TARRYING with the NEGATIVE

Kant, Hegel, and the Critique of Ideology

Slavoj iek Duke University Press Durham 1993 -iiiFourth printing, 199 ! 1993 Duke University Press "ll rights reserve# Printe# in the Unite# States o$ "meri%a on a%i#-$ree paper &' (ypeset in Dante )y *eystone (ypesetting, +n%, -i)rary o$ .ongress .ataloging-in-Pu)li%ation Data appear on the last printe# page o$ this )ook, -ivLacking strength, Beauty hates the Understanding for asking of her what it cannot do. But the life of Spirit is not the life that shrinks from death and keeps itself untouched by devastation, but rather the life that endures it and maintains itself in it. It wins its truth only when, in utter dismemberment, it finds itself. This tarrying with the negative is the magical power that converts it into being,-- . !. ". #egel, /$reface% to Phenomenology o$ Spirit -v-

Contents
Introdu tion 1 9 67

! C"GIT"# THE V"I$ CA%%E$ &'()ECT

1 /+ or 0e or +t 1the (hing2 3hi%h (hinks/ 4 &ogito an# the Se5ual Di$$eren%e

II ERG"# THE $IA%ECTICA% N"N&E*'IT'R

3 8n 9a#i%al :vil an# 9elate# ;atters -vii6 0egel<s /-ogi% o$ :ssen%e/ as a (heory o$ +#eology 147 3

III &'+# THE %"", "EN)"Y+ENT

7 /(he 3oun# +s 0eale# 8nly )y the Spear (hat Smote =ou/ 1>7 > :njoy =our ?ation as =oursel$@ Notes Inde. -viii-

4AA 439 4 B

Introdu tion
(he most su)lime image that emerge# in the politi%al upheavals o$ the last years-- an# the term /su)lime/ is to )e %on%eive# here in the stri%test *antian sense-- Cas un#ou)te#ly the uniDue pi%ture $rom the time o$ the violent overthroC o$ &eau'sescu in 9omaniaE the re)els Caving the national $lag Cith the re# star, the .ommunist sym)ol, %ut out, so that instea# o$ the sym)ol stan#ing $or the organiFing prin%iple o$ the national li$e, there Cas nothing )ut a hole in its %enter, +t is #i$$i%ult to imagine a more salient in#e5 o$ the/open/ %hara%ter o$ a histori%al situation/in its )e%oming,/ as *ierkegaar# Coul# have put it, o$ that interme#iate phase Chen the $ormer ;aster-Signi$ier, although it has alrea#y lost the hegemoni%al poCer, has not yet )een repla%e# )y the neC one, (he su)lime enthusiasm this pi%ture )ears Citness to is in no Cay a$$e%te# )y the $a%t that Ce noC knoC hoC the events Cere a%tually manipulate# 1ultimately it ha# to #o Cith a %oup o$ Se%uritate, the .ommunist se%ret poli%e, against itsel$, against its oCn signi$ier' that is, the ol# apparatus survive# )y %asting o$$ its sym)oli% %lothing2E $or us as Cell as $or most o$ the parti%ipants themselves, all this )e%ame visi)le in retrospe%t, an# Chat really matters is that the masses Cho poure# into the streets o$ Gu%harest/e5perien%e#/ the situation as/open,/ that they parti%ipate# in the uniDue interme#iate state o$ passage $rom one #is%ourse 1so%ial link2 to another, Chen, $or a )rie$, passing moment, the hole in the )ig 8ther, the sym)oli% or#er, )e%ame visi)le, (he enthusiasm Chi%h %arrie# them Cas literally the enthusiasm over this hole, not yet hegemoniFe# )y any positive i#eologi%al proje%t' all i#eologi%al appropria-1tions 1$rom the nationalisti% to the li)eral-#emo%rati%2 entere# the stage a$terCar#s an# en#eavore# to/ki#nap/ the pro%ess Chi%h originally Cas not their oCn, "t this point, perhaps, the enthusiasm o$ the masses an# the attitu#e o$ a %riti%al intelle%tual overlap $or a )rie$ moment, "n# the #uty o$ the %riti%al intelle%tual-- i$, in to#ay<s/postmo#ern/ universe, this syntagm has any meaning le$t-- is pre%isely to occupy all the time, even Chen the neC or#er 1the/neC harmony/2 sta)iliFes itsel$ an# again ren#ers invisi)le the hole as su%h, the place of this hole, i,e,, to maintain a #istan%e toCar# every reigning ;aster-Signi$ier, +n this pre%ise sense, -a%an points out that, in the passage $rom one #is%ourse 1so%ial link2 to another, the/#is%ourse o$ the analyst/ alCays emerges $or a )rie$ momentE the aim o$ this #is%ourse is pre%isely to/pro#u%e/ the ;aster-Signi$ier, that is to say, to ren#er visi)le its/pro#u%e#,/ arti$i%ial, %ontingent %hara%ter, 1 (his maintaining o$ a #istan%e Cith regar# to the ;aster-Signi$ier %hara%teriFes the )asi% attitu#e o$ philosophy, +t is no a%%i#ent that -a%an, in his Seminar on (rans$eren%e, re$ers to So%rates,/the $irst philosopher,/ as the para#igm o$ the analystE in Plato<s Symposium, So%rates re$uses to )e i#enti$ie# Cith agalma, the hi##en treasure in himsel$, Cith the unknoCn ingre#ient responsi)le $or the ;aster<s %harisma, an# persists in the voi# $ille# out )y agalma, 4 +t is against this )a%kgroun# that Ce have to lo%ate the /amaFement/ that marks the origins o$ philosophyE philosophy )egins the moment Ce #o not simply a%%ept Chat e5ists as given 1/+t<s like that@/, /-aC is laC@/, et%,2, )ut raise the Duestion o$ hoC is Chat Ce en%ounter as a%tual also possi)le, 3hat %hara%teriFes philosophy is this/step )a%k/ $rom a%tuality into possi)ility-- the attitu#e )est ren#ere# )y "#orno<s an# 0orkheimer<s motto

