> , am, too: , too have !een !rain)ashed into thinking that the care str(ct(re identifies only a certain kind of !eing. @hich, once yo( !elieve it, makes it so m(ch easier not to care for )hatever )e have decided does not have that kind of !eing. <,t )ill !e different things at different times, of co(rseA !(t the root of the pro!lem is the very e7istence of s(ch a radical distinction.= E7actly )hat condition is e7pressed !y re$(iring that a lang(age make efficient anticipated violations of patterns possible, @e don-t )ant to say that s(ch anticipations m(st occ(r sometimes <read possi!ility Q la 1iodor(s Cron(s=, since )e )ant to allo) for lang(ages that tho(gh they could )ork that )ay, never $(ite do, for *contingent* *empirical* reasons. +nd, conversely, )e don-t )ant to stretch this notion of possi!ility too thin and have it !ecome trivial. 5(r position )ill consist of emphasi&ing once more the narrative element. 'he claim that a given a!straction is a lang(age m(st !e s(pported !y a story: an acco(nt of ho) it is necessarily possi!le that efficient anticipations iss(e from that a!straction. 'his story <this pattern = )ill compete )ith all alternatives, (sing )hat strength it hasA and the competition )ill have one of the (s(al o(tcomes. 'he story might !e defeated o(tright, and hence not *s(rface* at allA or )in handilyA or do neither, th(s making

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9 G1 9 the relevant lang(age availa!le but also open to $(estion <a!o(t its character as a lang(age=. 1epending on the o(tcome, the story )ill or )ill not s(!stantiate the *possi!ility* involved in o(r definition, and conse$(ently sanction the associated claim. G.1"1 B(t then co(ldn-t any homomorphism !e characteri&ed !y an appropriate story as an efficient )ay of dealing )ith pain> Ies, of co(rse: )e are not interested in r(ling o(t certain specific a!stractions as lang(ages !(t rather in r(ling o(t a certain conception of )hat ma"es them lang(ages. +nd, therefore, in setting a corresponding task for anyone )ho )ants to decide )hether something is or is not a lang(age6a task the opposite conception )o(ld regard as irrelevant. <@e are not competing )ith alge!ras !(t )ith other

philosophies of lang(age. +nd, of co(rse, an alge!ra is never *ust an alge!ra6for some, it may even !e a love o!;ect.= G.1"11 <, may desire infinity )ith a passion. ,t may even !e that anything , desire )ith a passion is infinite. @hich is pro!a!ly )hat , mean )hen , say that my lang(age is infinite. 'ho(gh, of co(rse, saying it doesn-t make it so. 0ot right a)ay. 0ot as long as , still need to say it6as long as , still care. +s long as that is still a lang(age.= 3aking it so(nd as if something can al)ays !e done is often a main strategy for convincing people never to do it. Dor the strategy to !e s(ccessf(l, it has to shre)dly do)nplay the effort and ingen(ity involved in reali&ing that possi!ility6red(ce it from a real to a logical possi!ility. +n o!;ection: isn-t it circ(lar, or an infinite regress, to refer to stories in making sense of the *possi!le* incl(ded in the definition of a lang(age> 0o more than is circ(lar, or an infinite regress, to (se $(antification theory in proving the so(ndness and completeness of $(antification theory. 'he distinction !et)een lang(age and metalang(age o!sc(res the iss(e: )hat one is doing in !oth cases is entering an interconnected system at some point or other, and traveling )ithin it, and hitting the same elements of it from different angles, and going thro(gh this e7ercise long eno(gh to gain some confidence

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9 G% 9 that that is a system6that it holds together. 'he proced(re <in !oth cases= is indeed circ(lar, and co(ld indeed go on forever, and there is nothing )rong )ith any of that. G.% ?ang(age is not necessarily associated )ith so(nds. , may anticipate patterns efficiently !y dancing. By playing a !oard game. By plotting fig(res on a screen. 'his is not to say, ho)ever, that so(nds *don-t matter,* or are *p(rely accidental* manifestations of lang(age: they represent the !est compromise availa!le !et)een a very rich and artic(late str(ct(re <)hich is also tr(e, say, of vis(al patterns= and one that has a chance for ma7imal impact <)hich is also tr(e, say, of smells=6yo( don-t have to pay attention to so(nds <or smells=, don-t have to consider them <or, at least, )here they are coming from= interesting to !egin )ith, to !e affected !y them. :o they are the !est medi(m at o(r disposal for having non!eing )ork at !eing, *tho(ght* !ring a!o(t *action.* +s s(ch, they )ill s(rface again in )hat follo)s. Comp(ters )ill make (s all d(m!. 0ot !eca(se they )ill force silence on (s, !(t !eca(se there )ill no longer !e any point to speaking. <'he t)o activities compete for control of the same ecological niche.= Event(ally, )e )ill gro) )eary of talk, and do it sl(ggishly. @e

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)ill lose any facility )ith it. +nd any pleas(re it might have given (s. G.%%1 'here may !e a point then for ?ang(age Ditness Centers, )here to e7ercise )ith spoken )ords for an ho(r a day. @e )ill need speech therapists to tell (s ho) to (tter sentences and paragraphs6after forgetting all a!o(t it. <+nd it )on-t )ork, of co(rse: an ho(r a day is never going to !e eno(gh, if nothing else helps. ,t )ill !e like going to the symphony after dinner, )ith coarse food still st(ck !et)een yo(r teeth. 5r like going to school and then coming home to the soaps.= 5(r form of life )ill end all too s)eetly. +nd that-s (nfort(nate, as there )ill !e no heroes to this tragedy6as indeed it )ill not !e a tragedy at all. 'here )ill !e no )arfare, no ang(ish, no sacrifice. @hy is that (nfort(nate> Beca(se then the end )ill not *really*

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9 G" 9 have happened. 0othing )ill have happened. 0othing )ill simply <grad(ally= take over. G.%"% +nd yet that might not !e a pro!lem, from a certain angle. 0othing-s angle, precisely: the angle of )hat is not. 'his development might t(rn o(t to !e the s(preme form of transgression, of s(!version of )hat is, and it looks as if *,* sho(ld like it. B(t , don-t. @hich s(ggests that I am not *,*6or not only that, not only my origin. , have come to terms )ith that origin, to very specific, confrontational terms. , am speaking from a definite <and some)hat hostile: hostile to some whats = place in the process , am speaking of. , espo(se a form of *h(manism.* , favor <contin(ing= the appropriation of deviance !y h(mans: <contin(ing= the enforcement of a certain definition. , consider an enemy any position that speaks in the name of different life2forms: net)orks, states, ch(rches, gods. Even )hen *speaking in the name* of s(ch enemies is sold as ;(st a description of *ho) things are <and )ill !e=,* (rging (s all *not to remain !ehind.* 'here is nothing necessarily val(a!le a!o(t going )ith the flo), ho)ever irresisti!le the flo) might <!e conceived to= !e6(nless yo( take the flo)-s o)n point of vie), or may!e the point of vie) of its ne7t station. 'here may !e a lot that is val(a!le <from )here yo( are sitting= a!o(t sticking yo(r finger in the dike, to delay its collapse !y even a split second.

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Can , say this after deno(ncing anthropocentrism as m(ch as , did> Ies: , am trying to fight fair and s$(are <co(rage matters to me=. , ackno)ledge my enemy-s dignity, )hich is <in principle6independently of any s(ccessf(l *empirical* encroaching= the same as my o)nA , don-t avoid recognition of the fierceness of o(r conflict !y cheap metaphysical tricks. 'he anthropocentrism , have deno(nced, and )ill contin(e to deno(nce, is the *theoretical* variety6)hich is also <)hat a perverse, symptomatic t)isting of )ordsC= the blind variety. 0ot !eing !lind entails a greater deal of s(ffering. Dor one can then see the e$(al legitimacy of other positions, and occasionally !e strongly attracted !y them6gra!!ed !y the relevant patterns. , chose my e7amples caref(lly a!ove <dra)ing a pattern favora!le to my goals=: net)orks, states, ch(rches, and

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9 GE 9 gods <especially if cited $(ickly, in one and the same !reath= are not going to generate a lot of sympathy among the people inclined to read this te7t. B(t )hat a!o(t *thinking like a mo(ntain*> ,sn-t that something , feel there o(ght to !e room for> ,ndeed it isA so my practical anthropocentrism iss(es in sin. +nd , am a)are of that sin, and )ill try to integrate concrete cases of *thinking like a mo(ntain* as m(ch as possi!le )ithin an anthropological pro;ect, and hope that , forever have the *moral l(ck* not to face a really hard case. <Consider -ophie$s &hoice, if yo( )ant to kno) )hat , mean !y that6and if yo( are a parent.= Beca(se , kno) )hat , )o(ld choose then, and , kno) that it )o(ld !e )rong. +nd , m(st live )ith that6!etter, coha!itation )ith that is my life, it defines my position in this narrative. G.%"G 0ote also that one is not *al)ays already* h(man. B(manity sho(ld not !e (nderstood as a(tomatically incl(ding !odies of a certain shapeA *h(manity* sho(ld not !e (sed in a la&y *referential* )ay. B(manity is indeed a pro;ect: the pro;ect of making certain !odies temples of diversity. :o, if , favor <and , do= certain !odies, , favor their becoming h(man <their !ecoming )hat they are=, their str(ggling to con$(er and maintain h(manity, to ;(stify the definition , )ant to !e tr(e of them. , favor the disciplined, painstaking effort of !(ilding eno(gh str(ct(re so that deviance can happen inside those !odies )itho(t taking them apartA (ltimately, , favor the constitution of a h(man self6as an arena for a transgression that is not p(rely negative <destr(ctive= of that very self. 'here are t)o possi!le alternatives to this position. 5ne is to defend the appropriation of deviance !y some other kind of !ody. +nd then there is the shifty, deceptive defense of (ndifferentiated freedom, of freedom *p(re,* )hich does not )ant to appreciate the necessity of a !ackgro(nd and a frame)ork for freedom <and deviance= to have any content. +nd often ends (p !eing (sed, at cr(cial moments in history, as a ploy for instit(ting ne) forms of domination6)itho(t ever admitting to it. 5r for event(ally reasserting traditional forms of domination )hile providing )orthless

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fodder to the rage of the pop(lace6and

9 GG 9 th(s def(sing it, !y con f(sing it. *,f )e )ant things to stay as they are, things )ill have to change* <'omasi di ?amped(sa, The Leopard =. G.%"8 ?et me !e clearer a!o(t it, !eca(se )hat , am saying is not pretty, and , don-t )ant it to so(nd as if it )ere. Davoring certain !odies, !odies of a certain kind, )ith a certain str(ct(re6(ltimately, !odies that look eno(gh like mine6is a totally ar!itrary position. , can imagine myself <no, not $(ite myself, !(t some!ody )ho reasons in the same )ay= leaving o(t of this class, say, !lack !odies, or )omen-s !odies, or /e)ish ones. +s m(ch as , can imagine s(ch a person )anting to incl(de roaches and ants <and net)orks and states and ch(rches and gods=. +nd , am not saying that there )ill not !e an enormo(s amo(nt of rationali&ing that goes into making this choiceA !(t , am saying that the rationali&ing !y itself )on-t do, and that someho) the person )ho makes the choice kno)s it. @hich is the !est , can say a!o(t him <a!o(t me=: if he-s not fooled !y the rationali&ation, he )ill have to make more of a constant e7pendit(re to maintain his position, and as a conse$(ence pro!a!ly e7ha(st his reso(rces sooner, and last less. +nd th(s give every!ody else more of a chance. + lang(age is intrinsically private. 3y pain is my pain: (nless there is a str(ct(re that is !roken do)n, there is no pain6and then the pain is that structure$s . +nd a lang(age is one )ay I deal )ith it <often, !efore it happens6or, so that it might never happen=. 'his is a costly and delicate )ay of dealing )ith pain: an indirect, long2range approach that pays no immediate dividends. @hat makes it feasi!le is a repressive move: the isolation of difference, its !eing deprived of access. @hich has the effect of t(rning it <for a )hile, at least= into a formida!le )eapon. 'here is an o(tside *)ithin* myself, a m(ltiplicity that , can (se to artic(late *o!;ective* perspectives on my *internal* !ehavior. 'hat m(ltiplicity of perspectives is the origin of conscio(sness. 0ot Conscio(sness capitali&ed yet, not my *official* self

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<that )ill s(rface later in the narrative=, !(t rather the capacity for an ironic look, for estranged contemplation. 'his capacity allo)s for a lot of deconte7t(ali&ation, of <prod(ctive and reprod(ctive= imagination, of aping and infecting, to go on *inside.* Dor a lot of )hat )e might call internal dialogue or play: an activity that is $(ite (sef(l to the str(ct(re , am. ,ts val(e is most apparent )hen one of my entrenched ro(tines is violated and my vario(s *so(ls,* seeing the crisis as an opening, proceed to fight it o(t6(ntil perhaps one of them, or some compromise among them, is a!le to handle the tro(!le s(ccessf(lly. B(t s(ch *prod(ctive e7changes* )o(ld not occ(r if the same activity )ere not going on <less conspic(o(sly= at all times. G."%% ,ndeed, that o(tsideness is myself: it is )hat sets a self <or a sub*ect = in contrast )ith an ob*ect <if indeed there are any of the latter6)hich is a serio(s iss(e=. +nd therefore it makes sense to identify my self )ith my conscio(sness. E7cept that )hat is ordinarily meant !y that identification is s(!stantially different from )hat is (nderstood here <and, again, )e have to )ait (ntil later to make complete sense of this=. 'hat-s )here m(ltiplicity has !een e7iled. 5!;ects are as m(ch *different from themselves* as s(!;ects are, to begin with . 'hen they are made *real* <their s(perpositional character !ecomes *(nintelligi!le*=, and difference !ecomes a private thing6something that goes on in the !ackyard, a)ay from indiscreet looks, for the !enefit <possi!ly= of the ho(se o)ners. 5f co(rse, , also look like an o!;ect from the o(tside <it is on this !asis that most other people interact )ith me=. :o , m(st admit that all o!;ects co(ld also !e selves from the inside6that most of them pro!a!ly are. <+ll those )hich have not !een totally stilled, completely digested !y some other pattern K*treat others never simply as means, !(t al)ays at the same time as ends*6or, the essence of moralityL.= B(t this e7ile may !e )hat gives m(ltiplicity its !est chance. ,t helps to have thick )alls protecting the play going on inside,

