29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman

http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 1/21
ThepapertakesitscuefromabriefbutpointedpassageinSpectersofMarx,inwhichJacquesDerrida
describesas"latecomers"thosewhodiscusstheapocalypseinamannerthatdisregardsprevious
discussionsofthethemewithinphilosophyandtheory.EspeciallyconcernedwithtracingDerrida's
warinessofthebeguilementsofnarrativesoftheend,CallusandHerbrectheranalyzetheimplications
ofthatwarinessforanystudyofthevexedrelationbetweentheapocalypticandtheposthuman,doing
soonthebasisofreferencetoanumberoftherelevantessaysbyDerrida,butinparticularto"Ona
NewlyArisenApocalypticToneinPhilosophy."Themaincontributionofthepaper,however,occursonce
itissuggestedthatinrecentworkbyDerridathepreviouslystrongsuspicionoftheapocalyptichas
becomemodulatedbyadifferent"tone"thatofDerrida'sessayonSeptember11th,"Autoimmunity:
RealandSymbolicSuicides."Contrastingtonalitiesdiscerniblein"Autoimmunity"withDerrida's
previousdiscussionsoftheapocalyptic,CallusandHerbrechterarguethatDerrida'sresponseto
September11providesboththecueandthescopeforanintriguingandurgentrethinkingofhiswell
knownviewson"newisms,""postisms,"and"seismisms."Theysuggestthat,ifitisarguablethatthere
mightbe"achangeoraruptureintone"inDerrida'sapproachtowhatmightbroadlyberegardedasthe
posthumanous,itmightalsobeviabletothinkthattheremighthavearisenaworryingpunctualityin
thosewhosetalkontheapocalypticmightpreviouslyhavecomeacross,toDerridaandtoothers,asthe
prattleof"latecomers."Hence,if"we"dotheapocalypsedifferently,"now,"itisbecauseitmight
wellhavebecometimeliertodoso.
TheLatecomingofthePosthuman,Or,Why"We"DotheApocalypseDifferently,"Now."
IvanCallusandStefanHerbrechter
Howdoesoneknowwhethertheendisanend,ifoneisnotnarratingit?
JeanFranoisLyotard[1]
Isthereaneconomyoftheeve?
JacquesDerrida[2]

29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 2/21

Figure1:WorldTradeCenter,September11,2002.Copyright2001ClausGuglberger.
http://www.cgpix.com/world_trade_center_terrorist_attack__photos.htm
1.Introduction
<1>InanearlypassageinSpectersofMarx(1993),JacquesDerridacommentswithsomeasperityaboutthe
[m]anyyoungpeopletoday(ofthetype"readersconsumersofFukuyama"orofthetype"Fukuyama"
himself)[who]probablynolongersufficientlyrealizeit:theeschatologicalthemesofthe"endof
history,"ofthe"endofMarxism,"of"theendofphilosophy,"ofthe"endsofman,"ofthe"lastman"
29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 3/21
andsoforthwere,inthe'50s...ourdailybread.Wehadthisbreadofapocalypseinourmouths
naturally,already,justasnaturallyasthatwhichInicknamedafterthefact,in1980,the
"apocalyptictoneinphilosophy"[3].
WhatinstigatesthissharpnessisofcourseFrancisFukuyama'sbookTheEndofHistoryandtheLastMan(1992)
anditscontentionthattheideologyandthepoliticoeconomicmodelofcapitalismandthefreemarketappeared,
atthetimeofthatwork'spublication,tohaveprevailed.Thedebatablecontrastbetweentheallegedcallowness
ofFukuyamaandhis"readersconsumers"ontheonehandand,ontheother,the"we"alongsidewhomDerridaranges
himselfisfurtherinsisteduponwhenreferenceispointedlymadetothe"classicsoftheend"(Derrida's
emphasis).Theseclassics,Derridaexplains,"formedthecanonofthemodernapocalypse(endofHistory,endof
Man,endofPhilosophy,Hegel,Marx,Nietzsche,Heidegger...,"andtheywerereadandanalysedinthecontext
ofanengagementwithaparticular"historicalentanglement"involving,amongotherissues,"theStalinismofthe
pastandtheneoStalinisminprocess"witnessedineventslike"therepressioninHungary"(15).Derrida
concludes:"[F]orthosewithwhomIsharedthissingularperiod...forus,Iventuretosay,themediaparade
ofcurrentdiscourseontheendofhistoryandthelastmanlooksmostoftenlikeatiresomeanachronism....
Asforthosewhoabandonthemselvestothatdiscoursewiththejubilationofyouthfulenthusiasm,theylooklike
latecomers..."(15).
<2>Suchsentiments,expressiveofweariedcondescensioninregardtocontemporaryendismgenerallyandofa
fastidiousdisdainforitsphilosophicalprobity,areallofapiecewiththegeneralprovocativenessofSpecters
ofMarx.Overshadowedbytheattentionaccordedtothebook'scontentiousviewthatMarxism'srelevancemightnow
bestbeprojectedasaprincipleofvigilanceinanatheologicalheritageofthemessianic,theyhavebeenless
thanregularlyinvokedinthemultiplecommentariesthat,accordingtotheirverydifferentlights,havesought
toeitherengageorexorciseSpecters.YetinheraldingDerrida'slaterinductivequestion,"Howcanonebelate
totheendofhistory?"(15),theyprovidethecueforthebook'smeditationonthegeneralizedpredicamentof
latecoming,andhenceonbelatedness,untimeliness,ghosting,phatasmagorization,andspectropoetics.
Immediately,therefore,theytroublethevexedandvastquestionofallthatisdenotedandconnotedbythe
prefixpost.Theyrecallthequestioningofthetemporalityofsupersedenceandofthecomplexrelationbetween
theanteriorandtheaccomplithatoccursintheLyotardiantimescapesofthefutureperfectandtheeventofthe
unpresentable(seebelow).Theprefixeddenotationofsupplantedness(inthesenseofthearticulationswith
postpermittedbymorphology)andtheprefixingofwhatsuggestedlybefallsinthespaceclearedbythat
supplantedness(inthesenseoftheprefiguringofthegoingsandcomingsvariouslyconnotedbyarticulationsof
postwithwhateverisallowedtofollowthehyphen)findthemselveseffectivelyandexemplifyinglydoubtedin
Lyotard'swellknownformulationsabouttherecognitionofthepostmodern.Forthepostmodern,asaparticularly
significantinstanceofthoseconceptualitiesmarkedbythepostprefix,implies"aprocedureofanalysis,
anamnesis,anagogyandanamorphosiswhichelaboratesan'initialforgetting,'"suchthatitwouldneedtobe
understoodaccordingtotheparadoxofthefuture(post)anterior(modo),"andinrealizationof"therulesfor
whatwillhavebeenmade"(Lyotard'semphasis)[4].Thisheadytimescapeisdisplacedlycomprehensibleinthe
passablysynonymoussentencesfromSpectersquotedabove.ThatisbecausebothDerridaandLyotardstandaloof
fromaclearcutunderstandingoftheterminalandtheapocalyptic,andindeedfromanynotioninvolvinganything
likeaclearcut.Frenchtheory,itwouldappear,issingularlyaversetoanystraightforwardunderstandingof
howtoproceed,afterendingsandfrombeginnings,straightforward.
<3>Forthatveryreason,theintuitionsofFrenchtheorycallforurgentreappraisalinacontextlikethis
issueofReconstruction,focusedasitisonthequestionoftheposthumanous.Themorphemesembeddedinthis
compoundadjectivalterm,posthumanous,cumulativelysuggestan"after"oflife(assuggestedbytheechoof
29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 4/21
posthumous),an"after"ofterrestriality(humusistheLatinforearth),andan"after"ofhumanity(onealso
hears,inposthumanous,thewordposthuman).Adroppedsuffix,whichwouldhaveallowedustoheartheword
posthumanist,alsopermitsustoregister,throughanaudibleabsence,theexceedingofallthatwasever
investedinhumanism.Thisveryloadedbroaching,throughtheuseofthewordposthumanous,ofthethoughtofan
extremeposteriorityfindsitselfsternlywarnedbyDerrida'swords,above.ForwhatDerridaseemstobetaking
issuewithisthecurrencyofapocalyptismand,byextension,oftheplausibilityofthenewnessofanyirruptive
paradigmoftheend.Heisdoubtfulabouttheidentifiabilityofanythingpositedasbeing"last,"andaboutthe
discernibilityofany"after."Inotherwords,hisdisengagementfromtheexcitablephilosophizingofdiverse
endingsandofwhattheycouldvariouslypresageoccursinreactiontotheplausibilityofthebroachingof
questionsofposthistory(inthewakeofFukuyama'sTheEndofHistory[1992]),ofpostphilosophy(inthewake
ofallthoseannouncingthateventwithratherlesssensitivitythanHeidegger'sTheEndofPhilosophy[1961]
did),and,perhapsmostfundamentally,oftheposthuman(inresponsetothemanydifferentnarrativesof
humanity'stransience,whethertheyconformtotheconventionsofArmageddonshadowedscenariosasintheMad
MaxvistasdiscernedsometimeagobyarecentlyverymessianicMelGibsonortotheuneasewithare
engineeringoftheverynatureofthehumanasanticipatedbyFukuyamainOurPosthumanFuture[2002]).