Duote# )y Fre#ri% HamesonE/?ot +taly itsel$ is given here, )ut the proo$ that it e5ists,/ 3 ?othing is more antiphilosophi%al than the Cell-knoCn ane%#ote a)out Diogenes the %yni% Cho, Chen %on$ronte# Cith the :leati% proo$s o$ the none5isten%e an# inherent impossi)ility o$ movement, ansCere# )y simply stan#ing up an# taking a Calk, 1"s 0egel points out, the stan#ar# version o$ this ane%#ote passes over in silen%e its #enouementE Diogenes soun#ly thrashe# his pupil Cho applau#e# the ;aster<s gesture, punishing him $or a%%epting the re$eren%e to a pretheoreti%al factum brutum as a proo$,2 (heory involves the poCer to a)stra%t $rom our starting point in or#er to re%onstru%t it su)seDuently on the )asis o$ its presuppositions, its trans%en#ental/%on#itions o$ possi)ility/-- theory as su%h, )y #e$inition, reDuires the suspension o$ the ;aster-Signi$ier, +n this pre%ise sense, 9o#olphe Ias%hJ is $ully justi$ie# in %laiming that -4Derri#a remains thoroughly a/trans%en#ental/ philosopherE notions like differance, supplement, et%,, en#eavor to provi#e an ansCer to the Duestion o$ the/%on#itions o$ possi)ility/ o$ the philosophi%al #is%ourse, 6 (hat is to say, the strategy o$ the Derri#ean/#e%onstru%tion/ is not to #ilute philosophi%al stringen%y in the unrestraine# play$ulness o$/Criting,/ )ut to un#ermine the philosophi%al pro%e#ure )y means o$ its most rigorous sel$appli%ationE its aim is to #emonstrate that the/%on#ition o$ impossi)ility/ o$ a philosophi%al system 1i,e,, Chat, Cithin the horiFon o$ this system, appears as the hin#ran%e to )e surmounte#, the se%on#ary moment to )e su)#ue#2 a%tually $un%tions as its inherent %on#ition o$ possi)ility 1there is no pure logos Cithout Criting, no origin Cithout its supplement, et%,2, "n# Chy shoul# Ce not also %laim $or -a%an the title o$/trans%en#ental philosopher/K +s not his entire Cork an en#eavor to ansCer the Duestion o$ hoC desire is possi)leK Does he not o$$er a kin# o$/%ritiDue o$ pure #esire,/ o$ the pure $a%ulty o$ #esiringK 7 "re not all his $un#amental %on%epts so many keys to the enigma o$ #esireK Desire is %onstitute# )y/sym)oli% %astration,/ the original loss o$ the Thing' the voi# o$ this loss is $ine# out )y ob(et petit a, the $antasy-o)je%t' this loss o%%urs on a%%ount o$ our )eing /em)e##e#/ in the sym)oli% universe Chi%h #erails the /natural/ %ir%uit o$ our nee#s' et%,, et%, (his thesis that -a%an is essentially a philosopher seems nonetheless all too haFar#ous, sin%e it )latantly %ontra#i%ts -a%an<s repeate# statements Chi%h e5pli%itly #ismiss philosophy as a version o$ the /#is%ourse o$ the ;aster,/ > Di# -a%an not emphasiFe again an# again the ra#i%ally antiphilosophi%al %hara%ter o$ his tea%hing, up to the patheti% /He m<insurge %ontre la philosophie/ $rom the last years o$ his li$eK 0oCever, things get %ompli%ate# the moment Ce re%all that it is alrea#y the post-0egelian philosophy itsel$ Chi%h, in its three main )ran%hes 1analyti%al philosophy, phenomenology, ;ar5ism2, %on%eives o$ itsel$ as /antiphilosophy,/ /notanymore-philosophy,/ +n his erman Ideology, ;ar5 mo%kingly o)serves that philosophy relates to /a%tual li$e/ as mastur)ation to se5ual a%t' the positivist tra#ition %laims to repla%e philosophy 1metaphysi%s2 Cith the s%ienti$i% analysis o$ %on%epts' the 0ei#eggerian phenomenologists en#eavor to /pass through philosophy/ toCar# the post-philosophi%al /thought,/ +n short, Chat is to#ay pra%ti%e# as /philosophy/ are pre%isely #i$$erent attempts to /#e%onstru%t/ something re$erre# to as the %lassi%al philosophi%al %orpus 1/metaphysi%s,/ /logo%entrism,/ et%,2, 8ne is there$ore tempte# to risk the hypothesis that Chat -a%an<s /antiphilosophy/ -3-