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9 G7 9 for then the play can happen 6it-s not )iped o(t !y thermodynamic death. 'hose )alls are <largely= !ehavioral str(ct(res, solid ro(tines implanted !y long, tiresome discipline and practice. 0o!ody is freer than someone )ho can stand on his o)n feet and take care of himself. 0o!ody is more frightening also, looked at )ith more s(spicion6a good indication that others sense the revol(tionary potential of independence. 'hey sense that independent2minded ness !egins )ith independence period, )ith self2s(fficiency and self2 containment. Io( sho(ld take :toics serio(sly. G."%%E :o <to rehearse another old line= nothing is more destr(ctive of freedom than license. + good e7ample: ho) to destroy the creativity of promising yo(ng filmmakers !y thro)ing

lots of money at them. Contra the dominant historical tendency, intellect(als o(ght not to !ecome )hores. Dar !etter for them to !e civil servants instead6tho(gh it )ill not help if they get s)allo)ed !y their p(!lic role, if they don-t (se the opport(nity it gives them. <@hat else )o(ld yo( e7pect a6pained6civil servant to say> :ee ho) patterns strive to maintain themselves>= G."%%G 0ote also that this diligent practical learning does more than ;(st create an environment favora!le to the occ(rrence of internal play. Dor that play takes place !y having several characters <personalities= engage one another <care a!o(t con$(ering one another to their respective patterns6)hich ends (p Kas dialog(e ordinarily doesL making all develop their o)n distinct identities f(rther, as each finds ever more ingenio(s )ays of resisting the challenges the others make to its integrity=, and hence is more creative the more detailed those characters <the more developed, and hence reso(rcef(l, their identities= are to !egin )ith. 'herefore, after e$(ipping yo(rself )ith a consistent set of ro(tines as a prere$(isite for the possi!ility of play, if yo( no) )ant play to !ecome act(al, yo( m(st simply !e e$(ipping *yo(rself* )ith more s(ch consistent sets. @hich, of co(rse, demands even more discipline and e7ercise, even more painstaking )ork. 1on-t listen to the sirens )ho tell yo( to let go, to let it happen, to follo) )hat comes nat(rally. Io(r nat(re m(st first !e

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9 GJ 9 ed(cated to recogni&e the val(e of toil, so that toil will come nat(rally, so that yo( )ill even miss it. Io( need to ac$(ire a second nat(re, and then a third N G."%%81 + m(ltiple personality *disorder* is )here this str(ct(re sho)s (p most clearly. @hat is missing from it is the ideological (nification !ro(ght a!o(t !y Conscio(sness capitali&ed, and that-s )hat makes this p(rest e7ample of s(!;ectivity a *disorder.* 5nce again, pathologi&ing as a main strategy for maintaining a position of po)er. +long these lines, , might even convince myself that )hile , am )orking in favor of a specifically h(man str(ct(re, , am also )orking in favor of transgression and li!eration6of real transgression and li!eration, as opposed to the self2destr(ctive, vac(o(s, dissipative kind. B(t that arg(ment )o(ld !e too $(ick, and !iased. ,t may !e in the event(al !est interest of transgression that it !e cond(cted )ithin some solid str(ct(re <that )ay, transgression lasts longer, if indeed that is its !est interest6)hat is s(rfacing here is a compromise !et)een t)o sets of val(es, those of transgression and those of s(rvival, so that )e end (p val(ing the survival of transgression =, !(t no reason has !een given <nor can , think of one= )hy that str(ct(re sho(ld !e a h(man one. +lso, along these lines , can (nderstand the different prono(ns (sed as grammatical s(!;ects in this !ook. 'here is *yo(*: any interloc(tor in the dialog(e that s(!;ectivity is,

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and that acts o(t <*prod(ces*= the !ook. 'here is *one* <or, sometimes, *they,* or even, )hen it-s not conceived as a person, *it*=: any element of that dialog(e )hen it-s not !eing addressed, )hen it-s not engaged in an arg(ment !(t looked at from the o(tside, *o!;ectively,* often (nsympathetically. 'here is *)e*: the temporary consens(s stren(o(sly )orked o(t )ithin this pl(rality, and ready to !reak do)n at any moment, as *yo(* come (p )ith an o!;ection or *one*-s position is fo(nd to !e shaky. +nd, finally, there is *,*: the grammatical str(ct(re that identifies the *narrator* )ith the *actor,* there!y making dialog(e and m(ltiplicity relevant to *the )orld* and posing the challenge of artic(lating them *empirically* <there is no) an empirical )orld to a large e7tent6reality

9 G9 9 has !een largely fi7ated6and *,* m(st find a )ay of relating to it, the s(!;ect dialog(e m(st also !e part of that )orld, identical )ith one of the *things* in it=. I <the *empirical ,*= am a specific <temporary, (nsatisfactory, revisa!le= o(tcome in the enterprise of facing this challenging task, constantly (nder press(re from the task itself, constantly called in $(estion !y that signat(re *,* )hich represents the task *transcendentally.* G."%" 'herefore, that lang(age is essentially private does not immediately make it a solilo$(y !(t rather its opposite. 5nly after)ard does this private lang(age !ecome monologic, as repression gets more thoro(gh and invasive. 'he self is increasingly denied opport(nities for developing difference, or the end(rance needed to s(stain it6and its conversation comes to an end. Io( are st(ck )ith listening to the gr(m!lings of *yo(r* stomach, to yo(r itchings and yo(r erections, told to identify )ith them and nothing else. ,solation is not safe eno(ghA it-s not eno(gh to keep yo( (nder lock and key, disconnected from any immediate resonance yo(r din might have in the p(!lic arena. Io( m(st also )ear a strait;acket, and !e !lindfolded, and gagged. That is no) called privacy. 'hen comes the (ltimate ins(lt: the notion of a private lang(age is inconsistent, it )ill not !ear concept(al press(re. Io( mean , can-t speak after everyone has left, and my tong(e has !een gl(ed to my palate> 0one of this sho(ld !e conf(sed )ith thought , that is <finallyC=, )ith the lively dialog(e that occ(rs inside the s(!;ect )hen the latter is not <yet>= incapacitated. 'here is no silence to tho(ght: there is constant arg(ing and screaming, tho(gh, of co(rse, *the p(!lic* does not hear it. :o *ref(tations* of private lang(age conf(se this rich, po)erf(l e7change )ith the de;ected solit(de that res(lts from !anning it, and that conf(sion is a main tactic for enforcing the !an. <@e, on the other hand, see tho(ght as the destiny of lang(age: lang(age is still availa!le to the p(!lic, )hereas tho(ght is clearly o)ned !y the str(ct(re to )hich it 6and lang(age6!elonged in the first place.=.

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9 8# 9 G.E +n articulated lang(age esta!lishes e$(ivalence relations among the events it is an a!straction of, determines the relevant e$(ivalence classes, and divides them into categories. +nd it contains elements corresponding to those classes <as )ell as to their elements=. Thing and attribute have traditionally !een the most s(ccessf(l categories. 'hat they are s(ch an (neasy match for the *(nderlying* metaphysical str(ct(re is no pro!lem. 5n the contrary, the res(lting *torsion* is )elcome: a lang(age )o(ld !e (seless if it did not modify )hat it allegedly re 2presents. <@ho, aside from psychotics and their co(nterparts in philosophy departments, needs patterns to !e d(plicated indefinitely>= <3aking philosophy representational is a good )ay of )asting time6and maintaining the hold of reality. Dor ho) m(ch is there to representC ,t )ill never !e doneC 'he encyclopedia )ill take forever, and prevent (s from doing anything else. E7cept for the redeeming po)er of imperfect repetition.= ,n an artic(lated lang(age, it is possi!le to identify common components of vario(s events and !reak do)n the mapping of those events into a mapping of the components. 'his strategy is more economical than ;(st mapping events into (nanaly&ed ling(istic events. +nd, !eca(se it is more economical, it is also likely to !e more e7pressive and more efficient <!etter at protecting from pain=. :o the press(re is on to develop lang(ages in this direction <indeed, to make the process an iterated one=. +n element of a lang(age refers to any element of its inverse image. ,n an artic(lated lang(age, some elements refer to events, some to e$(ivalence classes of events, some to e$(ivalence classes of these e$(ivalence classes, and so on. +nd, in s(ch a lang(age <!eca(se of the torsion mentioned a!ove=, simplicity is often a misleading indicator. Dor e7ample, simple so(nds may refer to comple7 entities, and vice versa. *'hat at time t , (ttered a cry* refers, in the ontology )e

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9 81 9 adopted, to a simple <an event6!(t remem!er: this simplicity is not immediate, not primordialA it is itself the res(lt of hard la!or, not acco(nted for here=, )hereas *cry* refers

to a comple7 <that is, to something yet more comple7=.

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8 8.1 8.% + lang(age is d(plicito(s. +!stractions are events, and they are correlated )ith <other= events. @hat makes a lang(age a language is the correlation, and the protection it affords from <the pain associated )ith= the correlated events. B(t the events the lang(age is made of also fall into patterns, and these patterns may !ecome entrenched, and !ecome integrated in larger <entrenched= patterns. :oon lang(age is con$(ered !y the p(!lic sphere. 'hat is, !y the real. Heal is p(!lic. @hich statement *says* opposite things at different times in o(r story. ,nitially, it !rings o(t the character of m(ltiplicity in the messy, f(&&y manifold that original reality is. B(t then the *ones* are a!le to convert that manifold into a commun ity. ,nto a form of life, into uni formity. +nd then the statement e7presses the tri(mph of their ideology: the p(!lic sphere !ecomes <*in reality*= )hat s(ccessf(lly co(nteracts m(ltiplicity. @hen , say *:la!C* and yo( !ring me a sla!, o(r !ehavior is governed !y an entrenched pattern, ;(st as m(ch as it )o(ld !e if yo( !ro(ght me a sla! )henever <and as soon as= yo( co(ld see that , am o(t of sla!s. ?ang(age t(rns into a $(ick, efficient )ay *to get the ;o! done.* <@hich, ironically, it co(ld not !e if it )ere not *efficient* in its primordial sense6 if it )ere not an an7io(s, risky e7ploration of painf(l scenarios and a timid search for )ays o(t of them. B(t those )ho consider themselves *practical* people don-t perceive the irony 6and are mystified )hen they keep getting sliced !y their o)n pocketknives.= 'his integration does violence to the essence of lang(age. + violence that is ;(st as necessary to *)hat lang(age is,* ;(st as m(ch part of its essence.

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9 8% 9 8.%1E + definition of lang(age !ased on its character as integrated is the <e$(ally necessary= c(lmination of this act of violence.

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:(ch a definition reinforces the st(nting of lang(age-s anticipating character. + st(nting that )e call repression. 'ho(gh no one is intentionally repressing anything. It <2s = ;(st takes place. ,n the interest of the *ones,* !(t not necessarily in )ays that are *accessi!le* to them, controlled !y their *conscio(s planning.* Conspiracy theories are not ;(st st(pidA they are also deceptive and dangero(s <again, not !eca(se someone is trying to deceive yo(C6the same pro!lem keeps popping (p at all levels=. Dor it-s often easy to prove that there is no conspiracy, and it-s common to ded(ce from that trivial proof that there is nothing to )orry a!o(t. <0o intention *!ehind* it R no s(!stanceA or, ho) a !ankr(pt metaphysical scheme )ill help yo( not to see the a!yss yo( are sinking in. @hich may !e e7actly )hat yo( need to slo) do)n the sinking process: if yo( got e7cited a!o(t it, yo( might ca(se a s(dden collapse. B(t the event(al collapse may th(s !e more devastating.= Bere )e (se *lang(age* *am!ig(o(sly*6that is, )e (se it often <in line )ith *common sense*= to refer to )hat is implied !y this violating definition. @e have to live thro(gh itA )e cannot cancel it <)itho(t preserving it=. @e have to !ecome stronger for it. 'he )ay to deal )ith a vir(s is !y inoc(lating it6)hich is the !asis of the dialectic. 3ithridates already kne) all a!o(t it. +nd, )hen it s(rfaced again, it )as )ith /enner first and then )ith Begel. Part of )hat the violence amo(nts to consists of coloni&ing reference. Heference is no longer the advent(ro(s connection )ith something that might not <and might never= e7ist. ,t is rather the immediate, a(tomatic association !et)een t)o e7isting things. +nd, indeed, there is a pro!lem no) )hen reference is to )hat does not e7ist. @hat )as the paradigm case, the )hole point of the operation, has no) !ecome an em!arrassing

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9 8" 9 anomaly, to !e dispensed )ith, denied, re;ected. 'hat-s really not a case of reference at all, yo( )ill say: it-s a del(sion to !e dispelled, a *grammatical appearance* misrepresenting *tr(e logical form.* 5r: yo( )ill t(rn it into a case of reference !y making (p an e7isting o!;ect that can f(nction as )hat is !eing referred to <and never mind if that-s not )hat one )as talking a!o(t6if yo( have th(s s(cceeded in cleverly changing the s(!;ect=. 8.%1G1% Dree logic is a symptom ca(sed !y this repression. :o yo( )ill repress it , too <yo( )ill cure it=. ,t-s really nothing ne), yo( )ill say, since , can translate it into restricted classical logic <and silence )hat is lost in that translation=. 5r , can make every sentence containing

a reference to a none7istent false <ho) convenient to have that kind of po)erC and ho) c(rio(sC=. 5r , can e7pand the (niverse of o!;ects <!ring in an *o(ter domain*= and remain faithf(l to my repressive frame)ork. 'hat is, , can avoid hearing )hat the symptom is )hispering. <'ho(gh it, irritatingly, contin(es to )hisper, for e7ample, reminding me of the annoying presence of sing(lar terms that are not ;(st nondenoting: they cannot possi!ly denote. B(t no) at least , can think of that as a small, marginal pro!lem6since a small, marginal place is all , have left for it. , can see myself irresisti!ly marching to)ard a complete sol(tion. +nd )hat if that sol(tion re$(ires sacrificing ro(nd s$(ares and assorted freaks> Bo) m(ch of a loss is that going to !e>= 8.%1G% 8.%1G%1 'he end of magical *evocation* and the !eginning of *realism.* +nother !it of sc(m. *,n the real )orld* things are s(ch and s(ch6an igno!le cover for the most o(trageo(s schemes. Healpolitik6or, yo( )ill do )hatever yo( can get a)ay )ith, and then feel ;(stified !eca(se yo( got a)ay )ith it <and made it real in the process=. 'he association !et)een lang(age and e7isting things )as there from the !eginning, !(t only as instr(mental to a dialog(e )ith )hat does not e7ist. 5riginally, , )o(ld (se the association !et)een, say, *chair* and chairs to spec(late