<4>Ofcourse,allthisistobeexpectedfromDerrida.HisremarksinSpectersareconsistentwithaveritable
subcanonwithinhiswritings,onecomprisingtextswhichproblematizestraightforwardapprehensionsofcrisis
anddeconstructathinkingsoldonsuccessivenessandruptures.Hiscontributiontothediscussionofwhatcould
takeplaceinthespaceofthesupposedterminalityoftheuniversityand,moreparticularly,thehumanities,
providesagoodinstanceofthis[5].Withinaveryspecificcontextofapocalypse,theunavoidablepointsof
referenceincludeessayslike"TheEndsofMan"(1972),"OfaNewlyArisenApocalypticToneinPhilosophy"
(1981),"NoApocalypse,NotNow"(1984),and"SomeStatementsandTruismsaboutNeologisms,Newisms,Postisms,
Parasitisms,andOtherSmallSeismisms"(1990).Theseprovidecarefulandpowerfularticulationsoftheneedto
approachmillenarianismwithanawarenessthat"thethinkingoftheendofman...isalwaysalreadyprescribed
inmetaphysics,inthethinkingofthetruthofman"[6].Theirelegantlyequabletoneisintellingcontrastto
theremarksinSpecters,whicharesimilarlymindedbuttestierintheirarticulation.Yetthereisalmosta
winsomenessinthattestiness.ItcomesfromacandorthatisgenerallymoreapparentfromDerridawhenheis
answeringinterviewsthanwhenheiselaboratingtheidiomofhisessais,typicallymediatedthroughagreater
circumspection.ThustheremarksonFukuyamainSpectersoccasionthefrisson,ifonemaycallitthat,boundto
occurwhenwitnessingatypicallyguardedphilosopherunambiguouslycriticizingsomethingheorshedisdains.The
unguardednessdoesnotmerelyprovidesomequietdrama,however.Itisalsointriguingbecauseitsuggestsan
underlyingandverydecidedprejudiceintheGadameriansense.Thisshouldnotpassunnoticed.Themomentary
sheddingofthepoisegenerallycharacterizingDerrideanrhetoricrevealssomeverydecidedviewsthatbecome
morestarklyanddirectlyavailabletoassessmentthanwouldnormallybethecase.Foranyconsiderationofthe
posthumanous,thecontentofthatdirectnessarrivesasanunmistakablewarningagainstpatterningany
understandingoftheposthumanousinawaythatistoocallowortoo"johnnycomelately."
<5>Forallthat,however,thetestinessofDerrida'sremarksremainscautionaryinanothersense.Itbespeaks
thedecidednessofoneconfirmedinhisphilosophicalways,andittherebyperhapsalsodemonstratesjusta
littlepredictability,justalittleintransigence.Insayingthiswearealltooawarethatthereisamild
opportunisminthisfixingonsomestrayandquiteunguardedremarksofDerrida's,andinsuggestingthatthey
arerawlyindicativeofabiasthatelsewhereinhisworkisproductivelynuanced.Itcouldamounttopoint
scoringoftheshallowestkindtoseizeuponanyphilosopher'sdistraitcommentsinordertoexploitwhatthen
becomesarathertooexpedientrelevancetoaquestioninhand.Thatstrategybecomesevenmorequestionableif,
aswebelieve,Derrida'stakeoncontemporaryapocalyptictonesisinfactmadeallthefresherbyhisindulgence
29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 5/21
ofsomestraighttalkingaboutabtenoireofhisbutespeciallyifitcouldbeshownthatsuchtalkmasksa
deeperapprehensivenessoverthepossibilitythat,if"we"dotheapocalypsedifferently"now,"wedosowith
goodreasonratherthanineptly[7].Indeed,weaimtoshowthatthesomewhatmalapertremarksofDerridaon
Fukuyamaopenupontosomethingthatismuchmoresignificantthanscorn.Letusproceed,therefore,byfirst
dealingwiththekindofkneejerkreactionthatcouldconceivablybepromptedbyDerrida'sremarks,movingon
afterwardstosomedifferentandpossiblyweightierreflectionsuponthem.Wehopethatthiswillhelpusto
understandwhyDerrida'soutspokensuspicionofcontemporaryapocalyptismcontrivestobothbewideofthemark
andspoton:inotherwords,thathisuncharacteristicimpertinenceisanexcellentcueforthinkingthatthere
mightwellpertinentlybecausefordetectinganewtoneinhisthoughtabouttheend,orends.
2.DerridaandtheDubiousnessoftheApocalypticallyPosthumanous
<6>OneoftheeasiestresponsestotheremarksbyDerridaquotedatthestartofouressayisthattheir
peevishnessseemsthatofagrandoldmanoflettersorphilosophy."Theapocalypse:beenthere,studiedthat":
this,inreductiveterms,iswhattheysuggest.Theyscornthediscourseofthe"Fukuyamaesque"and"young"
commentatorsoftodaywhoseizeuponthenotionoftheendasifitweresomenewlydiscoveredand
unpredecentedlycompellingideathathadnotbeenalreadyquiteexhaustivelydiscussedbefore.Implicitinthis
stanceistheaggrievedrecognitionthat"the"young"areoverlookingtheworkof"thosewithwhom[Derrida]
sharedthissingularperiod,"andforwhomhe"venture[s]tospeak."Heventuresthatnotonthegroundswhich
wouldhavebeencompellingenoughofhisbeingthe"thelastman"oftheLacanBatailleAlthusserBarthes
BlanchotFoucaultDeleuzeLyotardDerridalineup[8]butthroughanimplicitclaimonaperspectival
commonalitythatremainstangiblythereevenacrossallhisdifferenceswiththem.Thekinshiparisesbecause,
forthatextraordinarygenerationofpenseurs,talkoftheapocalypsewas"dailybread"andhencemundanerather
thanglitzy.Itwassituatedonthebreadlineofphilosophicaldiscourseratherthanthefrontlineof"media
parades"shotthroughwithasoundbitidiom.Ifthissuggestshurtandevenwhatis,whenallissaidanddone,a
senseofrejection,thereisalsostrongdismayattheallegedlyinadequatecurrentawarenessofthepast
"historicalentanglement"ofendismineventslikeStalinismor"therepressioninHungary."Thereiseven
strongerdismayatthelackoffamilaritywithphilosophy's"classicsoftheend,"with"Hegel,Marx,Nietzsche,
Heidegger....""Youngpeople,"itappears,simplydonotknowenough.
<7>"Youngpeople":wearetheninthespaceofgenerationgaps,andamidstthegambitsofgenerationgames.For
thereisaninterestinginterplayinDerrida'swordsbetweenanusandathem,betweenontheonehandthe
perceivedlyseasonedunderstandingoftheapocalypticonthepartofthe"'50s"generationof(mainlyFrench,but
atanyratepredominantlyEuropean)intellectualsandontheotheranallegedlycallowandexcitableconstruction
oftheposthumanbycontemporary(mainlyAmerican,butquitecertainlytendentiallyanglophone)thinkersof
apocalyptismintheguiseofposthumanism[9].AfterHegel'sreflectionsontheteleologicalwithinhistory,
Marx'sonthespectralhauntingofEuropebywhatportends,Nietzsche'sonthetimeoftheOverman,Husserl'son
"thecrisisofphilosophy,"Heidegger'sonwhatmightneedtoberememberedinany"LetteronHumanism,"
Foucault'sonmanbeing"aninventionofrecentdate"whose"erasure"isacertainwager,Blanchot'sonthe
predicamentofthe"lastman,"Lyotard'sonthenatureofthe"inhuman,"andDerrida'sonthesuspectbasisof
any"apocalyptictone,"whattranspiresisFukuyamaandlikeminded"readersconsumers,"withtheirtalkon
endismandposthumanism.Sothat,torephraseawellknownsentencefromtheepiloguetoEvelynWaugh's
BridesheadRevisited(1945),then,"insuddenfrost,cametheageofFukuyama."Facedwiththat,"oldEurope,"it
mightnottoofancifullybesaid,thinks"back."Theapocalypticandtheposthuman(ous),then,seemsingularly
subjecttogenerationaltensions,tonationally,continentally,andlinguisticallymarkedtraditionsofthought,
andtoacontingencydeterminedbyintellectualandpoliticalcontexts[10].
29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 6/21
<8>Therewould,tobesure,besomethingtiresomeinthisreplayingofwhatareessentially"Ancientsand
Moderns"and"FrenchtheoryinAmerica"controversies,haditnotbeenfortwoquitesignificantconsiderations.
ThefirstinvolvestheimplicationsofDerrida'suseinSpectersofthetropeoflatecoming:"Asforthosewho
abandonthemselvestothatdiscoursewiththejubilationofyouthfulenthusiasm,theylooklikelatecomers,a
littleasifitwerepossibletotakestillthelasttrainafterthelasttrainandyetbelatetoanendof
history"(15).Beinglateforthelasttrain,asanalternativeimageforbeinglateforone'sownfuneral:this
isbeginningtoseemdistastefullylikearowbetweentheestablishedandtheparvenusoverwhoistopreside
overtheobsequiesforhistory,overwhoistobetheobituaristfortheworld,fordiscourse,andforhumanity
afterthecosmophagicmoment.Ifhistoryiswrittenbythevictors,bywhomisitspassingtobewritten:by
thosewhohavealreadybeenlugubreandwhohavealreadywrittenapopempticwordsonhistory,philosophy,and
humanity,orbythosewho,thoughlateforhistory,willclaimtobeintimewiththepresentandintimeforthe
future?Theissuesofripenessanduntimelinesswhicharelatenthereareonestowhichweshallreturn.The
secondpointworthraising,meanwhile,isthefactthatdiscussionoftheapocalypticandtheposthuman(ous),
"now,"inwhatis"our"time,isnotnecessarilyasineptasDerrida'sremarksmakeitouttobe.Perhapsifthat
discussionhasacquiredareprioritizationandanewtoneitisnecessarilyso.This,too,shallconcernus
below,inrelationtotheintuitionthattheworstisnotyetcomeandinaccordancewiththeimpressionthat
thatworstisimminent.Asweshallsee,thatintuitionandthatimpressionaresharedandindeedarticulatedby
Derridahimself.Theycompelatonalshiftinhisdiscourseontheapocalypticandontheconstitutivityand
reconstitutivityofthehuman.