opposes is this very philosophy Dua antiphilosophyE Chat i$ -a%an<s oCn theoreti%al practice involves a kin# o$ return to philosophy) "%%or#ing to "lain Ga#iou, Ce live to#ay in the age o$ the /neC sophists,/ B (he tCo %ru%ial )reaks in the history o$ philosophy, Plato<s an# *ant<s, o%%urre# as a rea%tion to neC relativisti% attitu#es Chi%h threatene# to #emolish the tra#itional %orpus o$ knoCle#geE in Plato<s %ase, the logi%al argumentation o$ the sophists un#ermine# the mythi%al $oun#ations o$ the tra#itional mores' in *ant<s %ase, empiri%ists 1su%h as 0ume2 un#ermine# the $oun#ations o$ the -ei)niFean-3ol$ian rationalist metaphysi%s, +n )oth %ases, the solution o$$ere# is not a return to the tra#itional attitu#e )ut a neC $oun#ing gesture Chi%h/)eats the sophists at their oCn game,/ i,e,, Chi%h surmounts the relativism o$ the sophists )y Cay o$ its oCn ra#i%aliFation 1 Plato a%%epts the argumentative pro%e#ure o$ the sophists' *ant a%%epts 0ume<s )urial o$ the tra#itional metaphysi%s2, "n# it is our hypothesis that -a%an opens up the possi)ility o$ another repetition o$ the same gesture, (hat is to say, the/postmo#ern theory/ Chi%h pre#ominates to#ay is a mi5ture o$ neopragmatism an# #e%onstru%tion )est epitomiFe# )y names su%h as 9orty or -yotar#' their Corks emphasiFe the/antiessentialist/ re$usal o$ universal Foun#ation, the #issolving o$/truth/ into an e$$e%t o$ plural languagegames, the relativiFation o$ its s%ope to histori%ally spe%i$ie# intersu)je%tive %ommunity, et%,, et%, +solate# #esperate en#eavors o$ a/postmo#ern/ return to the Sa%re# are Dui%kly re#u%e# to just another language game, to another Cay Ce/tell stories a)out ourselves,/ -a%an, hoCever, is not part o$ this/postmo#ern theory/E in this respe%t, his position is homologous to that o$ Plato or *ant, (he per%eption o$ -a%an as an/anti-essentialist/ or/#e%onstru%tionist/ $alls prey to the same illusion as that o$ per%eiving Plato as just one among the sophists, Plato a%%epts $rom the sophists their logi% o$ #is%ursive argumentation, )ut uses it to a$$irm his %ommitment to (ruth' *ant a%%epts the )reak#oCn o$ the tra#itional metaphysi%s, )ut uses it to per$orm his trans%en#ental turn' along the same lines, -a%an a%%epts the/#e%onstru%tionist/ moti$ o$ ra#i%al %ontingen%y, )ut turns this moti$ against itsel$, using it to assert his %ommitment to (ruth as %ontingent, For that very reason, #e%onstru%tionists an# neopragmatists, in #ealing Cith -a%an, are alCays )othere# )y Chat they per%eive as some remain#er o$/essentialism/ 1in the guise o$/phallogo%entrism,/ et%,2-- as i$ -a%an Cere un%annily %lose to them, )ut somehoC not/one o$ them,/ (o ask/+s -a%an one among the postmo#ern neC sophistsK/ is to pose a -6Duestion $ar )eyon# the te#ium o$ a spe%ialiFe# a%a#emi% #is%ussion, 8ne is tempte# to risk a hyper)ole an# to a$$irm that, in a sense, everything, $rom the $ate o$ so-%alle#/3estern %iviliFation/ up to the survival o$ humanity in the e%ologi%al %risis, hangs on the ansCer to this relate# DuestionE is it possi)le to#ay, apropos o$ the postmo#ern age o$ neC sophists, to repeat mutatis mutan#is the *antian gestureK -7-