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9 8E 9 a!o(t *cra&y* sorts of chairs, or *ideal* ones. 'o estrange myself from those specific !its of f(rnit(re )ith )hich , )as st(ck !y concentrating on some *aspects* of them that , fo(nd to !e *essential.* <+nd th(s, event(ally, to ma"e different chairs6to !ecome *really* (nst(ck from the e7isting f(rnit(re.= 0o), on the other hand, the none7istent has faded a)ay, and lang(age has !ecome enslaved to the real. 0(clear energy is at yo(r service in the kitchen, r(nning smoother, more po)erf(l appliances. <'he iss(e is, as al)ays: )hat serves )hat else>= 8.%% 8.%%1 ,n a lang(age !ecome p(!lic, communication occ(rs. 'hat is, the esta!lishment of entrenched patterns )here a specific ling(istic performance !y an agent is follo)ed !y a specific performance <ling(istic or other)ise= !y another agent. 5nce more, and in a self2conscio(s, self2satisfied manner: lang(age as shorthand, as an economic tool for navigating the real. Bakers and !ankers (se *lang(age,* too. 'hey (se it *in order to* make !read and money. 'hat is, in the co(rse of doing so. 5f getting fatter and richer. 1r skinnier and poorer. +nd of proving their (sage right !y the )eight of their

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!odies or va(lts. 8.%%1% 'he )eight of the real. 'he anore7ic re!ellion of the (nreal. 'he delicate !alance !et)een the t)o )hich is the )eight of each of (s. @hich is my )eight, too, the )eight I have6the limit of the po)er *,* have on myself. 'he (ltimate c(nning: losing )eight in order to !e healthier. Protecting the e7istent from the overe7tension that might give the none7istent a chance. ?ean and mean . 'hat is, professionally concerned )ith one thing only: s(rvival itself. *.eep the sales ta7 in to)n. :hop 0e)port Beach.* , )o(ld like to think that , am different. B(t shopping in to)n is6ho)ever minimally6a form of discipline. +nd , have !een advocating disciplineA , have !een promoting h(manism6that is, shopping )ithin the h(man race. :o it-s not like ,-m not mean, not g(ilty. ,t-s rather that the choice is !et)een g(ilt and s(icide <or !et)een t)o kinds of g(ilt: parochialism and (niversal destr(ctiveness=, and , choose

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9 8G 9 the former. @hich is a first, elementary, *a(tomatic* form of co(rage. 'hen comes the more diffic(lt, more important form: having the co(rage of one-s co(rage. 'he g(ts to admit that it is indeed g(ilt yo( are accepting and living )ith. +nd that there m(st !e something <some agony= to that6it can-t !e ;(st )ords. 8.%%1E1 'he most diffic(lt time comes immediately after yo(r !ravest move. Io( rela7 for a second, say something (nimportant, and that amounts to ta"ing bac" your move . Dor e7ample: yo( make a forcef(l choice and then, pleased as yo( are )ith yo(rself, thro) in a co(ple of rationali&ing )ords. +t )hich point yo( might as )ell forget it. This lang(age is no longer saying anything. ,t has !ecome d(m!6a necessary concept(al premise to <logically= posterior *empirical* developments <comp(ters, etc.=. /(st as lang(age is not necessarily ver!al, not every ver!al config(ration is lang(age. +nd this has little to do )ith the ideology s(perimposed on that config(ration. 'here are lots of people speaking *in the name* of play, of non!eing, of s(!versionA !(t the reference relation they )ork )ith is often one connecting solidly entrenched terms on !oth sides6 their play and non!eing and s(!version are repetitive, calcified rit(als that have lost <or never had= any capacity of anticipation <hence have nothing to do )ith play and nonbeing and subversion =. 'hese people, too, are saying nothing, ;(st like the *(tilitarians* they are so critical of <and ho)ever ver!ose the e7pectorations of !oth=. :omething analogo(s to comm(nication <)hich might still !e called comm(nication=

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occ(rs often )holly independently of lang(age. +nd it is idiotically <!(t inevita!ly, and hence, in the end, *;(stly* =assimilated )ith it. Body lang(age and other similar a!errations. <:(ch a!errations have nothing to do )ith the fact that a lang(age as )e (nderstand it may consist of !odily movements. Dor then there m(st !e a story Knot necessarily ver!alL a!o(t the saving character of that dance. 5nce again, o(r enemy is not a specific lang(age !(t a specific conception of )hat a lang(age is.=

9 88 9 8.%%"1 :ome )ill even consider this kind of talk evidence of the increasing importance of lang(age. +dding ins(lt to in;(ry. 1epriving lang(age of its dignity after depriving it of its f(nction. +nd (sing lang(age to do that dirty )ork. <*,* s(re hope a day of reckoning )ill come for yo(C= 'he *ling(istic t(rn* of +nglo2+merican analytic philosophyA or, the s(!;(gating and tort(ring of a most po)erf(l means of li!eration presented as increased attention and respect for it. @hen yo( have po)er, yo( can really do and say )hatever yo( )ant: even talk a!o(t *freedom fighters* and make it stick. <0ot that it matters, really: !lo)torching and decapitating opponents )ill take care of them any)ay. B(t at least some!ody6not the right people, for s(re, not those )ho r(n things6)o(ld !e ashamed. +nd )ho kno)s> 'here might even !e practical conse$(ences of that shame. 5r so one )o(ld like to think. :o yo( are afraid to think, )hich makes yo( )ant to have a !ack(p option.= Comm(nication and <original= reference are orthogonal. +n infant may have no lang(age availa!le <no capacity to efficiently anticipate the f(t(re= and still (tter so(nds, and have those so(nds infl(ence other people-s !ehavior in a reg(lar )ay6)hich is all it takes for comm(nication to !e occ(rring. <, am not saying that this is so, if indeed it is6and , don-t care a!o(t that 6!eca(se the infant is not h(man, !(t only !eca(se it does not have a comple7 and resilient eno(gh str(ct(re. 1olphins and geese may )ell do !etter in that respect. @hich is )hy someone else6even, possi!ly, some later stage of *this* individ(al6might )ant to call them h(man.= 'hat may !e ho) lang(age in fact gets started, !(t s(ch is not o(r concern here. @e are not doing <official= history: )hat )e do precedes <and defies= the selection determining <that= history. ,t does not deal )ith )hat <officially= happened, !(t )ith )hat must, or can, happen. ,ts point is to !e !ea(tif(l6so as to gain strength <!y !etter managing the strength it has=. +nd may!e change the )ay history is )ritten. 3ay!e h(rt, too. 'here is nothing innocent a!o(t !ea(ty. ,ts attractiveness simply is the po)er e7ercised on yo( !y a pattern <sometimes

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9 87 9 a foreign one, sometimes one of yo(r o)n=. Dor a moment <or for a )hile=, that pattern )ill *look* to yo( like the attainment of the <deceptive= rational ideal of systematicity, it )ill look as if it had a satisfying response for any $(estion yo( might ever have. B(t then yo( )ill s)itch to seeing the ra!!it as a d(ck, and contin(e to p(rs(e yo(r tr(e rational destiny !y destroying that !ea(tif(l appearance. Unless its pattern has already destroyed you . 8.%%E" @o(ld it !e possi!le to evolve from the a(tomatic concatenation of moves )e imagined in the infant-s case to a similarly a(tomatic !ehavior in the case of an ad(lt> Can a h(man !eing go thro(gh his )hole life )itho(t ever developing a lang(age in o(r sense> Ies: that )o(ld !e the deno(ement of some of the stories )e )o(ld like to tell a!o(t contemporary society and technology. <+nd in order to tell those stories, )e m(st !e a!le to (se the )ord *h(man* o(r )ay.= 'ho(gh they may, and often do, intersect. , may get yo( to !ring me a sla! !y (ttering, *Bring me a sla!,* and in this (tterance *sla!* may have <original= reference. 'here may !e a longing voiced there that yo(r performance )ill not appease, and this repeated fail(re )ill never stop p(&&ling (s. *'ell me )hat it is that yo( need, so , can give it to yo( and once and for all yo( can stop !itchingC* <*&he vuoi, *= @hat *sla!* refers to for me, the speaker, is a certain e$(ivalence class. ,f yo(, the hearer, )ere to make the same (tterance, *sla!* )o(ld in general refer for yo( to a different e$(ivalence class. B(t comm(nication )ill still occ(r if in general yo( !ring me )hat , e7pected yo( to !ring me. <+nd remem!er: yo( and , may !e ho(sed in the same !ody. 0othing s(!stantial is added !y *o(tside* o(tsideness. E7cept more clarity. 5r more conf(sion> 'he conf(sion of too m(ch clarity6)hen yo( don-t see that yo( have a pro!lem, )hen yo( manage to avoid seeing that yo( have a pro!lem !y !eing perfectly transparent a!o(t it all>= <, have seen *philosophers* divide (p a pro!lem (ntil it literally disappeared. By the end, , kne) the pro!lem )as still

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9 8J 9 there6it had to !e, no one had addressed it6!(t , co(ld no longer see )here it )as. 'he same kind of sophistry is often displayed !y priests, or la)yers, or politicians: they confront an angry person, and sho) him that he can-t really !e angry at this or that or the other. By the end, the person is still angry, !(t no longer kno)s )hy Khence )hetherL he sho(ld !e. 'hose *philosophers* o(ght to reflect on the analogy, on )hat it tells them a!o(t

themselves and their practice6tho(gh, if they did, some of them )o(ld even take the analogy as a compliment.= 8.%%G" Heference is to a speaker-s *o)n o!;ects,* to mem!ers of his *o)n space* <one more: a speaker is not to !e identified )ith a h(man !ody6there may !e several speakers *lodged in* any s(ch !ody=. @hen s(ccessf(l comm(nication occ(rs, there is a tendency to identify the relevant mem!ers of the relevant spaces <!etter: a tendency to conceive of this identity as possi!le or act(al, and !ehave accordingly6*to identify* s(ggests illegitimately that !oth sides are e$(ally availa!le to someone performing an operation on them=. 'hen one can also map the other person-s ling(istic performance )ithin one-s o)n space, and via this mapping e'plain that performance6)hich is )hat finding the meaning of the performance amo(nts to. 'he right metaphor of meaning is not, *By (ttering S , give yo( something.* ,t is rather, *Io( can tell yo(rself a story that makes my (tterance (ns(rprising.* 'hat makes yo( feel the necessity of it. 'hat makes it fall into place. + soothing operation. B(t, like everything else here, one that might strangle yo(. Io( start o(t trying to *interpret* )hat the g(y said, to make his very )ords so(nd as the most rational occ(rrence, and find yo(rself generating more and more )ords, ever more different )ords, and invoking phantasms of yo(r o)n, phantasms yo( )o(ld never have admitted as yo(r o)n6!(t no) yo( can, !eca(se they are *really* someone else-s, so yo( can voice them, and listen to them at length. +nd one day they )ill claim yo(r so(l.

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9 89 9 8." 8."1 8."11 Even )hile con$(ered, lang(age remains d(plicito(s. ,t is still possi!le to (se it to refer to )hat does not e7ist. +nd this reference to the none7istent infects *ordinary* talk. 5rdinary declarative statements do nothing !(t e7press )ishes. Io( say, *- is p ,* !(t all yo( can say, all yo( have gro(nds for, hence all yo( mean <all anyone else can say to make sense of yo(r (tterance=, is, *, )ish - )ere p .* 1reams provide the paradigm for *reality*: they sho) in a perfectly l(cid manner the most diverse patterns coming on the scene and taking space and !ranching o(t6)hich is )hat *)ishing* amo(nts to. +nd )hat fools yo( in dreams contin(es to fool yo( in reality6more so !eca(se there is m(ch more of it, !eca(se in this conte7t yo( have gotten <)ere forced to get= m(ch !etter at it. :econdary ela!oration, that is: the fitting of yo(r vario(s o!scene, po)er2cra&y, contradictory demands into a coherent,

*nice* story. 8."111 +ren-t stories <among= the heroes of this story> :o )hat-s )rong )ith the comfort provided !y secondary ela!oration> @hat-s )rong is that it comes )ith a story in the sing(lar, and that may !e comforting (s to death: it may !e the comfort to end all comfort. ,n order to handle <f(t(re= pain, )e need stories , many of them. @e need options and dialog(e. <+ single story is not even a story anymore. ,t has !ecome the truth .= ,t helps )hen things are less coherent, )hen )e can see the mechanism of del(sion fall apart, and the (gly creat(res of darkness reveal their tr(e colors. 'hink of the nastiness of an envio(s colleag(e-s revie) of yo(r )ork, or, on the other hand, of the sympathy and intelligence of yo(r o)n reading of it. Comm(nicative action, indeedC + solid !asis for a disinterested in$(iryC 'hat-s ho) *ded(ctive logic* can have c(rrency. Io( )o(ld think that it-s trivial to the point of silliness to take the tro(!le of constr(cting ela!orate *arg(ments* to *prove* a concl(sion that is at !est as strong as yo(r premises <and (s(ally not as strong=. B(t people en;oy contemplating their desiresA and also, repetition makes them more real6)e want to (tter them lo(d and often, to the point )hen )e !egin to hear

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9 7# 9 an echo. :omething does happen as )e move from premises to concl(sion <or, here, from n(m!ered paragraph to n(m!ered paragraph=: )ish f(lfillment is at )ork. @e are lining (p o(r regiments and getting them ready for )ar. +nd the more )e look at them, the more )e admire their (niforms and their orderly, colorf(l parade, the more confident )e get a!o(t the tr(th of o(r position. <*Bo) many divisions does the pope have>*= 8."1"1 B(t, tho(gh that is the intent, it might not !e the o(tcome. 'rying to impress people into military service often proves them more recalcitrant than one ever imagined. @atching their displays and )ar games often reveals )eaknesses and inade$(acies no one ever s(spected. :imilarly, logic-s defensive moves might )ell have the effect of !lo)ing (p o(r cover <the one )e )ere so s(re a!o(t )hile it )asn-t !ro(ght o(t in the open, )hile )e )ere only s(re a!o(t it=. +s )ishes are reali!ed this )ay, voicing them is grad(ally transformed into providing a tr(thf(l acco(nt of reality. E7pressions of )ishes !ecome the descriptive, declarative statements they are <often= s(pposed to !e to the e7tent that on them no press(re is e7ercised, no criticism raised. :o an effective )ay of generating descriptive acco(nts is !y gathering people )ho agree on most !asic matters <that is, on )hat they most !asically )ant= and delegitimi&ing <or other)ise making irrelevant= any s(!stantially different vie)s <that is, )ishes=. 'hen indeed things *sho) (p,* can !e *pointed o(t* and *recogni&ed* <yo( may have never noticed that *, am sorry* is sort of intermediate !et)een apologi&ing