<9>Clearly,then,wehavetodealwiththeissueoftone.Indeed:howtointonetheend?Couldwhatmightbe
called"therighttone"beinfactwhatismissingintheprojectionsofaposthumanfutureby"readers
consumers"of"thetype'Fukuyama'"?SurelywhatDerridaisatbottomreactingtowhenhetakesthat"type"to
taskistheimpressionofacertaindepthlessness,intheJamesoniansense.Ifheisperturbeditisbecauseof
theunentrenchednessoftheresultantdiscourseinanyverytangiblephilosophicalnuancing,andbecauseofthe
lackofanyengagementwithordeferencetotheextensivenessandrigorwithwhich"theclassicsoftheend"have
alreadyscanned,beforetheeventandavantlaterreur,ourposthumanfuture.Thecrudestevidenceofthatisthe
scantinessofreferencetopenseurslikeDerrida,Blanchot,Deleuze,Foucault,Hegel,Heidegger,Husserl,
Lyotard,andsoononegetsthepictureinthepagesofTheEndofHistory(evenifinfairnessitshould
benotedthatOurPosthumanFutureismorephilosophicallyifnotquitetheoreticallykeyed).Inotherwords,
whatisessentiallybeingbemoanedbyDerridaisthelackofanyphilosophicalsomewouldsayalsotheoretical
toneinsuchapocalyptism.Inhisplainview,anakedlyapocaplyptictoneneedsphilosophicaldefinitionifit
istohaveagravitastakingitbeyondjournalismorthekindofculturalstudiesaboutwhichDerridahas
declaredsomeambivalence[11].Alsopotentiallyatstake,therefore,isanewtakeonthefamiliarissueofa
contestoffaculties:astandoffbetweentwodiscoursesandtheirrepresentatives,oratanyratebetweentheir
idiomsandtheirtones.
<10>Nowitishardlyacoincidence,ofcourse,thattoneissuchanoverridingconcerninDerrida's"OnaNewly
ArisenApocalypticToneinPhilosophy."Thatessayisexemplarilyrespectfuloftheethicoftherelationbetween
differentgenerationsofthinkers,andoftheeldersofphilosophy.Isitnotwrittenininvocationofandin
counterpointtoKant'sVoneinemneuerdingserhobenenvornehmenToninderPhilosophie"(1796)("OnaNewly
ArisenSuperiorToneinPhilosophy")?Theessaycanthereforebeseenasonethatsetsthetoneforhowa"'50s"
penseurwoulddiscusstheprospectoftheterminalityofthehuman.Significantly,andalmostasifin
contradistinctionto"young""readersconsumers"nowadays,whomightcompileunphilosophicalstudiesnotsteeped
inpreviousdiscussionsoftheapocalyptic,Derridaresourcefullybaseshisessayon(inhiswords)a"lesswell
knownpamphlet"ofKant's[12].DerridabuildsmuchonKant'stext,whichjustsohappenstoitselfbeanattack
29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 7/21
on"atonethatdenouncessomethinglikethedeathofphilosophy"(123Derrida'semphasis).Accordingto
Derrida,whatKantwastakingissuewithwasthetransgressionof"theatonalnormofphilosophicaladdress"
(123).Thiscreatedspaceforthe"bonusofseductionorintimidation,"of"heatedproclamationsontheendto
comeortheendalreadyaccomplished"(125).Inotherwords,"the"mystagoguesmakeascene"(125),doingsoin
philosophyandwithallthe"airs"ofan"upstart[parvenu]"(129).Theycarryon,then,muchlikethe"young"
andlatelycomeFukuyamalike"readersconsumers,"whosetiresomenessisdenigratedbyDerridaalmostexactlytwo
hundredyearslater.
<11>Anaddedandimportanttwisttothisisthat,inannouncinga"newlyarisen"apocalpyptictone,itisasif
Derrida'stitlehadalreadyintuitedthatapocalypsehassomethingofthecyclicalaswellasthelinearabout
it.Differentgenerationsdoapocalypseanew:asifithadneveralreadybeendoneandasiftherewasanewness
aboutit,andasifthethoughtofapocalypsecanberenewedthroughthearising,asif"newly,"ofthe
apocalyptictone.Andwhatisreenergizedin"predictionandeschatologicalpreaching[predication]"is"the
factoftelling,foretelling,orpreachingtheend,theextremelimit,theimminenceofthelast"(144).When
thathappens,itdoessoinexpectationofgoingonebettertowardstheend,asitwere.Soothsayersattemptto
outdoeachotherinsayingsoothandhereitshouldberememberedthatthewordsoothmeans,anciently,
"truth,"henceitsappropriatenessinanydiscourseoftheapokalupsis,thedisclosure,theunveilingoftruth.
Forthatreasonaswellasforanumberofothers,Derrida'swordsonasceneofoneupmanshipinthedifferences
betweenvariouseschatologiesarriveverypertinently:
Haven'tallthedifferences[diffrends]takentheformofagoingonebetterineschatological
eloquence,eachnewcomermorelucidthantheother,morevigilantandmoreprodigaltoo,comingtoadd
moretoit:Itellyouthisintruththisisnotonlytheendofthisherebutalsoandfirstofthat
there,theendofhistory,theendoftheclassstruggle,theendofphilosophy,thedeathofGod,the
endofreligions,theendofChristianityandmorals...theendofthesubject,theendofman,the
endoftheWest,theendofOedipus,theendoftheearth,ApocalypseNow,Itellyou,inthe
cataclysm,thefire,theblood,thefundamentalearthquake,thenapalmdescendingfromtheskyby
helicopters,likeprostitutes,andalsotheendofliterature,theendofpainting,artasathingof
thepast,theendofpsychoanalysis,theendoftheuniversity,theendofphallocentrismand
phallogocentrism,andIdon'tknowwhatelse.(145)
Clearly,then,ApocalypseNow,ApocalypseAlways,ApocalypseVariorum.Theapocalypseisdonenowtheapocalypse
isdonesuccessivelytheapocalypseisdonedifferently.Thosewho"do"theapocalypsethereforealwaysdoso
late(becauseithasalwaysbeendonealready),andtheyalwaysdosoprematurely(becausetheunthinkabilityof
thepredicate(d)portendsrathermorethanitimpends).Hencetheycomelatelytotheapocalypse,whichinturn
isalwayslateforthem.Thereissomeconsolationinthisfor,asDerridapointsout,knowledgeof"theendof
theend"mustcoincide,ifitistobeclinching,with"theendofmetalanguageonthesubjectofeschatological
language"(146).Ifsoothsayerskeepreturningtotellthetaleofthedeathoftheworld,ofhumanity,of
history,itmustbebecausetheleadingto"theplacewherethefirstvibrationofthetoneisheard"(151)
remainsdeferred.ItisbecausesoothsayerswillalwayshavegonebeforethatDerridacouldtakelightly,ifhe
wantedto,"readersconsumers"of"thetype'Fukuyama'"astheyreinventthewheeloftheapocalypticturnin
philosophy.
<12>Yethedoesnot,astheratherodddiscomposureoftheremarksfromSpectersofMarxmakeclear.Why?After
allDerridawasprimedbyhisveryessaytoexpectFukuyama,oratleastaFukuyama.Yetheisvisiblyputoutby
himintheverytext,Specters,whichfamouslyandrecurrentlyspeaksofatimethat,ifnotapocaplyptic,isout
29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 8/21
ofjoint.Again:why?WhatmightbereadinDerrida'sverytonallydetermineddeviationfromtheatonalityof
philosophyashetakesFukuyama'sapocalypticallytonedreflectionstotask?Hassomethingchangedintheway
apocalypseisbeingdoneorprospectednow?Istherecurrently,perhaps,astrikingdifferencetothewayithad
alwaysbeendonethatDerridahasgrownkeenlyawareof,andcoulditpossiblybethattherealizationofthe
cogencyofthatdifferenceisonethatleaveshimpiqued,promptingareactionthatis,asitwere,somehowout
oftimeaswellasoffkey?
<13>IfwearetoaddressthisissueweneedtocharacterizethemannerinwhichDerridahastypicallydiscussed
theapocalyptic.Whataboveallseemstodistinguishthismannerisacertain"counterintuitiveness."Bythiswe
meanthedispositiontothinkmattersinamannerbeyondtheircommonsensicalapprehendingbythosemembersof
humanitywhoarenotphilosophersor"theorists,"andwhointuittheendasanend,"pureandsimple,"soto
speak,withoutlayingmuchstorebythethoughtthatapocalypsehasalwaysbeen,willalwayshavebeen,withus.
Hencethoughtoftheapocalypse,ofposthumanousthreatsbyforcesthatareextrahuman,arestraightforwardly
andpopularlythinkable,andleadtoarhetoricthatunderstandsthethreatofapocalypseasacrisisandin
termsoftheurgencyof"doingsomethingaboutit,"asthepopularphrasehasit.Thisiswhatmakesso
accessibletothepopularimaginationthespeechgivenbythecharacteroftheAmericanpresidentinthefilm
IndependenceDay(1996).ItisaspeechquotedtogoodeffectbyChristopherKeepinhisarticleinaprevious
numberofReconstruction:
Mankind.Thatwordshouldhavenewmeaningforallofus.Wecan'tbeconsumedwithourpetty
differencesanymore.Wewillbeunitedinourcommoninterest.TodayistheFourthofJuly...and
shouldwewintheday,theFourthofJulywillnolongerbeknownasanAmericanholiday,butasthe
daywhentheworlddeclaredinonevoice,wewillnotgoquietlyintothenight,wewillnotvanish
withoutafight....TodaywecelebrateourIndependenceDay![13]
(Americaninspired)independencefromapocalypseissomethingeverybodycanunitebehind,then:nodoubthowever
withtheexceptionofa(French)philosopherortheoristhereandtherewhowillinsistonthinkingthings
differently.ThatdifferencemightmodulateitselfintheLyotardiantermsofthepost,forinstance,andtheir
releasingofthepertinenceofthefutureanteriortenseratherthanofthemoreurgenttonalitiesofdoing
somethinginthepresenttopreventthefuturefrombecominghumanity'spast.Manyotherexamplesofindulgence
ofthecounterintuitivefromthegenerationofthinkersassociatedwiththe"canon"oftheorycouldbecited.