,ART I C"GIT" The Void Called &u/0e t

-B-

! I or He or It 1the Thing2 3hi h Thin4s

The Noir &u/0e t555
8ne Cay to take note o$ the histori%al gap separating the 19 As $rom the 197As is to %ompare the %lassi% film noir to the neC Cave o$ noir in the eighties, 3hat + have in min# here are not primarily #ire%t or in#ire%t remakes 1the tCo *+,<s' ,gainst ,ll +dds as a remake o$ +ut of the $ast- Body #eat as a remake o$ *ouble Indemnity- .o !ay +ut as a remake o$ The Big &lock, et%,, up to Basic Instinct as a #istant remake o$ /ertigo2 1 )ut rather those $ilms Chi%h en#eavor to resus%itate the noir universe )y Cay o$ %om< )ining it Cith another genre, as i$ noir to#ay is a vampirelike entity Chi%h, in or#er to survive, nee#s an in$lu5 o$ $resh )loo# $rom other sour%es, (Co %ases are e5emplary hereE "lan Parker<s ,ngel #eart, Chi%h %om)ines noir Cith the o%%ult-supernatural, an# 9i#ley S%ott<s Blade 0unner, Chi%h %om)ines noir Cith s%ien%e $i%tion, .inema theory has $or a long time )een haunte# )y the DuestionE is noir a genre o$ its oCn or a kin# o$ anamorphi% #istortion a$$e%ting #i$$erent genresK From the very )eginning, noir Cas not limite# to har#-)oile# #ete%tive storiesE rever)erations o$ noir moti$s are easily #is%erni)le in %ome#ies 1,rsenic and +ld Lace2, in Cesterns 1$ursued2, in politi%al an# so%ial #ramas 1,ll the 1ing2s 3en, The Lost !eekend2, et%, Do Ce have here a se%on#ary impa%t o$ something that originally %onstitutes a genre o$ its oCn 1the noir %rime universe2, or is the %rime $ilm only one o$ the possi)le $iel#s o$ appli%ation o$ the noir logi%K (hat is, is noir a pre#i%ate that entertains toCar# the %rime universe the same relationship as toCar# -9%ome#y or Cestern, a kin# o$ logi%al operator intro#u%ing the same anamorphi% #istortion in every genre to Chi%h it is applie#, so that $in#ing its strongest appli%ation in the %rime $ilm turns on nothing )ut histori%al %ontingen%yK (o raise these Duestions in no Cay means in#ulging in hairsplitting sophistryE our thesis is that the /proper,/ #ete%tive noir as it Cere arrives at its truth-- in 0egeleseE realiFes its notion-- only )y Cay o$ its $usion Cith another genre, spe%i$i%ally s%ien%e $i%tion or the o%%ult, 3hat, then, #o Blade 0unner an# ,ngel #eart have in %ommonK Goth $ilms #eal Cith memory an# su)verte# personal i#entityE the hero, the har#-)oile# investigator, is sent on a Duest Chose $inal out%ome involves #is%overing that he himsel$ Cas $rom the very )eginning impli%ate# in the o)je%t o$ his Duest, +n ,ngel #eart, he as%ertains that the #ea# singer he Cas looking $or is none other than himsel$ 1in an o%%ult ritual per$orme# long ago, he e5%hange# hearts an# souls Cith an e5-sol#ier, Cho he noC thinks he is2, +n Blade 0unner, he is a$ter a group o$ repli%ants at large in -,", o$ 4A14' upon a%%omplishing his mission, he is tol# that he