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and conveying one-s feelings, !(t as soon as , !ring it to yo(r attention it )ill strike yo( as a correct remarkA after all, o(r feelings and o(r apologetic rit(als6the )ays )e choose to think of o(rselves feeling and apologi&ing6are so m(ch alike=. +nd if an o(tsider )ere to s(ggest an alternative, he )o(ld !ecome the o!;ect of an inordinate <irrational> may!e, !(t remem!er that *rationality* is at stake here, that 3achiavelli )ill !e regarded !y many as the epitome of the rational= amo(nt of aggressiveness, and the target of all sorts of vicio(s ad hominem attacks. <,ronically, he )ill often !e acc(sed of *)ishf(l thinking.*= :(ddenly anything is possi!le, and no move is

9 71 9 shamef(l: it-s like a rat finding itself in the )rong pack and not smelling right6and !eing c(t to pieces )itho(t mercy. :o that cosmos can !e restored. 8."1E1 ?ater reality )ill !e defined in terms of these *realistic* acco(nts. 'he )orld )ill !ecome the <intentional= o!;ect of a *theory* <here , am (sing the )ord in the derogatory sense in )hich people say *Evol(tion is only a theory*=. @here the danger <from a p(rely parochial point of vie)6leaving a!sol(te freedom aside= is one of forgetting the role of disagreement and deviance, of !eing too reass(red a!o(t <again= a single system of )ishes. ,t is ;(st )hen it is too po)erf(l6to the point of having no credi!le enemies6that an empire !egins to collapse, to rot, to degenerate from )ithin. 5ne )onders )hy. 'o reiterate: the pro!lem is not that )ishes are e7pressed (nder the g(ise of *constative* speech acts !(t that only some are. +nd the primordial significance of those acts comes across most openly )hen declarative statements are simply, starkly opposed to one another. *,t-s my )ord against yo(rs.* <@hich, of co(rse, may !e a r(se, and a cheap one, !(t doesn-t have to !e, and often is not. 5ften !oth interloc(tors are indeed in the grips of their tenacio(s desires.= *Empirical st(dies cond(cted in the last fifteen years sho) that depressed people tend to have a more acc(rate perception of reality.* Bo) sadC B(t sho(ldn-t that tell yo( something a!o(t yo(r notions of reality and acc(racy> ,sn-t it the case that yo( are identifying *an acc(rate perception of reality* )ith the state someone is in )hen he no longer cares a!o(t doing anything> @hen he no longer has any real )ishes> @hen he has totally s(cc(m!ed to a single overpo)ering pattern> +nd isn-t yo(r sad *appreciation* of the sit(ation another e7ample of the same attit(de> ,ncidentally, yo( sho(ld reflect on yo(r talk of *rational choice.* Dor people acc(rate in yo(r sense )o(ld hardly ever ma"e any choiceA hence that talk )o(ld end (p having virt(ally no application. People )o(ld end (p !eing either inactive or irrational. 1o yo( s(ppose there co(ld !e a political significance

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9 7% 9 to this concl(sion> <5r is it ;(st, again, an *acc(rate* one>= 8."1E"% 5f co(rse, )hat you mean !y *rational choice* does not have the dignity of a choice <or of something rational =. Io( think that people are given a certain preference profile <as what they are =, and then all they have to *do* is perform a fe) silly, c(te comp(tations. :o )hat you have *done* is appropriate these )ords to yo(r depressing vie) of h(manity. ,n s(m, it is still possi!le for lang(age to resist its integration into entrenched patterns. 'ho(gh in general red(ctive of pain in the long r(n, this resistance is painf(l at the time. +t least insofar as it resists entrenchment. Dorce )ill !e e7ercised to overcome this resistance, and avoid c(rrent pain. 5nce again, to avoid the (nreal. 'his force )ill manifest itself !y inhi!iting any (se of lang(age o(tside entrenched patterns. ?ang(age )ill !e forced into the procr(stean !ed of lang(age games . Fames one is s(pposed to )in> @hat is at stake> @ho referees> Heality, yo( say> 0o kidding. *Heality* is )hat this )hole conception is s(pposed to shore (p. @hat )o(ld !e hard p(t to !e <real=, e7cept for the efficacy of this conception. ,t is anything !(t a ne(tral ;(dge. , have seen ;(dges like that. 3ay!e , have only seen ;(dges like that. , have heard people say that if all ;(dges are like that, then there can !e nothing )rong )ith it. <People )ho o!vio(sly don-t kno)6or don-t )ant to kno), )o(ld rather forget6)hat *)rong* is.= 3ules )ill !e imposed on it. @ith e7ceptions, of co(rse, needed as (s(al to prove the r(le. 3(ltiplicity )ill have to !e

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9 7" 9 e7ceptional6there )ill have to !e something e7traordinary a!o(t it. 8."G%1 5ne )ill make a !ig deal of ling(istic connections !eing *ar!itrary.* 0ot reflecting on the other ma;or resonance of that )ord: *despotic,* *tyrannical.* 0ot grasping its s(!terranean message. + classic case of regimentation: the illoc(tionary *force* of certain e7pressions. @hich amo(nts to their no longer having any force, to their !eing forced into a single reading. + necessary premise for lang(age finally *doing things* <or, more honestly, for things !eing done to lang(age=. 'he paradigm of illoc(tionary force: *, am carrying a !om!,* (ttered at the sec(rity checkpoint of an airport. This utterance will not be ta"en as a *o"e: if yo( say, *, am carrying a !om!,* yo( )ill !e carrying it6that is, yo( )ill !e treated as one )ho does. Io( )ill have s(ccessf(lly !apti&ed yo(rself a !om! carrier. 0one of that *intention* !(siness that conf(sed +(stin and led :earle completely astray. ,f yo( say, *, promise,* )hile intending to deceive, yo( can still !e held to it. +nd sometimes yo( (se that to yo(r advantage. Io( say, *B(t , did apologi&e,* as if that )ere eno(gh. +s if it )eren-t clear to all involved that yo( didn-t mean it. <'hat the most conspic(o(s associations mo!ili&ed !y yo(r statement do not provide a credi!le e7planation of yo(r )hole performance.= +nd still no one co(ld *legitimately* !lame yo( for !eing s(ch a cheat. *Conventions* come to *yo(r* help. 'he (ni$(eness of this interpretation )ill stick as long as the social str(ct(re maintaining it is cohesive eno(gh. @hich )ill !e the case more in more *serio(s* <e.g., more dangero(s= circ(mstances <as in the military, )here logic !elongs=. B(t irony )ill al)ays threaten this cohesiveness, and so )ill play, and irritation, and hypocrisy. +nd crime. +nd love. Co(ld yo( really make promises to a lover> + child, a parent> Co(ld they really make yo( f(lfill them6)itho(t ceasing to !e lovers, or parents, or children> Co(ld yo( apologi&e to them> 'ell them *, am carrying a !om!* in s(ch a )ay

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9 7E 9 that yo( )o(ld then !e carrying it> <5r, *,-m carrying yo(r child.*= 8."G%%G ,n fact, all of the a!ove is !ecoming less a!s(rd, more credi!le as )e speak. 'he so2called fragmentation of the social str(ct(re is a con iss(e, an insolent travesty of a pro!lem. @hat is happening is rather that the social str(ct(re is !ecoming more po)erf(lA its r(les are

insin(ating themselves into the most *private* conte7ts. ,ncl(ding ling(istic r(les6the rack on )hich lang(age is chained. ,n the res(lting system of total administration, yo(r lovers and children and parents )ill take yo( to co(rt, demanding payment for the promissory notes yo( <inadvertently>= talked yo(rself into. <Io( sho(ld never speak )ith yo(r pants do)n6;(st take care of !(siness. +nd hope that !ody *lang(age* doesn-t come !ack to ha(nt yo(.= 8."G%" B(t m(ltiplicity )ill get its revenge: yo( )ill not !e a!le to establish any r(le6for any se$(ence. 'he hall(cinatory character of yo(r prono(ncements )ill !ecome clear, for those )ho have eyes to see. 5thers, of co(rse, )ill !e more than happy to *think* that they are not <yet>= !eing smart eno(gh, and )ill ;oyf(lly contin(e to look. +fter all, that-s )hat *happy* means: tho(ghtless. +cademies )ill !e constit(ted to codify lang(age-s proper (se. +nd they )ill occasionally display !enevolent, destr(ctive tolerance to)ard *difference.* 3aking s(re that they la!el itA once yo( kno) that something is *slang,* yo( are no longer to )orry a!o(t it. ,t no longer concerns yo(. B(t it-s ama&ing ho) strict these asyl(ms get )hen it comes to administering their rites of passage. 'ry to (se slang in a dissertationC <,t-s $(ite another story )hen yo( are already a mem!er of the clan. 'hen everyone kno)s it-s tong(e in cheekA everyone kno)s yo( are only *$(oting* it.= <+ $(ote: a co)ardly tactic to speak yo(r desire )itho(t admitting to it. @orse: )hile !laming it on someone else. 'he paradigmatic case of $(ote: those moralistic6or scholarly 6fra(ds )ho get to talk nonstop a!o(t pornographic material )itho(t !eing infected !y it. E7cept that of co(rse they are.= <:ometimes $(oting yo(r desire is the !est yo( can do, in

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9 7G 9 preparation for !etter times to come. @onder )hy there are so many $(otes here>= 8."GE :chooling )ill enforce the transmission of entrenched patterns from one generation to the ne7t. <0otice my resistance to calling this activity *ed(cation.* 0ot that it *isn-t* ed(cation, of co(rse, or that the resistance )ill s(cceed. B(t it still matters: )e can-t al)ays take an (nderstanding, )orld2historical vie) of things. :ometimes )e are h(rt, and it sho)s, and it o(ght to sho).= .ids are told the right (se of a )ord. 'hat is, they are told what to do . @hat an interesting contrast )ith !eing told a story at !edtimeC @hat a !loody !attle is !eing fo(ght on that

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little )ordC 5ver those little peopleC 8."GE% @hat good is ?atin to me> 'here is a point to this $(estion. +s long as it does not mean: Bo) m(ch richer am , going to get !y learning <some meager r(diments of= ?atin> +s long as it means: @hat good is it to me to practice a lang(age as dead, as a tired ro(tine> +s essentially past> 'he tri(mph of repression: having a )hole dead lang(age *on line.* Con$(ered once and for all6indeed, con$(ered t)ice, !y death and !y this postmortem. Permanently dissected and organi&ed. ,f only all lang(ages co(ld !e treated that )ay, like certain dissected, organi&ed neigh!orhoodsC @o(ldn-t it !e nice, and safe> <+ good, pers(asive )ay of getting the point across is: 'hink a!o(t yo(r children vent(ring o(tside a!s(rdly protective s(!(r!s, a!o(t their helplessness. +!o(t ho) the sec(rity of a sit(ation perfectly (nder control6and the conse$(ent lack of familiarity )ith any kind of *e7perimental* !ehavior, )ith any life 6is responsi!le for that helplessness. :tart s)eating.= 'ho(gh, if *one* feels too safe a!o(t it, it is precisely )ithin this cemetery that ne) life can gro). Corpses festerA )orms prosper in them. *'hey are the (ltimate con$(erors.* People )ill !e stigmati&ed as of lo)er <p(!lic= val(e )hen they (se lang(age inappropriately. 'he same thing is happening no) )ith *comp(ter literacy.*

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9 78 9 5f co(rse comp(ters open (p a ne) area of *play,* !(t most people don-t really play in it. @hat emerges instead <right a)ay, !efore the ne) technology has a chance to create havoc= is the esta!lishment of a ne) *grammar* and ne) *d(tif(l* tasks. Io( must !e (p on them if yo( )ant to !e part of the <proper= cro)d. Io( must !e a!le to access the li!rary of +le7andria, tho(gh yo( )ill not read anything in it. Io( )o(ld feel that yo( )ere missing o(t on something important, on something yours , if yo( did not have availa!le things yo( )ill never (se6!eca(se yo(r time is spent satisfying the need to ac$(ire them. 5nce more, the territory of freedom has !een occ(pied !y necessity. 8."GG% B(t this *tool* )ill play <)ith= you. And )in. Primarily !eca(se yo( )ill not kno) that there )as play going on, or what sort of play it )as. 'he m(ltiplicity of <ling(istic= patterns )ill !e the most effective vehicle of contin(ed resistance.

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+n alternative pattern might occ(r infre$(ently <)e then call it dormant =. B(t it might also itself !ecome entrenched <tho(gh perhaps to a lesser degree than the most entrenched=. ,n general, this alternative pattern )ill !e denied referential val(e. Beca(se reference has !een p(!licly appropriated. :o its referential character )ill !e (nderstood in terms of association , of resonance , of rhetoric . 'he physical traits of lang(age )ill !e called in $(estion6the physical thickness of )ords. + parado7, !eca(se these physical traits )ill !e regarded as the resid(e of the lang(agehood of lang(age, as a manifestation of its imp(rity, )hereas lang(age here is precisely doing its thing: resisting *normali&ation* !y playing one entrenchment against another. </(st as people )ere once a!le to play one evil empire against the other. 0o) they no longer have s(ch l(ck.=

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9 77 9 8."8E%1 5ne of the many parado7es ca(sed !y the enforcement of po)er. Po)er distorts the geometry of o(r social space. ,t makes people cross2eyed. Blinders )ill do that sort of thing to yo(. :o rhetoric is s(!versive. @itho(t specifying s(!versive of )hat. 'he general point is: it inclines one to go !eyond repetitive !ehavior. +ction is s(!versive. +ction is s(!version. +ction is )hen yo( do something, and nothing is done )hen yo( mechanically respond to e7pectations. 1ead calm again: the ;ogging in place that most of o(r *action* red(ces to. 4ow does lang(age do that> Uttering so(nds <or inscri!ing characters= is one of many things that can !e done, one of many <h(man= practices. :o ho) is it possi!le that this practice have a stim(lating effect on the others, that )ords make people do things>

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0o s(ch pro!lem e7ists for traditional theories6at the cost of (nder)riting the silliness of the practical syllogism. Io( want something, "now ho) to get it, and proceed to act accordingly. 'hro(gh lang(age, yo( disseminate yo(r kno)ledge, so as to make others a!le to perform the same ro(tine. B(t, of co(rse, this scheme is constantly contradicted !y the )ay people *)ork.* 0o one is ever moved to action !y kno)ledge, even )hen a strong desire is present. 0o one is ever c(red of a ne(rosis !y !eing told a!o(t its ca(ses <and !elieving them=. ,t-s not ;(st that there are *e7ceptions* to the practical syllogism <that occasionally people are *incontinent*6or are they, really, =A there is no case in )hich this is a reasona!le acco(nt of )hat is going on, in )hich a)areness of means and ends determines o(r !ehavior. 'he reverse is often the case: o(r !ehavior often echoes in the corridors of conscio(sness. ,n this sense, )e don-t do )hat )e say, )e rather say )hat )e doA so, clearly, it is not in this sense that lang(age can !ring a!o(t action.