IndeedonecouldstartwithDerrida'sown,includingthewellknowndeconstructioninOfGrammatology(1967)of
speech'sprimacyoverwriting,orhecomplexandnonlineartimescapesthatdominatethespectropoeticsof
Specters.Or,tocomeroundtotheapocalypticagain,theviewexpressedin"NoApocalypse,NotNow"thatanother
potentialharbingeroftheposthumanous,thenuclearthreat,"isdealtwithmore'seriously'intextsby
Mallarm,orKafka,orJoyce,forexample,thaninthepresentdaynovelsthatwouldofferdirectandreal
descriptionsofa'real'nuclearcatastrophe"[14].
<14>Indeed,Derrida'sdiscussionofthenuclearthreatinthatessaymightseemtoprovideagoodexampleofa
disinclinationtothinkthenuclearthreatinstraightforwardapprehensionofandaboutends.Decontextualized,
hisassertionsonthatthemecanappeardeeplycapricious.Thefollowingisarelevantexample:"Theonly
'subject'ofallpossibleliterature,ofallpossiblecriticism,itsonlyultimateandasymbolicreferent,
unsymbolizable,evenunsignifiablethisis,ifnotthenuclearage,ifnotthenuclearcatastrophe,atleast
thattowardwhichnucleardiscourseandthenuclearsymbolicarestillbeckoning:theremainderlessanda
symbolicdestructionofliterature"(28Derrida'semphasis).Theunexpectedequivalenceexistsbecause"[t]he
onlyreferentthatisabsolutelyrealis...ofthescopeordimensionofanabsolutenuclearcatastrophethat
29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 9/21
wouldirreversiblydestroytheentirearchiveandallsymboliccapacity,"suchthat[t]heabsolutereferentof
allpossibleliteratureisonaparwiththeabsoluteeffacementofanypossibletraceitisthustheonly
ineffaceabletrace,itissoasthetraceofwhatisentirelyother,'tracedutoutautre'"(28).Theprojection
ofthenuclearageasboundupwithwhatothershaveelsewherecalled"theliteraryabsolute"is,clearly,not
themostintuitiveofthoughts[15].ItiswhyDerrida'sthoughtgenerallyremainsachallenge,andwhyitwould
beparticularlysignificanttodiscernanyconvergencebetweendeconstructivecounterintuitivenessandmore
straightforwardlylinearunderstandingsoftheposthumanous.Itisthisconvergence,wesuggest,thatmighthave
becomemoretangibleinsomeofDerrida'srecentreflectionsontheapocalyptic,anditisthisshiftintone
thatwewouldliketotraceinwhatfollows.
3.OfaNewlyApprehensiveApocalypticToneinDerrida'sPhilosophy
<15>Thattheremighthavebeenarising,graduallyandthroughalonggestation,anewlyapprehensivetonein
deconstructionisdetectableevenin"NoApocalypse,NotNow."Derridathereadmitsthatingeniousnessisall
verywell,butitdoesnotsafeguardthephilosopherfromgenerallysharedextermination.Turningtoconsiderthe
possibilityofwhetherthereisorisnota"radicallynewpredicateinthesituationknownas'thenuclear
age,'"whichhecharacterizesasoneunderpinnedbydramatic"acceleration"andthereforeinneedof"critical
slowdown,"heconcedes:"ButthisdissuasionanddecelerationIamurgingcarrytheirownrisks:thecritical
zealthatleadsustorecognizeprecedents,continuities,andrepetitionsateveryturncanmakeuslooklike
suicidalsleepwalkers,blindanddeafalongsidetheunheardof"(Derrida'semphasis).Andfurther:"Onemaystill
dieafterhavingspentone'sliferecognizing,asalucidhistorian,towhatextentallthatwasnotnew,telling
oneselfthattheinventorsofthenuclearageorofnuclearcriticismdidnotinventthewheel....That'sthe
wayonealwaysdies,moreover,andthedeathofwhatisstillnowandthencalledhumanitymightwellnotescape
therule"(21).Anacknowledgement,then,thatonewouldlookprettysillydyingintheapocalypticmomentwhile
oneisstillineloquentphilosophical,critical,andhistoricaldenialoftheapocalypse.Anindication,too,
thatthedisdainfor"readersconsumers"mightmaskadeeperconcern.
<16>Ifthatwereso,itwouldindeedbepossibletospeakofwhatwouldcomeacrossasanewlyapprehensivetone
inDerrida'sthoughtoftheapocalypse,andofagreaterreadinessthanmayhavebeenexpectedfromsucha
counterintuitivethinkertoaccordwithamorecommondriftindiscussionsofthattheme.Ofcourse,the
querulousnessexpressingsuspicionofthoughtsofrupturesorbreakssurvives,aswhenheaskselsewherewhyit
isthatthekindof"reaffirmation"providedby"thinkersoftheabyss"appearsto"haveafutureonlythrough
theseismofadestruction"[16].Butreceptivitytoapossiblynewlyarisenapprehensivetonepermitsoneto
pickuponovertonesthatgobeyondsuchquerulousness.ItisthereforeverysignificantthatDerridahimself
raisestheissueofwhatmightbeatstakewhenachangeintone,oranewtone,becomesdistinguishableina
thinker'swork.Inapassagethatisabsolutelycrucialtowhatwearediscussinghere,hedeclares:
Theattentiontotone,whichisnotjuststyle,seemsratherraretome.Tonehasbeenlittlestudied
foritself,ifwesupposethatispossibleorhaseverbeendone.Atone'sdistinctivesignsare
difficulttoisolate,iftheyevenexistincompletepurity,whichIdoubt,aboveallinawritten
discourse.Bywhatisatonemarked:achangeoraruptureintone?Andhowdoyourecognizeatonal
differencewithinthesamecorpus?Whattraitsaretobetrustedforanalyzingthis,whatsignposting
[signalisation]neitherstylistic,norrhetorical,norevidentlythematicorsemantic?Theextreme
difficultyofthisquestion,indeedofthistask,becomesmoreaccentuatedinthecaseofphilosophy.
Isn'tthedreamortheidealofphilosophicaldiscourse,ofphilosophicaladdress[allocution],andof
thewritingsupposedtorepresentthataddress,isn'tittomaketonaldifferenceinaudible,andwith
29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 10/21
itawholedesire,affect,orscenethatworks(over)theconceptincontraband?Throughwhatiscalled
neutralityoftone,philosophicaldiscoursemustalsoguaranteetheneutralityoratleastthe
imperturbableserenitythatshouldaccompanytherelationtothetrueandtheuniversal.[17]
Thisisintimidating.Itintimatesjusthowdifficultitwillbetoestablishthatthereis,demonstrably,a
certain"changeorruptureintone"(torepeatDerrida'sownwords)inDerrida'soeuvre,andhowinscrutableand
elusivetheresourcesfordoingthatmustbe.Allthemoresoif,aswearecontending,theshiftisperceptible
whenDerridaisspeakingoftheapocalyptic:ofthatwhich,etymologyshows,mustunveil"thetrueandthe
universal,"andaboutwhichDerridaspeakswithtonesshadedbyironyandelusiveness.Todojusticetothe
extremedifficultyofdetectingachangeorruptureintoneinDerrida'scorpuswouldrequiremuchmorespace
thanisavailabletoushere.Wecanhoweverattempttoatleastshowthewayby,precisely,showing.Weshalldo
sothroughquotingcertainspecificpassagesfromcertaindistincttextsofDerrida'sthatappeartomediatea
relationtotheposthumanousthatseemstobeentrenchedinadifferentwayofdoingtheapocalypticthanmay
previouslyhavebeenthecase.AsanctionforthisderivesfromthereassuranceprovidedbyHermanRapaportthat
thereis,infact,anidentifiably"laterDerrida,"withdistincttonalitiesofthoughttohisearlierpersonas
[18].Andtheultimatestakesareclear:ifevenDerrida"does"theapocalypsedifferently,"now,"then"we"may
allstarttoconsiderwhetherweshoulddosotoo.Inordertokeepthingsmanageableinanessayofthisscope,
wehaveoptedtoalludetotwotextsofDerrida'swhichseemtobeparticularlyrelevanttoanythoughtofthe
"posthumanous."Thesearetheessay"TheAforementionedSoCalledHumanGenome"(firstpublishedin1996but
originallyanaddressdeliveredin1992,hencejustoneyearbeforetheappearanceofSpectersofMarx),andthe
dialoguewithGiovannaBorradoriontheimplicationsforphilosophyofSeptember11,entitled"Autoimmunity:Real
andSymbolicSuicides"andcollectedinherbookPhilosophyinaTimeofTerror(2003)whichalsoincludesa
dialoguewithJrgenHabermas.
<17>WhatintriguesDerridain"TheAforementionedHumanGenome"is,inhisterms,theclashbetweenthe
"questionofhumanuniversality"andthatofthe"patentability"ofthehuman."Whatisman?"heasks,and"What
mightthesocalledgenomeofthesaidmanbe?"[19]Additionally:"Whereisasecret,inasense,registered?"