is himsel$ a repli%ant, (he out%ome o$ the Duest is there$ore in )oth %ases the ra#i%al un#ermining o$ sel$-i#entity mastermin#e# )y a mysterious, all-poCer$ul agen%y, in the $irst %ase the Devil himsel$ 1/-ouis .ipher/2, in the se%on# %ase the (yrell %orporation, Chi%h su%%ee#e# in $a)ri%ating repli%ants unaCare o$ their repli%ant status, i,e,, repli%ants misper%eiving themselves as humans, 4 (he Corl# #epi%te# in )oth $ilms is the Corl# in Chi%h the %orporate .apital su%%ee#e# in penetrating an# #ominating the very $antasykernel o$ our )eingE none o$ our $eatures is really /ours/' even our memories an# $antasies are arti$i%ially plante#, +t is as i$ Fre#ri% Hameson<s thesis on postmo#ernism as the epo%h in Chi%h .apital %oloniFes the last resorts hitherto e5%lu#e# $rom its %ir%uit is here )rought to its hyper)oli% %on%lusionE the $usion o$ .apital an# *noCle#ge )rings a)out a neC type o$ proletarian, as it Cere the a)solute proletarian )ere$t o$ the last po%kets o$ private resistan%e' everything, up to the most intimate memories, is plante#, so that Chat remains is noC literally the voi# o$ pure su)stan%eless su)je%tivity 1substan4lose Sub(ektivitaet-- ;ar5<s #e$inition o$ the proletarian2, +roni%ally, one might say that Blade 0unner is a $ilm a)out the emergen%e o$ %lass %ons%iousness, (his truth is %on%eale#, in one $ilm metaphori%ally, in the other metonymi%allyE in ,ngel #eart, %orporate .apital is su)stitute# )y the metaphori%al $igure o$ the Devil, Chereas in Blade 0unner, a metonymi%al impe#iment prevents the $ilm $rom %arrying out its inherent logi%, (hat is to say, -1Athe #ire%tor<s %ut o$ Blade 0unner #i$$ers in tCo %ru%ial $eatures $rom the version release# in 19 4E there is no voi%eover, an# at the en#, De%kar# 10arrison For#2 #is%overs that he also is a repli%ant, 3 Gut even in the tCo release# versions, espe%ially in the version release# in 1994, a Chole series o$ $eatures points toCar# De%kar#<s true statusE strong a%%ent $alls on the visual parallelism )etCeen De%kar# an# -eon *oCalski, a repli%ant Duestione# in the (yrell )uil#ing at the )eginning o$ the $ilm' a$ter De%kar# proves to 9a%hael 1Sean =oung2 that she is a repli%ant )y Duoting her most intimate %hil#-re%olle%tions she #i# not share Cith anyone, the %amera provi#es a )rie$ survey o$ his personal mythologies 1ol# %hil#hoo# pi%tures on the piano, his #ream-re%olle%tion o$ a uni%orn2, Cith a %lear impli%ation that they also are $a)ri%ate#, not /true/ memories or #reams, so that Chen 9a%hael mo%kingly asks him i$ he also un#erCent the repli%ant test, the Duestion resoun#s Cith ominous un#ertones' the patroniFing-%yni%al attitu#e o$ the poli%eman Cho serves as De%kar#<s %onta%t to the poli%e %hie$, as Cell as the $a%t that he makes small paper mo#els o$ uni%orns, %learly in#i%ates his aCareness that De%kar# is a repli%ant 1an# Ce %an sa$ely surmise that in the true #ire%tor<s %ut he vi%iously in$orms De%kar# o$ this $a%t2, (he para#o5 here is that the su)versive e$$e%t 1the )lurring o$ the line o$ #istin%tion )etCeen humans an# an#roi#s2 hinges on the narrative %losure, on the loop )y means o$ Chi%h the )eginning metaphori%ally augurs the 1en# 1Chen, at the )eginning o$ the $ilm, De%kar# replays the tape o$ *oCalski<s interrogation, he is yet unaCare that at the en# he Cill himsel$ o%%upy *oCalski<s pla%e2, Chereas the evasion o$ the narrative %losure 1in the 19 4 version, the hints o$ De%kar#<s repli%ant status are )arely per%epti)le2 $un%tions as a %on$ormist %ompromise Chi%h %uts o$$ the su)versive e#ge, 0oC, then, are Ce to #iagnose the position o$ the hero at the en# o$ his Duest, a$ter the re%overy o$ memory #eprives him o$ his very sel$-i#entityK +t is here that the gap separating the %lassi%al noir $rom the noir o$ the eighties emerges in its purest $orm, (o#ay, even the mass me#ia is aCare o$ the e5tent to Chi%h our per%eption o$ reality, in%lu#ing the reality o$ our innermost sel$-e5perien%e, #epen#s upon sym)oli% $i%tions, Su$$i%e it to Duote $rom a