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9 7J 9 8."8G"" B(t the relation !et)een )ords and things does not end there. @e kno) that lang(age provides a relatively safe la! )here to try s(!stit(tes of action )itho(t paying <all= the price of the real thing, and that occasionally these s(!stit(tes spread into *real* action. 'he pro!lem is ho) the spreading )orks, )hat makes the difference !et)een the things , think of doing but don$t do and the ones , think of doing and do 6and may!e even make others do <)ho did not spend m(ch time thinking a!o(t them=. +nd it-s an enormo(s pro!lem: it amo(nts to ho) non!eing can p(sh !eing into non!eing, and itself !ecome !eing, despite all the defense mechanisms !eing has in place. @e can imagine that in moments of serio(s crisis, )hen those mechanisms are over!(rdened, anything might happen, and even ten(o(s patterns might come to the force. B(t s(ch moments are rare, and )ords can ca(se people to do things even in perfectly ordinary <noncritical= circ(mstances. 'o e7plain this possi!ility )e m(st go !ack to so(nds, to the music of lang(age. @e can !e affected !y so(nds )itho(t paying attention to them, )e noted earlierA no) )e m(st foc(s on )hat e7actly affects (s6on )hat the m(sic is. 'he m(sic of lang(age is its physical thickness: the m(ltiplicity of overlapping patterns that are *left over* after )e acco(nt for the *official* one<s= in )hich lang(age is entrenched. :everal of these other patterns are themselves entrenched, (s(ally !y !eing integrated in larger patterns that have nothing *ling(istic* a!o(t them: natural patterns that already have a hold on (s, to )hich )e are already committed6the rhythm of o(r )alking, say, or o(r eating, o(r lovemaking, o(r fighting. :o, as )e are spoken to <possi!ly !y o(rselves=, these other patterns can gra! (s, and as )e are gra!!ed !y them, o(r moves )ill tend to fall into the same patterns. @hich )ill !ring into relief one of the many different things )e co(ld !e doing <may!e one that other)ise )o(ld have !een very (nconspic(o(s=, and make it the one )e are doing. 'he (nnat(ral !ecoming of action is th(s kept on co(rse !y !eing assimilated to nat(ral !ecomingA its a!s(rdity is facilitated and sta!ili&ed as if !y a gigantic fly)heel. <Io( act !y making yo(rself into a nonagent, !y letting something !igger than yo( flo) thro(gh yo(r

8."8G"E

!ody. 'hen yo( )ill pro!a!ly )ake (p, and *reali&e*

9 79 9 )hat yo( did. +ction is al)ays in retrospect.= 'hat-s )hat rhyme does to yo(, or a song-s chor(s. 'hat-s the origin of the very first chants <tr(e !l(eprints for action, and emphatically not for )hat they say =: se7(al chants, )ar chants, la!or chants. <3imicry again6think of Plato-s 3epublic, or +ristotle-s 0olitics .= Io( commit people to certain )ords, to )hat they *mean*6to their associations, to the promises <the )ishes= they e7press6!efore they even listen to them <)e can go years )itho(t (nderstanding the lyrics of songs )e like, and )e still *sing* them=. Beca(se yo( make them do )hat those promises involve !efore they kno) that they are doing it. ?ater, )hen they find o(t, they )ill also find themselves in possession of )ords they are no) *hearing* for the first time, and )ill (se them to rationali&e )hat they did. +nd one can only hope it-s not a lynch mo! that this *inspiring* rhetoric is letting loose. 8."8G"G +n (neasy coe7istence, in lang(age, of *content* and m(sic. @here the latter is $(ickly dismissed as irrelevant, )hile it-s doing all the )ork6!etter still, so that it can <$(ietly= do all the )ork <f(nny that m(sic, of all things, sho(ld )ork $(ietly, )itho(t !eing heard=6of t(rning other people-s )heels <or indeed yo(r o)n: yo( need to ;(mp2start yo(rself, occasionally, to give yo(rself a little motivational speech6)hich )ill only )ork if it sounds right=. B(t those )ho are in the motivational !(siness <advertisers, politicians, military commanders= kno) all a!o(t ;ingles, hymns, and marching songs. 'hey kno) that a message m(st *ally* itself )ith m(sic if it is to !e heeded, that the m(sic m(st distract the a(dience from the message, attract the a(dience to its own pattern )hile it carries the message across. 'hey kno) that any reference to people-s *interests* is an evasion6 ho)ever )ell intentioned, ho)ever *progressive* it might !e. +ny person is a manifold of disparate, conflicting interestsA therefore, saying that the lynch mo! is *protecting its position of domination and privilege* amo(nts to ref(sing to look into the details of the operation, into ho) a certain m(sic )ill make a certain pattern emerge6a certain position, a certain system of goals, as opposed to any other options that were equally available. +nd ho) conse$(ently the m(sic )ill make people perform certain

9 J# 9 actions, )hereas a different t(ne )o(ld have made the same people act differently. 8."8G"8 'he very first thing m(sic )ill make yo( do is dance. :o that-s the paradigm of ho) to do things )ith )ords. Before , perform any action, , )ill e7ec(te *the same moves* as steps in a dance. Before anything sho)s (p as )ork, it e7isted as play. +nd there is al)ays m(sic in the !ackgro(nd of playA m(sic is al)ays !eing played.

8."8G"7

'his m(sic and dance )ill then !e remem!ered, that is, reenacted )ith relentless periodicity, as the <life= rhythms they are. 'ho(gh, in order for specific contents to !e remem!ered, )e generally need more e7pressive means, s(ch as are provided !y specific m(sical phrases: individ(al memories are generally associated )ith individ(al melodies. @itho(t a melody, all yo( (s(ally remem!er6that is, <)atch yo(rself= reenact6is that something )as going on, and possi!ly e7cited yo( a great deal. @ith a melody, on the other hand, a definite e7perience )ill come <!ack= to mind, )hether or not yo( )ant it. /ingles yo( hate6and hate yo(rself for !eing o!sessed !y6)ill contin(e to s(rface, and will guide you through the aisles of the supermar"et. 3arching songs )ill contin(e to make yo(r hair rise, ho)ever horri!le or ridic(lo(s their lyrics. Io( )ill try to protect yo(rself from s(ch irritatingly easy %lit!"riege, s(ch over)helmingly po)erf(l )eapons: send signals of an7iety <of disg(st, of contempt(o(sness= )henever a t(ne is too *catchy.* Io( )ill look for atonality, for noise6and in the process might make yo(rself even more v(lnera!le: )hen the rhythm has prepared yo( for (nspecified action, any minimal spark can set yo( off, even in directions yo( ordinarily <)hen *(nder control*= )o(ld have vehemently resisted. B(t doing something is !ad. ,t h(rts. ,t does not leave )ell eno(gh alone. ,t is evil. +ction is evil. 'hat is )hat *!eing responsi!le* for one-s actions (ltimately refers to. 'hat is )hat yo( find yo(rself staring at as soon as the m(sic stops6and yo( !egin to co(nt the corpses. <+pocalypse, no): a now that s(ddenly imposes itself )ith terrifying, na(seating vividness.=

8."8GE 8."8GE1

9 J1 9 8."8GE% Every action is revol(tionary, if only in a small scale. ,t-s the arrogant affirmation of one pro;ect against many others, the over)eening imposition of a specific presence. 'here )ill !e heads rolling as a res(lt, and !lood spilled, and some!ody )ill cry fo(l. +nd a moral <that is, a resentf(l= ;(dgment )ill !e made. :o action m(st !e g(arded against. &ounter acted, possi!ly annihilated. E7cept that those )ho have more po)er )ill !e more s(ccessf(l in doing this, and preserving their str(ct(re. 'hey )ill (tili&e a moral voca!(lary as they do so, of co(rse, since that voca!(lary is integrally related to the )hole operationA !(t the reason )hy their moral ;(dgments <their resentment, their envy= get more c(rrency is ;(st that they <can= speak lo(der. 'he p(!lic that has appropriated lang(age )ill attempt to ne(trali&e its resistance. Dirst and foremost, !y making itself felt, !y !eing present and calling attention to the <attempted= s(!version. 'he enemy )ill not !e a!le to operate in the darkA there )ill !e <envio(s, (nfriendly= eyes directed at him. @atching his every step, e7posing it, making a

8."8GG

8."7 8."71

spectacle of it. 8."7% 8."7" +nd, conc(rrently, !laming it, stigmati&ing it, loading it )ith g(ilt. 5ne th(s ac$(ires a conscience, that is , a conscio(sness <coscien!a =: a s(spicio(s, (nsympathetic ga&e contemplating and disapproving of all my *inner* )orkings. 1isapproving in principle, whatever those )orkings might !e. ,t-s not like yo( could !e innocent in the face of conscio(sness <that-s )hat )e )ill call it, tho(gh )e ;(st said it is also conscience, since )e don-t )ant to !e locked in a *moral* ghetto: )e )ant morality to spread, )e )ant to !ring o(t the political implications of any *p(rely* phenomenological analysis6*to the things themselves* and all s(ch crap=. 'his is, finally, Conscio(sness capitali&ed: the thing, or place, )here a search for my *self* is ordinarily s(pposed to !egin. Drom no) on, , )ill not capitali&e itA so, to avoid conf(sion, , m(st specify ho) this *conscio(sness* differs from <and relates

8."7"1

9 J% 9 to= )hat )e have already enco(ntered (nder that name. :o far, conscio(sness )as the ironical position from )hich some element of my m(ltiplicity can vie) some other s(ch element. + great reso(rce, )e kno) already: as , (nconscio(sly )ander aro(nd a familiar environment <and, most often, am ;(st as (nconscio(sly immersed in some pleasant fantasy=, something can go )rong, in )hich case it is (sef(l to *)ake (p* and take a critical, (nsympathetic look at )hat is happening. + parent-s look, say, or a driving instr(ctor-s, or a policeman-s. B(t that *conscio(sness* has no *stream,* no contin(ity: as soon as the pro!lem is solved, , go !ack to sleep. +nd it-s not consistent, it had better not be: the more irreg(lar or dissonant my skipping from one perspective to another is, the more it can help. @hereas the ne) character s(rfacing no) is s(pposed to !e constantly living one single coherent life. <,t isn-t, of co(rseA !(t the ideology is so po)erf(l that it gets people to nod.= 8."7"11 +s al)ays, this ne) character comes into !eing !y adapting str(ct(res already in place. B(t here the adaptation iss(es in a radical reversal. ,t-s one thing )hen fins t(rn into )ings, and it-s $(ite another )hen the general a!ility to ass(me different points of vie) is p(t at the service of repressing difference. Conscio(sness is not me, indeed is not even mine . ,t is essentially other. ,t is inimical and destr(ctive of me, of mineness.

8."7"%

8."7"%1

0ot insofar as it is one more voice speaking *inside*6one more element of that o(tsideness )hich *inside* is, )hich has largely !een confined inside6!(t insofar as it intends to cancel all other voices, e7cept to the e7tent that it can r(le over them, have them agree )ith itself. 'he parado7 of li!eralism: yo( cannot !e li!eral )ith those )ho )o(ld cancel li!eralism itself. <'he liar all over again: making room for the liar !elongs to the destiny of any rich, artic(late str(ct(re. +hich is a feature and not a mista"e . Io( don-t )ant to fi7 itA yo( )ant to learn to live )ith it. 'o !ecome ac$(ainted )ith the comple7 negotiations that are re$(ired !y this sort of str(ct(re6and )o(ld not !e re$(ired !y a simpler one, )hence the rec(rring temptation to simplify matters, to read the feat(re as a mistake.=

8."7"%%

9 J" 9 8."7"%" 'ho(gh yo( might still )ant to hear them. ,t might help yo( a lot <help the pl(rality *yo(* are= to kno) their tactics. 'o have them, too, speak *)ithin* yo(rself. ,mm(ni&ation, once more. , )ant to hear )hat Bitler has to say, hear it to the end, in all of its t)ists and t(rnsA having him sh(t (p *inside* co(ld give more po)er to the real Bitlers, give more of a s(rprise element to their attacks. <1efensiveness is a poor defense strategy, and s$(eamishness a poor )ay of handling fear. /(st as feeling paraly&ed does not help )hen yo( are fleeing from an aggression6indeed, it does help the aggressor , and yo( sho(ld reflect on )hat that tells yo( a!o(t *yo(rself.*= 1on-t make too m(ch of those 0a&i speeches !eing st(pid. 1on-t feel too s(perior, for that )o(ld !e st(pid <or )orse=. Hemem!er: it-s the m(sic that matters. Even )hen it is a monotone, for that too resonates )ith <is !(ilt (pon= a life rhythm <indeed, one of the most common and sed(ctive=, hence it too can get people to act <if the right signal is sent at the right time, )hen the monotone has completely enthralled them=. +nd yo( need to see thatA yo( don-t )ant to !e too smart for yo(r o)n good. Conscio(sness is a control mechanism serving the p(!lic: defending it from the deviance that I represent. 'hat is, from )hat in me is not ;(st another o!;ect: another predicta!le str(ct(re. Drom the *,* that I <in part= am. <+nd hence also protecting )hat else , am from *myself.* +s )hen yo( get too close to a sharp knife, and co(ld6and )o(ld like to6stick it into some!ody-s throat, and singing some silly, childish song is frighteningly not eno(gh to stop yo( Kto !ring o(t the helpless child in yo(L: yo( may need to speak to yo(rself a!o(t it, even alo(d. 3ay need to get sick to yo(r stomach !y consciously facing that co(rse of action, )ith as many of its conse$(ences as yo( can manage to evoke.= Drom m(ltiplicity, from am!ig(ity, from displacement. Drom the s(!;ect.

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8."7""

8."7""1

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8."7"""

0o )onder the so(l is considered immortal then. 'he p(!lic that has appropriated me )ill certainly s(rvive, long after my game is over, and so )ill its image of ho) )ell or ill , !ehaved.