How,therefore,toregisterthe"patent"ofthereengineeredessenceofman,whoselegalstatusbecomesambiguous
inthenewprotocolsofidentityandsimilarity?Indeed:isthesecret,thegenome,ofwhatmanistobe
registerableaccordingtothelaw'sprovisionsfor"thesacredrightsofpatents"(203Derrida'semphasis),
givenalsothatwhatimmediatelybecomessubjecttolegislationis"theessenceofthehuman"anditsrelationto
"reproductiveprogrammingofthesameorthesimilar,"to"theunpredictableproductionandinventionofthe
totallyother"(20607)?Noresponse,assuch,isgiven,butthereensuesthefollowingpassagethatisdeeply
relevanttodiscussionofanynewlyapprehensivetoneinDerrida'sdiscussionoftheapocalyptic:
Onehastheimpression(andIamdescribingmyfirstimpression,thatofatragic,apocalypticpathos)
...thattheriskthatisrunatthisuniquemomentinthehistoryofhumanityistheriskofnew
crimesbeingcommittedagainsthumanityandnotonly,ifIcansaythis,againstmillionsofrealhuman
beingsaswasthecase,butacrimesuchthatasorcerer'sapprenticewhowasverycunning,theauthor
ofpotentialgeneticmanipulations,mightinthefuturecommitorsupplythemeansforcommitting...
againstman,againsttheveryhumanityofman,nolongeragainstmillionsofrepresentativesofreal
humanitybutagainsttheessenceitselfofhumanity,againstanidea,anessence,afigureofthehuman
race,representedthistimebyacountlessnumberofbeingsandgenerationstocome.(20708
emphasisadded)
Hencetherecanbelittledoubtthattheapocalypse,oratleastthepotentialforitandfortheposthumanous,
29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 11/21
canbedonedifferently"now."This"now"marksitselfoutbybeing,asDerridahasit,a"uniquemoment."For"
[a]rewenot,"asksDerrida,"atthisunheardofmomentinthehistoryofscienceortechnoscienceandof
humanity,inasituationwhereaterriblesuspicionsetsthestageforagrandjudgmentwhoseapocalyptic
proportionsbegintoresemblealargejudgment?"(20809).Ifthereisindeedscopeforanewapprehensivenessin
Derrida'sdiscourseonapocalypse,itisbecausethedisparitiesbetweenthehumanlypossibleandtheinhumanly
anddehumanizinglyimpossiblehavesignificantlyalteredandnarrowed.Inquestionisnolonger"merely"the
exterminationofcountlesshumans,butoftheworkofreadaptationwhichcanbeundertakenontheverybasisof
thehuman.IfDerrida'stoneindiscussionsthatopenontotheposthumanousisdiscerniblychanged,then,itis
inrecognitionthat"thequestion,Whatisman?couldnolongerwaitasitseemstohavedoneformerly."Thatis
becauseitis"todaytakingon,here,now,aterriblyconcreteandurgentformataninfinitelyacceleratedrate"
(209).Insuchcircumstances,tobedeconstructivelycounterintuitivecouldriskappearingneitherpunctualnor
asstrikingtherighttoneespeciallywhentheposthumanousarriveswiththeprospectof"theprogrammable
reproductionoftheidenticaltoinfinity,excludingmutability,progressaswellashistory"(212).
<18>Ofcourse,thisisveryclosetoFukuyama'sownconcernattheimplicationsofthebiotechnologyrevolution.
Indeed,evenwhilenotingthatDerrida'sessaypredatesFukuyama'sbytenyears,itisimportanttoacknowledge
thattheDerridaof"TheAforementionedSoCalledHumanGenome"ismuchclosertotheFukuyamaofOurPosthuman
FuturethanisthecasewiththeDerridaofSpectersofMarxandtheFukuyamaofTheEndofHistory.Fukuyama's
recentbookis,ithastobesaid,amuchmorenuancedstudythanFukuyama'searlierone,butifthereisa
greatermovementofconvergencebetweenwhatDerridaandFukuyamarespectivelyrepresentinthemultivalent
generaldiscourseconcerningapocalypticthreatstothehuman,itisatleastasmuchtheresultofamore
engagementonDerrida'spartwiththeposthumanousasitisofanemancipationonFukuyama'spartfromtherather
morejejunetonalitiesofTheEndofHistory.
<19>TheviewsofDerridaontheimportofSeptember11furtherreinforcetheimpressionofagreaterwillingness
toaddressabroadworrylesscounterintuitivelythanmightearlierhavebeenthecase.Thenewtonalityofhis
discourseonsuchmattersmightusefullybedemonstratedbydrawingattentiontothefrequencywithwhichone
word,badrecursinPhilosophyinaTimeofTerror.Itdoessomostoftenintheformofthecomparativeandthe
superlativeofbad:worseandworst.Borradori'sotherwiseexcellentcommentariesonherdialogueswithHabermas
andDerridaoverlookthisreallyratherremarkablefeatureanditsimplicationsforanunderstandingofhow"we"
andDerridatoomightbe"doing"theapocalypsedifferently,"now."Here,beforeweprobethisissue
further,aresomeexamplesoftheincidenceofworseorworstinthebook,withrespectiveauthorshipindicated:
Borradori:Inallitshorror,9/11hasleftuswaitingfortheworst.[20]
Habermas:InNewYorkpeopleseemedreadyfortheworst.[21]
Derrida:Atissueagainis...what,whenseenfromtheCapitol,mightbeworsethantheColdWar.
Derrida:Oratleast,ifitisthepresentorthepast,itisonlyinsofarasitbearsonitsbodythe
terriblesignofwhatmightorperhapswilltakeplace,whichwillbeworsethananythingthathasever
takenplace.(Derrida'semphasis)<br>Derrida:Traumatismisproducedbythefuture,bythetocome,by
thethreatoftheworsttocome,ratherthanbyaggressionthatis"overanddonewith."(Derrida's
emphasis)
Derrida:But,andhere'sanotherparadox...evenifthisterroristheveryworst,evenifit
touchesthegeopoliticalunconsciousofeverylivingbeingandleavesthereindelibletraces...
becauseoftheanonymousinvisibilityoftheenemy,becauseoftheundeterminedoriginoftheterror.
..theworstcansimultaneouslyappearinsubstantial,fleeting,light,andsoseemtobedenied,
repressed,indeedforgotten,relegatedtobeingjustoneeventamongothers,oneofthe"majorevents"
29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 12/21
...inalongchainofpastandfutureevents.(Derrida'semphasis)
Derrida:Onewillbeabletodoevenworsetomorrow,invisibly,insilence,morequicklyandwithout
anybloodshed,byattackingthecomputerandinformationalnetworksonwhichtheentirelife...ofa
"greatnation,"ofthegreatestpoweronearth,depends.
Derrida:Wethusdenytheirresistibleforebodingthattheworsthasnottakenplace,notyet.[22]
<20>WedonotclaimtohaveinventorizedallinstancesofthewordsworseorworstinPhilosophyinaTimeof
Terror,andwearekeepinginreservereferencetoatleastoneother[23].Thatsaid,itisstrikingthatworse
andworstclearlyrecurmorefrequentlyinDerrida'stextthaninthoseofthetwoothers,HabermasandBorradori
hereself,representedinthevolume.Thisisallofapiecewiththeunwavering,uncompromisingfocusofDerrida
onjusthowapocalypticallybadtheaftermathofSeptember11couldconceivablyturnouttobe.Fortherecould
belittlethatisworsethantheapocalypse,ordarkerthanthatposthumanousbroughtaboutbythereadinessofa
fewtoprecipitatetheunthinkableandtheincalculableuponmultitudes.HenceDerridadarestoexpressthis
unthinkableandthisincalculable,inevitablydeployingafurthermentionofworse:
Onedayitmightbesaid:"September11"thosewerethe("good")olddaysofthelastwar.Things
werestilloftheorderofthegigantic:visibleandenormous!Whatsize,whatheight!Therehasbeen
worsesince.Nanotechnologiesofallsortsaresomuchmorepowerfulandinvisible,uncontrollable,
capableofcreepingineverywhere.Theyarethemicrologicalrivalsofmicrobesandbacteria.Yetour
unconsciousisalreadyawareofthisitalreadyknowsit,andthat'swhat'sscary.(102)
TheprospectissufficientlydisturbingtoinduceDerridatodenounceandtotakesideswithqualifications,
butneverthelessquiteunequivocally:
Whatappearstomeunacceptableinthe"strategy"...ofthe"binLadeneffect"...is,aboveall,
thefactthatsuchactionsanddiscoursesopenontonofutureand,inmyview,havenofuture.Ifwe
aretoputanyfaithintheperfectibilityofpublicspaceandoftheworldjuridicopoliticalscene,
ofthe"world"itself,thenthereis,itseemstome,nothinggoodtobehopedforfromthatquarter..
..Thatiswhy,inthisunleashingofviolencewithoutname,ifIhadtotakeoneofthetwosidesand
chooseinabinarysituation,well,Iwould....Iwouldtakethesideofthecampthat,in
principle,byrightoflaw,leavesaperspectiveopentoperfectibilityinthenameofthe"political,"
democracy,internationallaw,internationalinstitutions,andsoon....Idon'thearanysuch
promisecomingfrom"binLaden,"atleastnotoneforthisworld.(11314Derrida'semphasis).
<21>Strongwordsfromthearchdeconstructorofbinaryoppositions,andasignificantchoicebetweenbinary
opposites.Itisachoiceunderstandableintermsoftheapocalypsebeingthatwhich,bydefinition,leavesno
future,andinthissensewhatDerridatermsthe"binLadeneffect,"whichopensontonofuture,isthevery
figureoftheapocalyptic.ButofcoursewhatistellinghereisthenewlyurgenttoneinDerrida'sidiom.Itis
atonethatismoreconsistentlyearnest(certainlymoresothanthatdiscernibleintheludicspacesof
Dissemination(1972)orGlas(1974),forinstance)nodoubtinpartduetotheovertlypoliticalthemeandthe
alltootangiblegravityofwhatisbeingdiscussed.True,thedeconstructivelymercurialinsightisstillin
evidence,asintheparagraphsassiduouslythinkingthedate/nameSeptember11asa"telegramofmetonymy"(86),
andmostparticularlyinthefastidiousrigorwithwhichthe"autoimmunelogic"thatmadeSeptemberpossibleis
pursuedthroughout(seebelow).Butwhatisultimatelynoteworthyisthereadinesswithwhichitissuggestedby
Derridathat,atatimewhenSeptember11isclearlythecontemporarycounterparttotheeventscalled"Stalin"
or"Hungary"thatwerementionedinthepassagefromSpectersofMarxquotedearlier,circumspectionisno
29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 13/21
option:"Ifintellectuals,writers,scholars,professors,artists,andjournalistsdonot,beforeallelse,stand
uptogetheragainstsuchviolence,theirabdicationwillbeatonceirresponsibleandsuicidal"(125).
Admittedly,onemustbecarefulhere.ThecontextisbythispointinthedialoguewithBorradoriadiscussionof
theprobityoftoleranceratherthanofanycoordinateddenunciationofthe"binLadeneffect."Yetthecontrast
withanotherDerridawhoadmitstonothavingbeenasoixantehuitardbecauseofhisaversionto,inhiswords,
"vibratinginunison,"willnot,wethink,belostuponthosewhohavefollowedthedevelopmentofhiswork[24].
Moresosince,inthesamecontext,thereisthefurthersuggestionthat"oneofourfirstresponsibilities[is]
toanalyzetheemergenceofwhatisnewandunprecedented,"andthereflectionaswellthat"[o]nlybyrigorously
takingintoaccountthisnoveltywillwebeabletoadjustourripostesandouractsofresistance"(12526).And
also,onemightadd,ourtonalities.
<22>ItisdifficulttobeclinchinglypersuasiveaboutthesenewtonalitiesinDerrida'swritingwithout
undertakingmoreextendedcomparativeanalysisonthedifferencesbetweentheearlierandthelaterwork,and
withoutengagingwiththe"newcriteriology,"asDerridahasit,thatmayhaveemergedinthewakeofrecent
events[25].Wehopetohaveprovidedinthissectionatleastsomepreliminaryevidencetosupportthe
suppositionthatthedifferenceintoneisinfactdemonstrablythere.Inthebackgroundofthat,itbecomes
opportunetoreturntoouropeningandreconsidertheviabilityofDerrida'ssuggestioninSpectersofMarxthat
contemporaryposthumanistsareseeminglyunawarethattheyarelatecomerstotheendofhistory.That
reconsiderationshouldassistanunderstandingofwhy"we"dotheapocalypsedifferently,"now."
4.TheLatecomingofthePosthuman,or,Why"We"DotheApocalypseDifferently,"Now"
<23>Itneedstobesaidimmediatelythatif"we"arestartingtodiscussendismdifferentlyitisbecausethe
apocalypsecanbedonesomoreunthinkablyandincalculablynowthanwaseverthecase.Thechallengeofthe
nuclearthatprovidedafocusfor"NoApocalypse,NotNow"isoneaboutwhichitispossibletobealmost
nostalgicinthecontextofallthecircumstancesthatmaketheposthumanoussoimmediatetobothexperienceand
possibility:thebiotechnologyrevolutionandthevarioustechnologiesfortheprosthesizationofthehuman,the
prospectofengineeredpandemics,worldwideviralitythatcouldbedigitalaswellasorganic,indeedallthe
processesthatcouldconceivablyoperateaccordingtothelogicofautoimmunity,whereby"alivingbeing,in
quasisuicidalfashion,'itself'workstodestroyitsownprotection,toimmunizeitselfagainstits'own'
immunity"(Derrida'semphasis)[26].AccordingtoDerrida,"whatisputatriskbythisterrifyingautoimmunitary
logicisnothinglessthantheexistenceoftheworld,oftheworldwideitself"(Derrida'semphasis9899).This
risk,wherebythehumanitselfcreatestheconditionsforthatwhichmightexceedit,doingsowithout
simultaneouslyimmunizingitselfagainsttheworstwithanyadequacyorproperforesight,iswhatmakesthe
posthumanoustheepistemeofourtime.Reflectionsuponitcouldthereforelooklikeaprocessualratherthan
posthumousepitaphonthehuman.Inthatcontext,the(sur)passingofthehumanbecomeslessamenabletothe
protocolsofpoststructuralistcounterintuitivenessthanmaypreviouslyhavebeenthecase.Hence,torecastthe
famousreflectionsfromtheconclusiontoFoucault'sTheOrderofThings(1966),theposthumanousisaninvention
ofveryrecentdate,andwhatisthereindiscoveredisthattheerasabilityofthehumanisanalltooimmediate
wager.
<24>Agrimscenariobringsthispointstarklyhome.IthastodowiththefactthattheworriesoftheColdWar,
eventherigorsofallpreviouswars,lookandonehopestobeforgivenforsayingthisalmostquaint
besidetheorderandenormityoftheposthumanousunderstoodastheapocalypticeventualitythatisscriptedby
thevariousformulationsoftheautoimmunitycontrivedbythehuman.Itisbynomeanscertain,tofollow
BlanchotandRapaport,thathumanitywillgrowquiteasblasaboutthebanalityoftheendasithadgrown
29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 14/21
inured,throughthanatopraxieandthevariousresourcesofthewritingofthedisaster,toColdWarmenaces[27].
Quitesimply,thatisbecauseitispossibletodotheapocalypsemoreinventivelynow,andthroughallthe
inventionsthathavemadeprevioustechnologiesoftheendobsoleteandthatwillcontinue,inaparadoxical
renewingoftheirends,todoso.This,infact,isitselfasignoftheapocalypticnewnessofthe"now."
Previousapocalyptictechnologieshavebeenobliteratedbyanacceleratedlogicofobsolescence,almostasif
previousgenerationsseemdatedlyexterminable,while"we"appeartobeavailabletomoredesignedlystateof
theart(indeedpractically"designer")endingswhicharepotentiallyprocurablebythoseandthiswhere
terrorismcomesinundeterredbyanydtente.Consequently,theworstisnotmerelythinkable,but
apprehensibleassomethingonthissideofimprobability.Inthatapprehendingthemannerismsofdeconstructive,
poststructuralist,orpostmodernistlogic,particularlytheircounterintuitivetemporalitiesandtheir
reluctancetocountenancestraightforwardprojectionsofsupersedence,seemtolacklebonton.Indeed,thereis
nogreaterindicationoftheappositenessofadifferenttoneandadifferenttemporizationoftheposthumanous,
andofthewayinwhichevendeconstructionfindsitselfdriventodotheapocalypsedifferentlynow,thanthe
followingstatementbyDerrida:
Wearetalkingaboutatrauma,andthusanevent,whosetemporalityproceedsneitherfromthenowthat
ispresentnorfromthepresentthatispastbutfromanimpresentabletocome(venir).Aweapon
woundsandleavesforeveropenanunconsciousscarbutthisweaponisterrifyingbecauseitcomesfrom
thetocome,fromthefuture,afuturesoradicallytocomethatitresistseventhegrammarofthe
futureanterior[emphasisadded].[28]
NeverbeforethisdidthereseemtohavebeensuchcauseforthenewlyapprehensiveapocalyptictoneinDerrida.
Theshiftisprecipitatedbywhatisglimpsedinthewordswehaveitalicizedintheabovequotation.Theyare
clearenough:inatimeofapocalypse,thesimpletensesmaybecomemoreaptthanthecomplexones.
<25>Ifweoverstateoroverdramatizethisshiftintenseandtone,itiswithapurpose:tobringtostark
definitiontherealizationthattalkoftheposthumanouscannolongerseem,asitmayhavedonetoDerridaina
piquedmomentinSpectersofMarx,theexcitablefuturologicalprattleofthosewhom,ashasbeenseen,he
designatedas"latecomers."Needlesstosay,theremustbesomeembarrassmentthere:athavingtoshifttone,and
atthesensationofsuddenlystartingtocomeacrossaseversomildlyapprehensive.Derridahimselftriesto
taketheedgeofftheintensityofhistonallydifferentconcernwiththeendwhenheasksanapparentlyoffhand
question:"Eithertherewillbeanothersuicidalattempttoharnesstechnologytotheendsofman(fascismin
alliancewithbiogeneticsisperhapsourworstfuture)and/ortechnology,aninhumanwilltopower,will
overpowerhumanity.Isthispropositiontoooppositional,toohuman,toopious?"[29]Perhapsheneednothave
fretted,however,atthisredramatizationofwhathasbeencalledpostmodernism's"dedramatizationoftheend"
[30].Onemaytakeexceptiontothetonesandstylesandintensitiesofvariousapocalypticrhetoricsofour
time,totheirvaryingabilitiestoovercomedepthlessness,tothesensitivityoftheirunderstandingofthe
pathosofthehumanshadingintotheposthumanousbuttheirpertinence,evenamidallthepotentially
impertinentcounteraccusationslevelledateachotherbythedifferentcampssayingsooth,issafe,evenwhile
nothingelseseemstobe.