9 JE 9 <,t )ill make me pay forever for those actions of mine it didn-t like, or contin(e in perpet(ity to pat me on the !ack. +nd it doesn-t matter that , am no longer there, and no longer have a !ack: they m(st make an e7ample of me.= 8."7""E 0o )onder there is not m(ch conscio(sness d(ring sleep <there is, indeed, only )hen the censor feels that things are getting o(t of hand6and is ready to so(nd the alarm clock=. 'he physical paralysis that characteri&es that sit(ation is in general eno(gh of a g(arantee against the dangers of s(!;ectivity. B(t it is forced (pon me, and , am forced to identify )ith it, and event(ally , do. , <am made to= !ecome my conscio(sness. ,t !ecomes the most transparent form of access to my most intimate, most f(ndamental tr(th. + tr(e case of identification )ith the aggressor. @hich, as all other s(ch cases, not so m(ch protects me from !eing h(rt as it makes me not ackno)ledge the pain , feel <as !it after !it of me gets destroyed=. 5r not do ;(stice to it6treat it as the dignified, meritorio(s agony of clim!ing a steep hill. E7cept that here , am clim!ing o(t of myself, and *getting to the top* means !eing totally )ashed o(t. <,t-s like feeling good at the end of a *hard day* of the most senseless !(sy)ork, the most vicio(s, (n;(st *killing* of one-s time. +nd this is more than an analogy: yo( are yo(r time, so appropriating that time, making it s(!servient to an empty performance, empties yo(r !eing, leaves it in total control of the p(!lic. 5nce the ha!it is !(ilt of this KdisLappropriation, the theory of it )ill come easy. Dorcing yo( Kor enticing yo(L to feel pain for a trifle is an o!vio(s strategy for making yo( assign a high val(e to that trifle6and no val(e to )hat matters. +t some level yo( sense the connection !et)een val(e and pain Kthe pain of p(shing yo(r str(ct(re to the limit, the val(e of the diversity and fle7i!ility th(s ac$(iredL, so yo( might even !e prodded !y it to )ork at things of val(e, (nless the pain is provided *for free,* attached to *;(st anything.* +s strong emotions are in am(sement parks6the thrill of ;(mping )itho(t really ;(mping, hence )itho(t learning to ;(mp.=

8."7"E

8."7"E1

9 JG 9 8."7"E% +s most victims, , end (p s(!scri!ing to the aggressor-s agenda. .issing its hands. <Be m(st love me, since he-s !eating me so hard.=

8."7"E"

+nd ;(dging conscio(sness to !e a mirac(lo(s occ(rrence, something in )hich the )hole (niverse finds its ;(stification, )hich the )hole )orld history )as preparing6and certainly something that holds the key for making sense of that (ni$(e, ama&ing kind of occ(rrence )hich , am. <Bere apes get forgotten again, ho)ever d(tif(lly yo( kneeled !efore the lessons of *science.*= Arbeit macht frei . 'he tho(sand2year Heich. 'ho(gh that one only lasted t)elve years, its propaganda )as on the right track. 'he first thing yo( need to do if yo( )ant yo(r !l(ff to stick is to re)rite history accordingly: as the la!orio(s !(t irresisti!le vindication of the ideal. +s )as s(ggested earlier, the identification )e are talking a!o(t is not )ith a real str(ct(re !(t )ith an ideology <once more, it e7presses a )ish=. Dor the repressive conscio(sness is no more contin(o(s than the ironical one: it too comes in fits and starts, )henever it-s needed. 'he p(!lic )o(ld certainly !e !etter served if , )ere caged in a <permanently g(arded= panopticon, !(t that )o(ld !e too m(ch of a )aste of precio(s reso(rcesA so the !est it can do is to make me believe that there is al)ays a g(ard )atching me <and that I am the guard =. 'he nice thing a!o(t it <for the p(!lic= is: that !elief can never !e proved )rong, since if , challenged it , )o(ld a(tomatically make the g(ard sho) (p. <Bave yo( ever tried thinking of something no one ever tho(ght of> +nd does that prove that there are no things no one ever tho(ght of>= 'he ne7t epicycle in this del(ded game: esse est percipi , the comedy of empirical idealism. 'he )hole )orld is )hat <and ho) it= appears to conscio(sness. @hich makes one feel all2 po)erf(l, a tr(e creator. @hereas it-s the p(!lic that is doing it: after e7propriating yo(, thro)ing yo( o(t of *yo(r o)n* space, they are (sing yo( to legitimate (niversal e7propriation. 'o seal the instr(mental occ(pation of the )orld, its red(ction to the ghostly co(nterpart of technological mastery.

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8."7"EG

8."7"E8

9 J8 9 <,t-s not !y chance, then, that s(!;ectivism and the ind(strial revol(tion s(rface together6 the a!ove is one of their many profo(nd resonances.= 8."7"G Conscio(sness enforces consistency on the s(!;ect <again, only *theoretically,* !(t often that is eno(gh6its conse$(ences are repressive eno(gh=. 3ost of )hat the s(!;ect is is sacrificed on its altar. +nd <conscio(s= memory is (sed to keep track of )hat has no) tr(ly !ecome one$s *s(!;ect.* @onder )hy yo( forget things yo( *sho(ld* remem!er> 'hings yo( would indeed remem!er if there )ere ;(st one of yo(, as the ideology has it. B(t there isn-t, so a lot of dist(r!ance occ(rs, a lot of noise, and yo( need to shift !ack into the right character !efore the right things can come !ack to yo(. 'hat is, !efore the )ill to po)er associated )ith <or

8."7"G1

constit(ting= the relevant pattern can play o(t its tendency to <eternally= rec(r. 8."7"G% ,t gets )orse as yo( advance in age, and yo( take that to !e a sign of degeneration. Io( associate *old* )ith *)eak* and yo( cook (p <or !(y ready2made= an ideal of yo(th as perfect health6)hich gives the )hole game a)ay. @hat happens instead is that gro)th as a h(man !eing amo(nts to e7tending the play and the n(m!er of characters that (se one-s !odyA so a yo(ng person is in general less h(man than an older one <tho(gh also, in general, more )illing to become h(man6having fe)er scars, having s(ffered less in this process, not $(ite kno)ing )hat it-s all a!o(t=. Io(th-s health and vigor are manifestations of a (nilateral, scaled2do)n s(!;ectivityA and the later )eariness, incongr(ity, and <occasional or permanent= forgetf(lness intimate that the !ody is doing )hat it o(ght to6 stretching itself to the (tmost, making room for a larger set of personalities. +t some point, of co(rse, it )ill !reak, !(t so )hat> ,f yo( don-t like that, lock yo(rself in a va(lt and practice yo(r !ea(ty sleepC <5r, instead, get e'tremely tired and then see )hat happens: it is ;(st )hen yo( are ready to !(rst at the seams that yo( are the closest to finding yo(rself.= 'he notion of privacy contin(es to evolve.

8."J

9 J7 9 8."J1 *Earlier* <in o(r narrative= privacy )as opposed to the p(!lic as transgression is to repetition <even if transgression is *(ltimately* in the interest of repetition=. +s the (nreal is to the real. +s m(ltiplicity is to (niformity. Each cl(ster of resistance )as a *point of light* in the str(ggle against the p(!lic. 'hat )as a ma;or implication of lang(age !eing essentially private, since the relevant deprivat ion )as an effective tactic in this str(ggle. <Io( )o(ldn-t )ant to deal )ith vir(s o(t!reaks or n(clear meltdo)ns )hen they spread o(t of control, !(t if yo( can control them effectively, and learn from them, s(ch o(t!reaks and meltdo)ns are precisely )hat yo( are after, )hat yo( )ant to prod(ce6Promethe(s and all that. :o the *if* cla(se !rings o(t a li!erating state of affairs: revol(tion in a !ottle may!e, !(t still revol(tion6indeed, revol(tion than"s to the !ottle, and especially the cork.= *?ater,* as privacy is less and less a!le to help the ca(se of freedom, it comes to !e identified )ith each of the little cells in )hich transgression is locked, constantly afraid of the p(!lic eye, constantly in the )rong. Event(ally, the foc(s shifts entirely a)ay from the content of )hat is !eing *private*6that is, denied access, ins(lated, ref(sed the possi!ility of acting o(t, and also , !eca(se of that, provided )ith some room, given a definite chance of development and gro)th6to deprivation per se, even if )hat happens )ithin *privacy* is a tired replica of )hat happens *o(t there.* People get all fl(stered a!o(t invasions of their privacy, and a!o(t defending themselves from s(ch invasions, tho(gh nothing there is )orth invading or defending6tho(gh all there is to it is catechistic conformism. <B(t there is a point to having them stren(o(sly attached to this empty package, of co(rse: that )ay, they might not miss )hat they are really !eing deprived of, )hich is no longer ;(st access.

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Fod6or the party, or Big Brother6has indeed entered their !edroom, and is reg(lating the proceedings there. +nd they no longer notice.= 8."J%1 ?i!erating games6different li!erating games6co(ld !e played )ith <and !y= limited n(m!ers of people )hen the

9 JJ 9 r(les )ere )ritten !y those very people. @hen they decided, say, )hat to co(nt as !ea(tif(l and e7citing <irreg(lar teeth, a mole6sometimes called a *!ea(ty spot*=. 0o) the r(les are (niversal, )e are s(pposed to )ear o(r flesh and !one the )ay clothing )as once )orn <as a decoration (nder everyone$s eyes=, and the space of freedom has narro)ed do)n to a vanishing point. +ll o(r most intimate <physical= recesses have !een legislated into proper shape <that is, m(sc(lar shape6there is no longer any softness, any (ncertainty to it, it-s all hard, all perfectly *defined*= and enslaved to tedio(s ro(tines. @hich doesn-t mean that everything a!o(t (s is *(p to par* <hardlyC=, !(t it does mean that )e don-t <)ant to= see o(rselves in )hat isn-t. + good )ay of def(sing <or may!e instigating, as a po)erf(l means of deception>= the *se7(al li!eration.* +fter virt(al fear, virt(al love is ne7t. 8."J%11 Bo) a!o(t *fat is !ea(tif(l* then> +re the people proclaiming s(ch slogans opposed to the p(!lic invasion of one-s space> 0o more than the losers in a corporate merger are opposed to capitalism. @e can still play games in o(r minds, still retreat to o(r *tr(e* self !ehind the flesh and !one. Ieah, right. +s if that )ere the easiest thing in the )orld. ,t-s act(ally among the hardest, and the most (nsta!le. <,n part !eca(se the patterns of those games are denied any echoes, and conse$(ently esta!lish little credi!ility even )ithin o(rselves, and fi&&le o(t. @e think of them as o(r little idiosyncratic elements of madness6e7cept for !eing s(rprised !y the agreement )e find )hen )e decide to make an indecent e7pos(re of them.= ,n practice, selves have !een annihilated6red(ced to nothings . +nd any nothing is like any other. :o yo( can give them complete *freedom* to do )hat they )ant. 0o risk there: they )ill all )ant the same things, the things yo( told them to, those yo( have decided to drop into their empty )ells. 'here )as a time )hen )e did notice this repressive move, and felt its *otherness.* 'hen )e tho(ght that a (niversal eye )as )atching all of (s sim(ltaneo(sly, that it )as here, there, and every)here. 'hat there )as no escaping it6nothing )o(ld !lock it o(t. ,t )as a ;ealo(s, violent, ra!id eye, one

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9 J9 9 that )o(ld not !e appeased. ,t kne) all a!o(t (s, and hated (s. ,t ca(sed fear and trem!ling. 8."J%E1 'hat, incidentally, is )here the esse est percipi first fo(nd its <nat(ral= place. 'he Bishop still needed the o(tside eye <precisely as o(tside, as a party to an o(tside inside confrontation= to p(t together a )orld for him. Be had not totally identified )ith the predator and )as ready to tell Fod )hat 4e )as s(pposed to do. @hen identification is complete, )e )on-t )orry a!o(t ens(ring that the )orld !e true to some standardA )e )ill advance no demands on it. @e )ill take )hat comes and !e perfectly happy )ith it, perfectly reass(red that everything is all right. Postmodern *fragmentation* )ill tri(mph, and (tter market e7propriation )ith it. Under the g(ise of rampant *difference,* )hich )ill no) !e all over the place and matter not at all. 1ifference )itho(t agony, difference p(re, difference that is not from something, against something, no longer makes a difference. @e get an empty )ord after the *thing* has !een stolen. <,n a mall, the most disparate, different prod(cts are sold ne't to one another6no real competition there, no real choiceA the ideology is that yo( can have everything, one day this, the ne7t day that, in an indefinite progression, an indefinitely progressing pyramid scheme. Io( no) are FodA or rather, no) Fod has g(lped yo( do)n.= <:ometimes yo(r vis(al field incl(des a choice of a large n(m!er of different *ethnic* resta(rants, )here yo( )ill !e happy to occasionally *entertain* yo(rself and others. 'h(s confirming yo(r esta!lished ro(tines instead of challenging them, as to(rism in general does6ho) nice to come !ack from all those strange, silly places and c(stoms to the comfort of one-s o)n homeC Io( have seen it, appreciated it, and p(shed it aside6p(shed it into asideness .= Christianity is an interesting mid)ay station in this development. +s Fod !ecomes h(man, Be also !ecomes more loving and genero(s. 'he terror associated )ith Bis omniscient, (nrelenting eye is calmed do)n )hen Be !egins to look at (s )ith a !enevolent smile. 5r at least that-s the idea6tho(gh )e contin(e to feel terrori&ed, and can-t $(ite (nderstand o(r

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9 9# 9 reaction to s(ch a friendly, genial parental fig(re. <Even less )ill )e !e a!le to (nderstand it )hen Fod is no longer needed6not as someone else, that is6)hen )e have entirely identified )ith the so(rce of the terror. + terror )e nonetheless, perple7ingly, still contin(e to feel.= 8."J%G 'his is not all there is to religionA !(t it is all there is to *religion )ithin the limits of reason alone.* 'o religion )ithin the limits of the *rational* <of that rational )hich *the real* )as

made to !e, )hatever the cas(alties=. 8."J" 'hro(gho(t this development, privacy is intimately related to silence. 0ot !eca(se there is something necessarily (nspoken a!o(t <the content of= )hat is private <on the contrary, )e kno) that that content often is a conversation6indeed, a constant, loud de!ate= !(t !eca(se the act of making it private consists of severing connecting lines, and ordinary, *empirical* silence <the sort of thing )e (n$(estioningly call silence= is ho) this interr(ption, this c(t, most o!vio(sly sho)s (p <for those )ho are left o(t=. Io( !ecomes silent !efore certain people <yo(r parents, say=. 0ot ;(st !eca(se yo(r mo(th does not (tter <certain= so(nds: yo(r )hole !ody is silent a!o(t certain moves, acts, e7periments, desires <one desires, and hence one speaks, )ith all of one-s !ody, all of one-s form of life=. +nd that doesn-t mean yo( are silent period, it doesn-t mean any of yo(r moves, acts, e7periments, desires go a!sol(tely (nspoken. 5n the contrary, that-s precisely )hen yo( need an intimate circle of coconspirators, an (ndergro(nd net)ork )here to try o(t all those different parts of yo(rself. Considera!le skill is needed to keep s(!;ectivity going in total silence. 0ot everyone can make the move from reading alo(d to $(ietly moving one-s lips <my father has al)ays read that )ay=, and event(ally to doing it all *in one-s head.* ,t takes discipline, it takes e7ercise, and it takes going thro(gh the vario(s stages in order, ontogenetically as )ell as phylogenetically. Io( can-t start at the end and still read6or !e a s(!;ect. </(st as yo( can-t start doing additions on a calc(lator and learn anything !(t ho) to p(nch keys.= Io( )ill !e staring at the page, !(t no m(sic )ill play for yo(.