<26>Ifwearerightinwhatwehaveclaimedaboveonthecurrentlyboostedrelevanceofthesimpletenses,then
itmighthavebecome"unfashionable"torespondcounterintuitively[31].Indeed,hadthediscernibilityofthe
newlyapprehensiveapocalyptictoneinDerrida'swritingontheposthumanousnotbeen"exemplary,"andquiteup
totherecent"fashion,"thiswouldhavebeenthesectioninourpaperwherewewouldhaveneededtoproblematize
thenotionoftheposthuman'slatecoming.Wecouldhavesubjectedit,forinstance,toareadinginformedbythe
29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 15/21
counterintuitivetemporalitiesofthespectropoeticsadvancedbyDerridainSpectersofMarx.Wewouldhavegone
alongwiththetypicallypoststructuralistmodulationofthesimpletensesthroughthedevicesof
auxiliarization,citing,forinstance,GeoffreyBennington'swordsontheanticipationoftheabsoluteevent:"
[The]anticipatorygestureisitselfcomplex:theeventanticipatesonatimewhichitwillturnouttoberight
orappropriate,itwilldragthetimeinwhichitoccursalongtothestagewhichitalreadyrepresents,aheadof
itstimebutitalsoanticipatesonatimeinwhichitwillbepossibletoseethatitalwayswasgoingtoturn
outtobeappropriate,thatthenextstagealreadywas'formedinthewomboftime',asitsveryappearancewill
haveproved"(Bennington'semphasis)[32].YetDerrida'swordsontheresistanceofanewapocalypticstothe
grammarevenofthefutureanteriorisdissuasive.TheysignalachangeinthetonewithwhichDerridaapproaches
endismanditsrhetoric,andsomethingofadiminishedreadinesstoironizethe"postisms,""newisms,"and
"seismisms"devolvinguponanybroachingoftheposthumanous.Itisenoughtomoveustoreassessourowncall
for"acriticalposthumanism"inourpreviousreflectionsuponthetopic:notbecauseacriticalposthumanismis
anylessnecessaryormoremistimednow,butbecausetheresistanceof"stateoftheart"apocalypsetoany
poststructuralistprotocolsinvestinginthelogicofthefutureanteriorneedstobecriticallyrethoughtbefore
poststructuralistcounterintuitivenesscanbereasserted[33].Thispaperthereforeannounces,asitwere,the
urgencyofthatrethinking,whichhasimplicationsforanevaluationofpoststructuralistpertinencesinthetime
oftheposthumanous.Afullerrehearsalofthatrethinking,however,mustbedeferredtoanothercontext,to
anothertime,inapostponementthatcanhoweveratleastdeclareherethatwhatsuddenlygrowsurgentinthe
timeoftheposthumanousisthethoughtnotofthefutureanteriororevenofthesupersedencewhichlineartime
makespossible,buttheintuitionannouncedbyBennington:"Thetimeisalwaysripejustfortheuntimely"
(Bennington'semphasis)[34].Fortheposthumanous,thereisalwaystime.
<27>Inthemeantime,thereremainsoneissuethatneedsaddressing:theweinourtitle,anditssubsequent
appearancewithinquotationmarksatvariouspointsinthetextofouressay.Inthe"ReadingUs"sectionof"The
EndsofMan,"butevenbefore,Derridaspeaksoftheinscrutabilityoftheuseofweandalsoofitsentrenchment
inacertaintraditionofWesternmetaphysics."Thewe,"henotes,"istheunityofabsoluteknowledgeand
anthropology,ofGodandman,ofontotheotheologyandhumanism"(121).We,then,canbesaidinthecontextof
discourseofabsolutesandhumanismandwhenthesearenotsubjecttotheexperienceoftenuousness.Derridais
clearmindedabouttheconsequencesofthat:"Onceonehasgivenuppositingtheweinthemetaphysicalof"we
men"withthemetaphysicaldeterminationsoftheproperofman,itremainsthat...thethinkingoftheproper
ofmanisinseparablefromthequestionofthetruthofBeing."Onewouldpresumablyhavetopass,then,through
Heidegger.Butanditisalmostasunconscionabletoaskthisasitissymptomaticofwhatitisinfactvery
urgenttoaskdoesthatpassageremainaspertinentintheageoftheposthumanous?Doestheposthumanousnot
makeevenHeidegger,withhisfastidiousmusingsonanessenceofthehuman,"quaint"?To"keepwithinan
understandingoftheis"(124),Derridasays,becomesharderwhenthethoughtofacollectivewe"nolonger"
irrupts,when"[w]hatisthreatenedintheextensionofmetaphysicsandtechnology...istheessenceofman"
(128).Wethereforebecomesafarfrominnocentwordatthemomentoftheapprehendingoftheworstandofthe
apocalypticallyposthumanous,whentherealizationthatisuppermostisthatwehaveautoimmunizinglyput
ourselvesinthepositionofproceedingtomakeourselves"quaint."Andquaint,itshouldberememberedhere,
derivesfromoldFrenchcointe,"knowing."Aheavyirony,when,astheepigraphfromLyotardpointsout,weare
hardlyinapositiontoknowtheend,tohearanybodydeploythepastorindeedthefutureanteriorinour
regard,toheara"they[for"we"willnotbearoundtosaywe]were"ora"theywillhavebeen."Atthetimeof
theposthumanousweareas"unbeknownst"anotherwordofLyotard's[35]asever.Wemaywonder,sometimes
vaguely,sometimesintently,aboutapocalypseanditsdoing:whetherthe"Come"invokedattheendofRevelation
orindeed"our"meddlingswithautoimmunitybeckonsomethingthatmightyetbelaterorearlierthananticipated.
Wemayspeculatetoowhethertheywillpresageanythingverydifferentfromwhatwassaid,perhapsnotallthat
29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 16/21
soothly,byalltheeschatologicalvisionsofthepastontheirwaytobecomingallourpresents.Hence,inthe
midstofaneconomyoftheeve,allthatremainsistoconsiderwhethertochangetoneinreflectionofallthe
shifts,astheyarise,of"our"(un)timelymeditationsonthe(un)punctual.
WorksCited
Bennington,Geoffrey.InterruptingDerrida.NewYork:Routledge,2000.
Blanchot,Maurice.TheLastMan.Trans.LydiaDavis.NewYork:ColumbiaUniversityPress,1987.
.TheWritingoftheDisaster.Trans.AnneSmock.Lincoln:UniversityofNebraskaPress,1986.
Borradori,Giovanna."Introduction:TerrorismandtheLegacyoftheEnlightenmentHabermasandDerrida."
PhilosophyinaTimeofTerror:DialogueswithJrgenHabermasandJacquesDerrida.ByGiovannaBorradori.
Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,2003.122.
Derrida,Jacques."AMadnessMustWatchoverThinking."Points...Interviews,19741994.Ed.ElisabethWeber.
Trans.PeggyKamufandothers.Stanford:StanfordUniversityPress,1995.34748.
."TheAforementionedSoCalledHumanGenome."Negotiations:InterventionsandInterviews19712001.Ed.and
trans.ElizabethRottenberg.Stanford:StanfordUniversityPress,2001.199214.
."Autoimmunity:RealandSymbolicSuicidesADialoguewithJacquesDerrida."PhilosophyinaTimeofTerror:
DialogueswithJrgenHabermasandJacquesDerrida.ByGiovannaBorradori.Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,
2003.85136.
.Dissemination.Trans.BarbaraJohnson.Chicago:ChicagoUniversityPress,1981.
."TheEndsofMan."MarginsofPhilosophy.Trans.AlanBass.Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,1982.109
36.
."Thefutureoftheprofessionortheuniversitywithoutcondition(thankstothe'Humanities,'whatcould
takeplacetomorrow."InJacquesDerridaandtheHumanities:ACriticalReader.Ed.TomCohen.Cambridge:
CambridgeUniversityPress,2001.2457.
.Glas.Trans.JohnP.Leavey,Jr.,andRichardRand.Lincoln:UniversityofNebraskaPress,1986.
."NietzscheandtheMachine."Trans.RichardBeardsworth.Negotiations:InterventionsandInterviews1971
2001.Ed.andtrans.ElizabethRottenberg.Stanford:StanfordUniversityPress,2001.21556.
."NoApocalypse,NotNow(fullspeedahead,sevenmissiles,sevenmissives)."Trans.CatherinePorterand
PhilipLewis.Diacritics,Summer1984:2031.
."OfaNewlyArisenApocalypticToneinPhilosophy."InRaisingtheToneofPhilosophy:LateEssaysby
ImmanuelKant,TransformativeCritiquebyJacquesDerrida.Ed.PeterFenves.Baltimore,MD:JohnsHopkins
29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 17/21
UniversityPress,1993.117171.
.OfGrammatology.Trans.GayatriChakravortySpivak.Baltimore:JohnsHopkinsUniversityPress,1974.
."SomeStatementsandTruismsaboutNeologisms,Newisms,Postisms,Parasitisms,andothersmallSeismisms."
InTheStatesofTheory.Ed.DavidCarroll,NewYork:ColumbiaUniversityPress,1989.6394.
.SpectersofMarx:TheStateoftheDebt,theWorkofMourning,andtheNewInternational.Trans.Peggy
Kamuf.NewYork:Routledge,1994.
Foucault,Michel.TheOrderofThings:AnArchaeologyoftheHumanSciences.London:Tavistock,1970.
Fukuyama,Francis.TheEndofHistoryandtheLastMan.NewYork:FreePress,1992.
.OurPosthumanFuture:ConsequencesoftheBiotechnologyRevolution.London:Profile,2002.
Habermas,Jrgen."FundamentalismandTerrorADialoguewithJrgenHabermas."PhilosophyinaTimeofTerror:
DialogueswithJrgenHabermasandJacquesDerrida.ByGiovannaBorradori.Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,
2003.2543.
Hegel,GeorgWilhelmFreidrich.ThePhilosophyofHistory.Trans.J.Sibree.NewYork:Dover,1956.
Heidegger,Martin.TheEndofPhilosophy.Trans.JoanStambaugh.London:SouvenirPress,1975.
."LetteronHumanism."BasicWritings.Ed.DavidFarrellKrell.Rev.edn.London:Routledge,1993.21365.
Herbrechter,Stefan,andIvanCallus."What'sWrongwithPosthumanism?"Rhizomes7(2003).
http://www.rhizomes.net/issue7/callus.htm
Herbrechter,Stefan,andIvanCallus,eds.DisciplineandPractice:TheIrresistibilityofTheory.Lewisburg,PA:
BucknellUniversityPress,2004.Forthcoming.
Husserl,Edmund.PhenomenologyandtheCrisisofPhilosophy.Trans.QuentinLauer.NewYork:HarperandRow,
1965.
Jameson,Fredric,Postmodernism,or,TheCulturalLogicofLateCapitalism.London:Verso,1991.
Kant,Immanuel."OnaNewlyArisenSuperiorToneinPhilosophy."Trans.PeterFenves.InRaisingtheToneof
Philosophy:LateEssaysbyImmanuelKant,TransformativeCritiquebyJacquesDerrida.Ed.PeterFenves.
Baltimore,MD:JohnsHopkinsUniversityPress,1993.5181.
Keep,Christopher.OfTechnologyandApocalypse,or,WhoseIndependenceDay?"Reconstruction4.1(2004).
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/home.htm
Kronick,JosephG."DeconstructionandtheFutureofLiterature(or,WritingintheNuclearAge)."Derridaand
29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 18/21
theFutureofLiterature.NewYork:StateUniversityofNewYorkPress,1999.10141.
LacoueLabarthe,Philippe,andJeanLucNancy.TheLiteraryAbsolute:TheTheoryofLiteratureinGerman
Romanticism.Trans.PhilippeBarnardandCherylLester.NewYork:StateUniversityofNewPress,1988.
Lyotard,JeanFrancois."BeingDonewithNarrativebyCubismandAndrMalraux."InRobertNewman,ed.,
Centuries'Ends,NarrativeMeans.Stanford:StanfordUniversityPress,1996.7988.
.TheInhuman.Trans.GeoffreyBenningtonandRachelBowlby.London:Polity,1991.
.ThePostmodernExplainedtoChildren:Correspondence19821985.Ed.JulianPefanisandMorganThomas.
London:Turnaround,1992.
."Unbeknownst."PostmodernFables.Trans.GeorgesvanderAbbeele.Minnesota:UniversityofMinnesotaPress,
1997.18597.
Marx,Karl,andFriedrichEngels.Trans.SamuelMoore.TheCommunistManifesto.Harmondsworth:Penguin,1967.
Nietzsche,Freidrich.ThusSpakeZarathustra.Trans.A.Tille,rev.M.M.Bozman.NewYork:Dutton,1958.
Rapaport,Herman."DeconstructingApocalypticRhetoric:Ashbery,Derrida,Blanchot,"Criticism27.4(1985):387
400.
.LaterDerrida:ReadingtheRecentWork.NewYork:Routledge,2003.
Scherpe,KlausR."DramatizationandDedramatizationof'theEnd':TheApocalypticConsciousnessofModernity
andPostModernity."Trans.BrentO.Peterson.CulturalCritique5(1986):95130.
Waugh,Evelyn.BridesheadRevisited.Harmondsworth:Penguin,1960.
Notes
[1]JeanFranoisLyotard,"BeingDonewithNarrativebyCubismandAndrMalraux,"inRobertNewman,ed.,
Centuries'Ends,NarrativeMeans(Stanford:StanfordUniversityPress,1996),79.[^]
[2]JacquesDerrida,"TheEndsofMan,"MarginsofPhilosophy,trans.AlanBass(Chicago:UniversityofChicago
Press,1982),136.[^]
[3]JacquesDerrida,SpectersofMarx:TheStateoftheDebt,theWorkofMourning,andtheNewInternational,
trans.PeggyKamuf(NewYork:Routledge,1994),1415.[^]
[4]JeanFranoisLyotard,ThePostmodernExplainedtoChildren:Correspondence19821985,ed.JulianPefanisand
MorganThomas(London:Turnaround,1992),93and24.[^]
[5]SeeJacquesDerrida,"Thefutureoftheprofessionortheuniversitywithoutcondition(thankstothe
29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 19/21
'Humanities,'whatcouldtakeplacetomorrow,"inTomCohen,ed.,JacquesDerridaandtheHumanities:ACritical
Reader(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,2001),2457.[^]
[6]JacquesDerrida,"TheEndsofMan,"inMarginsofPhilosophy,trans.AlanBass(NewYork:Harvester
Wheatsheaf,1982),121.[^]
[7]Inwhatfollows,andasinourtitle,theuseofweandnowwillregularlybekeptwithinquotationmarks.
Thisisbeingdoneinordertoforegroundthefactthatinthecontextscitedtheyarelessthaninnocentterms,
butalsoinanticipationoftheirproblematizationinourconclusion.[^]
[8]Clearly,notallinthelineupbelong,strictly,toa"'50s"generationtheirinclusioncanhoweverbe
permittedifitisacceptedthatwhatisatstakeisasmuchatonalityofFrenchtheory(aboutwhichmoreis
saidlaterintheessay)asaparticular"vintage"ofit.[^]
[9]Wearehereusingtheterm"'50s"generationinechoofDerrida'sownuseof'50sinthepassagequotedfrom
Spectersatthestartofouressay:thoughthereferenceistofigureswhosefirstimportantworkmayhave
appearedinthe60s,Derrida'spointissurelythattheintellectualformationbehindthatworkwas,atleastin
part,theproductofreadingsandofaneducationinformedbytheagendasoftheearlierdecade.[^]
[10]Onthisissue,seeDerrida'scommentsonFranceand"nationalphilosophicalidentity"in"TheEndsofMan"
(particularlythefirsttwosections).[^]
[11]SeeDerrida,"Thefutureoftheprofession,"50.[^]
[12]JacquesDerrida,"OfaNewlyArisenApocalypticToneinPhilosophy,"RaisingtheToneofPhilosophy:Late
EssaysbyImmanuelKant,TransformativeCritiquebyJacquesDerrida,ed.PeterFenves(Baltimore,MD:Johns
HopkinsUniversityPress,1993),122.[^]
[13]ChristopherKeep,"OfTechnologyandApocalypse,or,WhoseIndependenceDay?"Reconstruction4.1(2004).
Availableonline:http://reconstruction.eserver.org/home.htm[^]
[14]JacquesDerrida,"NoApocalypse,NotNow(fullspeedahead,sevenmissiles,sevenmissives),"trans.
CatherinePorterandPhilipLewis,diacritics,Summer1984:2728.[^]
[15]SeePhilippeLacoueLabartheandJeanLucNancy,TheLiteraryAbsolute:TheTheoryofLiteratureinGerman
Romanticism,trans.PhilippeBarnardandCherylLester(NewYork:StateUniversityofNewPress,1988).For
furtherreflectionsonthistheme,seeJosephG.Kronick,"DeconstructionandtheFutureofLiterature(or,
WritingintheNuclearAge),"inDerridaandtheFutureofLiterature(NewYork:StateUniversityofNewYork
Press,1999),10141.[^]
[16]JacquesDerrida,"NietzscheandtheMachine,"trans.RichardBeardsworth,inNegotiations:Interventionsand
Interviews19712001,ed.andtrans.ElizabethRottenberg(Stanford:StanfordUniversityPress,2001),219.[^]
[17]Derrida,"OfANewlyArisenApocalypticToneinPhilosophy,"12223.[^]
29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 20/21
[18]SeeHermanRapaport,LaterDerrida:ReadingtheRecentWork(NewYork:Routledge,2003).[^]
[19]JacquesDerrida,"TheAforementionedSoCalledHumanGenome,"inNegotiations,202.[^]
[20]GiovannaBorradori,"Introduction:TerrorismandtheLegacyoftheEnlightenmentHabermasandDerrida,"in
PhilosophyinaTimeofTerror:DialogueswithJrgenHabermasandJacquesDerrida(Chicago:Universityof
ChicagoPress,2003),21.[^]
[21]JrgenHabermas,"FundamentalismandTerrorADialoguewithJrgenHabermas,"inBorradori,Philosophyina
TimeofTerror,26.[^]
[22]ThequotationsfromDerridaaretakenfrom"Autoimmunity:RealandSymbolicSuicidesADialoguewithJacques
Derrida,"inBorradori,PhilosophyinaTimeofTerror,9697,99,101,and189.[^]
[23]See,apartfromthementionofworstbeingheld"inreserve,"thatwhichoccursinDerrida'sargument
(discussionofwhichisnotquiterelevantinthiscontext)onhow"theworst...isalsothebest"
"Autoimmunity,"124(Derrida'semphasis).[^]
[24]SeeJacquesDerrida,"AMadnessMustWatchoverThinking,"inPoints...Interviews,19741994,ed.
ElisabethWeber,trans.PeggyKamufandothers(Stanford:StanfordUniversityPress,1995),34748.[^]
[25]Derrida,"Autoimmunity,"106.[^]
[26]Derrida,"Autoimmunity,"94.[^]
[27]SeeMauriceBlanchot,TheWritingoftheDisaster,trans.AnneSmock(Lincoln:UniversityofNebraskaPress,
1986),andHermanRapaport,"DeconstructingApocalypticRhetoric:Ashbery,Derrida,Blanchot,"Criticism27.4
(1985):390.[^]
[28]Derrida,"Autoimmunity,"97.[^]
[29]Derrida,"NietzscheandtheMachine,"253.[^]
[30]KlausR.Scherpe,"DramatizationandDedramatizationof'theEnd':TheApocalypticConsciousnessof
ModernityandPostModernity,"trans.BrentO.Peterson,CulturalCritique5(1986):102.[^]
[31]WeareusingunfashionablehereinthesenseusedbyGeoffreyBenningtoninInterruptingDerrida(NewYork:
Routledge,2000),129asensetodowiththehopeofacademicdiscoursethatitwillbeable"tosetthetone
again."
[32]Bennington,133.[^]
[33]Seeour"extroduction"toStefanHerbrechterandIvanCallus,eds,DisciplineandPractice:The
IrResistibilityofTheory(Lewisburg,PA:BucknellUniversityPressforthcoming),andalsoour"What'sWrong
withPosthumanism?"inRhizomes7(2003).Availableonline:http://www.rhizomes.net/issue7/callus.htm[^]
29/4/2014 The Latecoming of the Posthuman
http://reconstruction.eserver.org/043/callus.htm 21/21
[34]Bennington,130.[^]
[35]SeeJeanFranoisLyotard,"Unbeknownst,"inPostmodernFables,trans.GeorgesvanderAbbeele(Minnesota:
UniversityofMinnesotaPress,1997),18597.[^]