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9 91 9 8."J"%1 +nd some of those for )hom the m(sic has played, and is perhaps still playing, )ill try to convince yo( that it-s ;(st as )ell6that *)riting* is )hat is tr(ly li!erating, that yo( can <and sho(ld= forget the m(sic. +nd, if yo( !elieve them, they )ill have castrated yo(6 something they keep talking a!o(t, as if to make light of it, )hile they are in the process of doing it. 0or can anyone constantly s(stain this development. 5ccasionally, there )ill !e a need for shifting !ack. Dor reading alo(d to increase concentration. 5r for going into a so(ndproof room and screaming yo(r head off, to reass(re yo(rself of the concrete, physical reality of yo(r moves6ho)ever *private* they might <have t(rned o(t to= !e. ,t )ill happen, most often, (nder press(re: )hen things crack, they sho) more of their te7t(re. 0othing is less revealing than grace, or peace, or health: the point of all of them is to prevent yo( from noticing )here they come from and )hat they are made of. +t a certain stage in this development, it !ecomes politically e7pedient to erase its origin.

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1isconnecting the s(!;ect from its h(m(s, from the gro(nd )here it still needs to ret(rn periodically to regain strength, making it mis(nderstand the significance of those ret(rns, of the need for them, having it read them as dist(r!ances, as <mental= illness, is an effective )ay of really t(rning it into an invalid. <.eep +ntae(s (p in the air, and event(ally yo( )ill !e a!le to strangle him. 'ell +ntae(s his home is (p in the air, make him !elieve it, and yo( )on-t even have to )aste any of yo(r energy.= 3ore than a re)riting of history )ill occ(r: it )ill !e a tr(e canceling of it. Bistory has never happened. ,deas have not painf(lly iss(ed from delicate s(rgery, )hich someho) managed to keep them half alive )hile redirecting all !lood circ(lation a)ay from them. <@as it perhaps cryo s(rgery> ,s a drastic lo)ering of the temperat(re essential to its *s(ccess*> ,s reason necessarily cold>= ,deas have al)ays !eenA !etter, they *are* tenselessly. 0o reference to action, to anything that takes place in time, is relevant to their essence. 'hey are to !e contemplated. 4ision is the proper )ay of relating to them, since <yo( feel6!(t

9 9% 9 )e kno) that that-s )rong= it is the most detached of senses, the one that most relates to things as they are . 8."9 B(t conscio(sness can itself !ecome a vehicle of transgression. 'ho(gh )itho(t honor, it is still a prophet. 'ho(gh for the *)rong* reasons, it still anno(nces <the coming of difference=. Points of connection can !e (sed !y !oth parties, )hichever party <)ith )hatever intent= p(t them there in the first place. ?ike the police, prison g(ards, spies. Priests. +ll of them al)ays already corr(pted, smeared, contaminated !y their middleness, their role as intermediaries. <Io( do need the concept of diplomatic imm(nity, ;(st as yo( need many other s(ch o7ymorons. +nd, if yo( are strong eno(gh, yo( may !e a!le to enforce it6for a )hile. B(t don-t take it for granted: the most nat(ral reaction is indeed to !lame the carrier of !ad ne)s.= 'here is a lot of (nackno)ledged philosophical significance to the connections !et)een (nions and crime. Bet)een legitimi&ed re!ellion and the original s(!version it iss(es from. 1ialectical processes have their o)n <revealingC= regressions. 'hose )ho protect yo( from evil are often the carriers of evil. 0o)here do more people get sick than in a hospital. 0o)here do they e7perience more perversions than in a monastery.

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+s any traitor, this one, too, )ill operate (nder cover. 1ressed (p as the enemy. 3as$(erading as a thing. Io( )ill collect all that has !een silenced, all those *s(!;ective* activities )hich resist the real, )hich involve o(r !eing in denial, play, e7periment, and make (p a s(!stance to !e their *s(!;ect*: make them the activities of a mind .

)%+
7 *'here is* no mind. +nd yet to claim that there is is to make an important political statement. 5ne that o(ght not, ever, to !e *made tr(e*6or its )hole point )o(ld !e lost. ,t m(st contin(e to !e (ttered foolishly, in defiance of the *facts,* straining their *meaning*A it m(st keep on )orking as an e7traneo(s !ody, re;ected !y the organism, carrying infection, !reeding p(s. ,f the mind did indeed

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9 9" 9 !ecome a thing, if *there )ere* a mind as *there are* ta!les and chairs, if a final reconciliation !et)een the t)o )ere to o!tain <the (ltimate Aufhebung 6)here the pro!lem, of co(rse, is )ith *(ltimate*=, )e might as )ell forget a!o(t the mind: the !rain )o(ld !e all )e need. <5r )e might have an *identity theory* in )hich the mind is the !rain, to remind (s of )hat )e have lost. @e )ill not regret the loss, if )e espo(se that theoryA !(t the very red(ndancy of the theory, the very fact that )e have s(ch a (seless *tool,* )ill !e a signpost for the emotion )e are denying.= 7.11 ,t-s highly (nlikely that anything can have that kind of permanent desta!ili&ing effect. Each party is in the !(siness of anticipating the opponent-s moves and depriving them of effectiveness, and there are fe) )ays of achieving that )hich are as effective as t(rning s(rprise into !oredom. :o pretty soon yo( )ill !e m(m!ling *mind is s(!stance* and nothing m(ch )ill happen: there )ill no longer !e anything *other* to the m(sic of those )ords, they )ill no longer !e calling anyone to !attle. Io( )ill have to think of other )ays of getting attention. <+t some point, in some *sophisticated* circles, yo( might even !e faced !y a sort of second2order imm(ni&ation: !y people imm(ni&ed to the general practice of getting attention !y dissonant chords. Io( )ill say something o(trageo(s and they )ill appreciate it *aesthetically*6and make yo( entirely impotent. 'hen yo( may have to lie lo) for a )hile, or skip to)nA time m(st take care of those dodoes !efore things can start moving again. 'hat-s the pro!lem )ith literat(re that is too *literary,* too *self2 conscio(s*6indeedC= B(t note that familiar clichPs can !e revived <history can !e a *science,* that is, an arena for play=. 'his res(rrection can !e !ro(ght a!o(t !y making more of the conte7t *speak,* !y providing more of the artic(lation that one <(s(ally, and deceptively= feels <is ind(ced to feel= is no longer needed. By going !eyond m(m!ling, into listening to )hat yo( say6to the colorat(ra of yo(r piece. 5(r c(rrent practice might have

that effect. 7.1% Everything here is a do(!le2edged s)ord, )e kno)A everything c(ts !oth )ays and makes its *o)ner* !leed. 'he ;argon of transcendentality !y )hich the mind is often honored

9 9E 9 is also a defense !arrier (nder )hich it is hidden and protected from !lo)s. 'hat defense can !e shattered: proved to !e void of *empirical content* <)hat else )o(ld yo( e7pect>=. B(t it can also !ecome too s(ccessf(l, stiflingly so. .ant-s and B(sserl-s transcendental s(!;ect is the res(lt of, and is maintained !y, a painstaking operation of a!straction. <,n B(sserl, the practical, $(asi2therape(tic nat(re of the operation is emphasi&ed a good deal more.= 'his res(lt is constantly at risk of dissolving )hen the operation is discontin(ed, (nder press(re from ordinary, empirical concerns6those )hich <for the moment= cannot !e denied, cannot !e *played )ith,* )hich *it )o(ld !e a l(7(ry* to play )ith. 'he risk )ill !e less, the less pressing the empirical concerns are. :o in the relatively ne(tral <relatively l(7(rio(s= area of con$(ered needs <)ithin middle2 to (pper2class society= the transcendental s(!;ect and other similar paraphernalia )ill have a chance of esta!lishing *firmer* gro(nd. @hence the condescending smile of !orn2)ealthy intellect(als and their <less fort(nate, !(t ferocio(sly faithf(l= !(tlers <)atch o(tC their time )ill soon comeC they )ill inherit the earth, and prove their *essential* loyalty !y d(plicating their masters- deeds )ith a vengeance= )hen they point o(t that, *of co(rse,* they are not talking a!o(t the empirical s(!;ect. 'hat sta!ility and confidence spell tro(!le: they are evidence that the relevant practice is !y no) only disconnected from ordinary ones, and no longer challenges them6once again, a difference that makes no difference, a p(rely e7otic, escapist one. 'hose fighting at the frontier )ith the real )ill derive no comfort or help from s(ch complacency. Dor complacency is their enemy: complacency as s(ch. ,t is )hen the transcendental s(!;ect is most in danger, )hen it is <felt to !e= most threatened, that it can do the most *good.* <'o !oth parties, as (s(al: a toy revol(tion may )ell !e conservatism-s !est ins(rance policy. *Enlightened* despots (nderstand that.= 7.% + )hole )orld of *!eliefs,* *)ishes,* *intentions,* and the like6all mental *contents,* all *!elonging* to that a!s(rd str(ct(re )hich the mind is6materiali&es side !y side )ith the p(!lic one. ,t claims e$(al dignity as the p(!lic )orld6as the world .

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9 9G 9 E$(al *s(!stance.* 'he res cogitans stands pro(dly ne7t to everything *else.* ,t l(mps everything together and confronts it from the o(tside, claiming it to !e only one half, the lesser half, of the story. <'his dignity and this pride are )hat the operation is all a!o(t: if

yo( care so m(ch a!o(t s(!stantiality6!eca(se s(!stantiality defines yo(6)e )ill take it a)ay from yo(, and (se it to assert its negation. +nd yo( )ill scream, and !lame (s for contradicting o(rselves, and invoke the necessity of a consistent )orld. Io( )o(ld like that, )o(ldn-t yo(> 'he peace of a *so(nd,* )ell2organi&ed cemetery. B(t )e are not going to !e taken in, coloni&ed. 'his is a t)o2)ay street. @e )ill coloni&e you .= 7.%11 'his pres(mpt(o(s prono(ncement )ill have more concrete political significance, the less the res cogitans is mortified into the conscio(s, consistent image the p(!lic has already imposed on the self6the more the self is a!le to t(rn even that image into an e7c(se for resistance. <*0o one $(ite kno)s what , am. Everyone has a distorted pict(re of me: , kno) 6, am a)are of6that.* 'ho(gh, of co(rse, , am not a)are of )hat the right pict(re is, )hich sho(ld !egin to tell me something a!o(t pict(ring and a)areness.= 'he mind indeed plays the same game of domination *things* ordinarily play. ,t tries to master, to incorporate everything <else=. 'o s(!mit it to its logic. 'o direct its co(rse6to have directed its co(rse, )hatever that co(rse happened to !e. :(ch and s(ch has happened <)ill happen= !eca(se , )anted s(ch and s(ch <and , kne) s(ch and s(ch=. , intended it to happen. :o there is a role for the practical syllogism after all 6and one that makes it at least loo" like a good g(y. <'ho(gh also, generally, a misdirected one. 'he move it e7presses originates in a vindication of the dignity of freedom, !(t the o(tcome of that move is often a constraining one. 'he (s(al predicament )ith compromise str(ct(res, )ith pressing something into the service of the opposite party.= +nd tho(gh this character comes fairly late in the day, its point, of co(rse, at the late ho(r )hen it comes, is precisely to have al)ays !een there, to have !een there from the !eginning. ,t is !orn as an old man, already replete )ith memories, his life already

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9 98 9 lived in f(ll. 5r it is activated as a prepackaged fantasy: a dream of revol(tion and terror evoked in all detail !y a !lo) to the neck. 7.%%11 , )ill !e the final ;(dge of )hether something !elongs to me, even if , didn-t notice it at the time. ,f a po)erf(l arg(ment is made that certain pro;ects and goals , )as not a)are of )ere part of me, that this hypothesis is the only one that can credi!ly e7plain my !ehavior <and my feelings: pain, fright, an7iety, relief=, , )ill maintain my a(thority !y re cogni&ing those goals and pro;ects <a m(ch !etter strategy than denying them=. ,n some sense, at some level, , was a)are of them all along. +nd, (nless , re)rite my history accordingly, (nless , conscio(sly endorse it <endorse it to conscio(sness=, no one )ill !e a!le to *c(re* me of my *mental dist(r!ances*6hardly s(rprising, since those dist(r!ances are yo(r mind at )ork, doing *its thing,* and c(ring them amo(nts to handing all control levers to the pod *people.*

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+ *pro!lem* s(rfaces: bad faith . Bo) can , possi!ly lie to myself, make myself not kno) something6)hich , m(st kno) in order to do anything a!o(t it> +nd ho) co(ld that possi!ly )ork, since , kno) that , am lying> <Io( try dividing (p *yo(rself* and it doesn-t get yo( any)here: one *agency* m(st still !e r(ling the field, and m(st *kno) )hat it-s doing,* kno) )hat it is that it doesn-t )ant to kno).= 3y identification )ith conscio(sness is carried to parado7ical e7tremes: if I do anything, conscio(sness does it6or , do it <something in me, the me part of me, the one that sides )ith the p(!lic, my ego , does it= conscio(sly. 'herefore, if , protect myself from p(!lic snooping into my s(!;ectivity, the snooping ends up protecting itself from itself , and )e end (p )ith a !ig p(&&le6)hich )e then try to *resolve.* <'here m(st !e )ays for (s to spend o(r time. Prisoners have a lot of it on their hands, so they make ho(ses )ith matchsticks, or press )et paper into shapes6 sometimes into a g(n. 0one of this is risk2free.= + tr(e case of !ad faith if there ever )as one. <'ho(gh the presence of this *pro!lem* is also a good reminder that even if the self accepts the identification )ith conscio(sness, it doesn-t really !elieve it6it is only a strategy, a ploy.=

9 97 9 7.%%1" ?et *(s* recapit(late, and insist on distinctions that define this story6and its politics. 'o !egin )ith, there is s(!;ectivity, that is, diversity, dialog(e, confrontation, m(ltiplicity of patterns, manifold. 0ot a peacef(l, rela7ed confrontation, !(t one in )hich every party (ses all the strength it has availa!le to impose itself on the others, to cancel them, to !e more conspic(o(s than they are. 'hen there s(rface <at least= three other matters: privacy <the disconnecting, isolating of s(!;ectivity as a means of defending esta!lished str(ct(res from its potential violence=, conscio(sness <a prying, malevolent eye that e7poses some of the )orkings of s(!;ectivity, denies some others, and in general tries to fashion6to tie (p6 s(!;ectivity into a coherent story, into a secondary ela!oration that is no) s(pposed to !e living *my* life=, and mind <the impertinent erection of s(!;ectivity into an o!;ect of over)helming importance, on a par )ith all that is not mind6)hich is to say, )ith all that is=. Each of these matters can serve opposite interests, even at the same time: can !e a tool of revol(tion or tyranny, or <most likely= !oth. :pecific sit(ations )ill have to !e st(died one at a time, to !ring o(t the specific !alance of forces each of them instantiates. B(t yo( )ant to !e clear concerning ho) the vario(s tools f(nction, and ho) differently they can <each= f(nction. 'hen yo( )ill see that, say, the consistent story into )hich *my* conscio(sness is trying to lock me <that is, lock the s(!;ect , am= can !e (sed to confer credi!ility on the provocative, irritating claim that ,6the very negation of o!;ects, of o!;ectivity6am an o!;ect, so that the claim might contin(e to e7ercise its provocation a )hile longer, might !(y time for its terrorist activity. 5r, conversely, that that same story can !e t(rned to making *room* for me in a )orld of o!;ects, to making me perfectly comforta!le )ith an o!;ective, thinglike vie) of myself: , am s(ch and s(ch, , can e7pect s(ch and s(ch from myself, if yo( press s(ch and s(ch a !(tton in me yo( )ill have s(ch and s(ch a response. And yo( )ill see the strategic significance of talking cas(ally, matter2 of2factly, a!o(t *my conscio(s mind,* as if *my,* *conscio(s,* and *mind* !elonged to a single <comple7, !(t still original6and originally integrated= reality: yo( )ill see that phrase <and the identity it intimates, )ith deceptive nat(ralness= as a )eapon <of

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9 9J 9 of propaganda=, tho(gh in the a!stract yo( )on-t !e a!le to determine )hose )eapon it is. 7.%%1E 'here are those )ho are o!sessed )ith acco(nting for the (nity of a form of life6 specifically, *o(r* o)n. 'hey are not satisfied )ith !ringing o(t vario(s aspects of itA they need to kno) <to tell= ho) these are all aspects of one and the same thing. Bere the emphasis is $(ite different. 'here is (nity in the narrative sense: yo( can (nderstand ho) those vario(s aspects came to !e, ho) indeed they had to. B(t, synchronically, the landscape )e depicted is dominated !y dis organi&ation and disconnectedness. +dapting a metaphor !y Dre(d, )e can think of this landscape as an ancient to)n: all its !(ildings )ere !(ilt for a reason, !(t as yo( no) look at them ne7t to one another, yo( are str(ck !y ho) m(ch they do not !elong together. 5r, !etter, yo( o(ght to !e so str(ckA it is part of the point of this narrative to make yo( so str(ck. Dor yo( are, of co(rse, familiar )ith that mess, and familiar things no longer look strange6ho)ever strange they might be . Io( )alk do)n via dei Dori ,mperiali to)ard pia&&a 4ene&ia and see the Colosse(m and the Dori ne7t to a !aro$(e ch(rch ne7t to 3(ssolini-s +ltare della Patria ne7t to Pala&&o 4ene&ia ne7t to the Campidoglio, and everything seems to !e e7actly right. Io( sense a pec(liar, perverse harmony. <Bo) often did , find that , had gotten (sed to something that ;(st )asn-t s(pposed to !e )here it )as6e7cept that , co(ld no longer see thatC= 5n a larger scale, everything has happened <)ill happen= !eca(se someone like myself <only m(ch more po)erf(l, infinitely more po)erf(l= intended it, !eca(se of )hat she )anted <and kne)=. 5f )hat she has always )anted, !efore time even e7isted. Heligion again, this time )ith a more cordial, motherly appearance <)ell att(ned to the Christian )ay station=. Heligion as pr(dence, as caref(l planning for a !etter f(t(re, as providential economy. Fod as someone to tr(st, to )hom to tr(st oneself. E7cept that, to maintain consistency )ith the previo(s *incarnation* <consistency is )hat this party is all a!o(t6it has consistent interests to defend, the interests of consistency=, the plan here m(st !e a secret, mysterio(s, incomprehensi!le

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9 99 9 one. Io( m(st !elieve it to !e for the !est, !(t it-s not (p to yo( to determine )hat *!est* is. <*,s something good !eca(se Fod )ants it, or does Fod )ant it !eca(se it is good>* 'he old $(estion s(rfaces again, and again it )ill not !e ans)ered. Beca(se no one really cares for an ans)er.= Io( have tr(sted yo(rself !lindly, p(t all yo(r reso(rces into a !lind tr(st, and don-t even have an independent notion <independent, that is, of )hoever administers

the tr(st= of )hat a *good (se* of those reso(rces )o(ld !e. 7.%%%% B(t, of co(rse, this mystery is a pretense, a smoke screen. +s yo( find yo(rself streamlined into compliance !y the rit(al, as yo( e7perience in it the most repetitive, n(m!ing e7teriority, as yo( are told to do thing after dopey thing *;(st !eca(se,* yo( can al)ays think of it all <the mystery makes it possi!le for yo( to think of it all= as perpetrating some (ltimate, tri(mphant li!eration. Io( see conformism r(le, yo( see those )ho !elieve the rhetoric, and have it spread into action, o(sted and a!(sed !y the hierarchy, yo( see the hierarchy clearly aligned )ith the most despica!le stat(s $(oA !(t the ali!i is al)ays availa!le that someone else kno)s !etter, and yo( don-t, so yo( sho(ld ;(st o!ey. <Blind o!edience )ill get yo( to heaven, )hen nothing matters anymore.= 'he respect for that difference )hich is constit(tive of yo( has !ecome a p(rely formal str(ct(re <mysterio(s 5ther R 5ther as a form )itho(t content, a form that cannot !e artic(lated=, )hich empo)ers an entirely opposite, inimical practice <not necessarily inimical to yo(6to the empirical yo(6!(t inimical to difference=. +nd yet the very e7istence of the mystery might )ork as an invitation to playf(lly (nravel it. .no)ing f(ll )ell that no resol(tion is possi!le <it is not going to !e allo)ed=, !(t precisely for that reason reass(red that s(ch playing is harmless6and therefore enco(raged to contin(e in it. :ome )ill protest lo(dly against this s(!ordination of the real. 'hey )ill claim that there is only the real, and all that other st(ff is a myth, remnants of an older, more primitive era. D(&&y, co&y, pathetic folklore. @hich doesn-t even deserve to

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9 1## 9 !e *translated* into a ne), more respecta!le ;argon, reconstr(cted )ithin a *scientific* frame)ork, identified )ith *o!;ective* str(ct(resA )hich m(st simply !e ;(nked, eliminated )itho(t resid(e, )itho(t mercy. 'hey don-t care for archaeologyA they )ant to !ring the !(lldo&ers o(t and level the gro(nd. 7.%"% @e kno) that they are right, that )hat they say is tr(e <that it is truth itself =, and )e also kno) that )e o(ght to resist it6resist its gaining c(rrency, its !ecoming the !asis for <political, repressive= action <that this resistance is 5ought to5 itself: ethical precisely !eca(se it is impossi!le=. @e kno) that indeed *there is* only the real, as a res(lt of a forcef(l selection and a !loody str(ggle. +nd )e also kno) that )e sho(ld not forget )hat *there isn-t,* )hat has !een forced into a position of falsity, )hat didn-t make it thro(gh !(t still vies for attention, condemns the essential in;(stice of the *ontology.* :peaks from no)here, )itho(t a leg to stand on, in the name of nothing. 'hat is, in the name of freedom, of s(!;ectivity. 5f the most tantali&ing of $(estions: @hy not>

7.%""

P(rifying o(r lang(age of all references to that mythological st(ff is one more attempt at ne(tering it, and at ne(tering the non!eing for )hich lang(age is the !est chance. +t con;(ring a str(ct(re that is lang(age-s kiss of death: *the lang(age of total administration.* B(rea(crats move their tong(es and emit so(ndsA they scratch paper )ith their pensA they move their fingers on comp(ter keys. B(t they are silentA lang(age never enters their lives. @hat is not is never there, in the stories that they are, that ma"e them !(rea(crats. <+nd their silence6the m(sic of it6is $(ite helpf(l in maintaining the hold of those stories, in reinforcing their nat(re as !(rea(crats.= @hich allo)s (s to come to terms )ith an age2old perple7ity: Bo) come )e don-t call )hat the )ind does to the desert sand *)riting,* tho(gh it might !e indisting(isha!le from )hat someone )o(ld )rite> @e can see this no) as a clever $(estion: one that cleverly <perhaps too m(ch so, for its o)n good= sm(ggles in the very iss(e of contention6and then

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9 1#1 9 finds itself in the presence of a contentio(s iss(e. Dor *indisting(isha!le* clearly means here: having e7actly the same e7isting, apparent traits. @here the difference, of co(rse, is made precisely !y )hat does not e7ist and cannot appear. By the role assigned in the story acco(nting for a lang(age being a lang(age to )hat does not e7ist and cannot appear. <+nd remem!er: there may )ell !e a story a!o(t the )ind and the sand that makes the )ind-s a lang(age. ,t is implicitly ass(med in the e7ample that there isn-t6the story of the e7ample is told in s(ch a )ay as to s(ggest that implication.= 7.%""%1 :o, (ltimately, , side )ith the analysis that makes the )ind-s not a lang(age !eca(se it does not e7press intentional !ehavior. B(t , can only side )ith it no), after e7ploding its deceptively *pat* character, after !ringing o(t the str(ggles it glosses over. +nd after sho)ing that saying ;(st that <the )ind-s !ehavior is not intentional= is not yet an analysis, !(t only the promise of one6that it still has a lot of )ork ahead of itself. 'ho(gh6)ho kno)s>6this ne(tering process might even !e *for the !est.* Dolk psychology is, after all, the compromise o(tcome of an earlier, less thoro(gh <and may!e, for that reason, more effective>= attempt to control s(!;ectivityA so de!(nking it might res(lt not in )iping o(t the latter !(t, on the contrary, in letting it loose, o(t of control. 0o longer )atched, no longer claimed to !e e7istent6and hence freer. Better a!le to chip a)ay at )hat is e7istent, and event(ally crack it, !eca(se a!le to do so invisi!ly. <@hat yo( don-t kno) a!o(t, )hat yo( can-t see, can h(rt yo( the most.= @o(ld I like that development> Pro!a!ly not: , )ant to contin(e to make s(!;ectivity s(!servient to my ends. I as this !ody of *mine,* this pile of cells and tics, this desperately defensive str(ct(re. I as this partic(lar story, )hich is one of many, of infinitely many6a

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story that the s(!;ect )ill soon la(gh at, that indeed it is already la(ghing at, tho(gh that la(ghter has not yet <perhaps= made it to *reality,* it is still only heard in the !ack room, is still not resonating in the halls, m(ch like a silent , scornf(l grin. +nd , kno) all of that,

9 1#% 9 and in the most !asic sense , don-t care6that very not caring is )hat , am, is that , am. , am !eca(se , hold on to myself, )itho(t a reason, )itho(t feeling that , need a reason. 7.%"8 7.%"81 +nd this, of co(rse, contradicts pretty m(ch everything , said. 0ot so m(ch for the constant emphasis on m(ltiplicity, )hich is denied !y this arrogant assertion of <personal= identity. , have left eno(gh traces !ehind to provide a ;(stification for that contradiction. , have !een presenting my theory as a general one, )ithin )hich room m(st6and can6!e fo(nd for the very operation of presenting it: for the partial, !iased point of vie) from )hich it is presented. 'he real pro!lem is the tone of the assertion: its arrogance, that is. +ll along, <infinite= artic(lation has !een treated )ith the greatest favor, assigned the highest val(e. Beginnings, fo(ndations, int(itions have !een looked at as ;(st limitations, )eaknesses. +s nothing to !e pro(d of: an indication that o(r time and energy are finite, and hence some things )e )ill have no time or energy to call in $(estion. :o the present assertion of an (n$(estioned stand sho(ld !e (ttered in shameA there sho(ld !e a f(rtive, g(ilty look that goes )ith it. +nd, )hat co(nts even more, the same em!arrassed attit(de sho(ld accompany the statement of the theory itself, )hich is, again, one of many, proposed for no reason. B(t there is none of that <tho(gh there is talk of it=: this theory of dislocation and playf(lness and non!eing is phrased ;(st as confidently as any traditional theory6any theory espo(sing the practical syllogism and providing *rational* recipes for s(ccess. 'here are )ays in )hich one co(ld try to reconcile oneself )ith this feat(re. 5ne co(ld play the deconstr(ctive, Begelian game that *serio(sness* can only !e s(!verted from the inside. 5r one co(ld say, *@hat )o(ld yo( e7pect> 'his pragmatic conflict shows , !etter than anything the theory co(ld say , its re;ection of the practical syllogism6of the ideal of e7ercising theoretical control over action. Io( say something, and the very act of saying it contradicts itA so yo(r saying in fact does not control yo(r acting.* :till, no s(ch *rationali&ation* detracts from ho) odd it feels that , sho(ld !e speaking as , am, given )hat , am saying. @hich, the theory would say , is e7actly

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9 1#" 9 as it sho(ld !e: if it )eren-t odd, it )o(ldn-t matter6there )o(ld !e no point to saying it. ,t matters !eca(se it feels odd, it feels as if it can-t $(ite !e said. ,n the theory, this is a

perfectly general concl(sion.

)1+
J 5nly )hat )e cannot speak a!o(t m(st )e not pass over in silence.

Preferred Citation: Bencivenga, Ermanno. A Theory of Language and Mind. Berkeley, Calif: University of California Press, c1997 1997. http: ark.cdli!.org ark: 1"#"# ft1$%n!#s&