re%ent issue o$ Time magaFineE /Stories are pre%ious, in#ispensa)le, :veryone must have his history, her narrative, =ou #o not knoC Cho you are until you possess the imaginative version o$ yoursel$, =ou almost #o not e5ist Cithout it,/ .lassi%al noirs remain Cithin these %on$inesE they a)oun# Cith %ases o$ amnesia in Chi%h the hero #oes not knoC Cho he is or Chat he #i# #uring his )la%kout, =et amnesia is here a -11#e$i%ien%y measure# )y the stan#ar# o$ integration into the $iel# o$ intersu)je%tivity, o$ sym)oli% %ommunityE a su%%ess$ul re%olle%tion means that, )y Cay o$ organiFing his li$ee5perien%e into a %onsistent narrative, the hero e5or%iFes the #ark #emons o$ the past, Gut in the universe o$ Blade 0unner or ,ngel #eart, re%olle%tion #esignates something in%ompara)ly more ra#i%alE the total loss o$ the hero<s sym)oli% i#entity, 0e is $or%e# to assume that he is not Chat he thought himsel$ to )e, )ut some)o#y-something else, For that reason, the /#ire%tor<s %ut/ o$ Blade 0unner is $ully justi$ie# in #ispensing Cith the voi%e-o$$ o$ De%kar# 1homophonous Cith Des%artes@2E in the noir universe, the voi%e-o$$ narrative realiFes the integration o$ the su)je%t<s e5perien%e into the )ig 8ther, the $iel# o$ intersu)je%tive sym)oli% tra#ition, 8ne o$ the %ommonpla%es a)out the %lassi% noir sets its philosophi%al )a%kgroun# in Fren%h e5istentialism' hoCever, in or#er to grasp the impli%ations o$ the ra#i%al shi$t at Cork in the noir o$ the eighties, one has to rea%h )a%k $arther, to the .artesian-*antian pro)lemati% o$ the su)je%t Dua pure, su)stan%eless /+ think,/

555"ut of )oint
Des%artes Cas the $irst to intro#u%e a %ra%k in the ontologi%ally %onsistent universeE %ontra%ting a)solute %ertainty to the pun%tum o$ /+ think/ opens up, $or a )rie$ moment, the hypothesis o$ :vil Ienius 1le malin genie2 Cho, )ehin# my )a%k, #ominates me an# pulls the strings o$ Chat + e5perien%e as /reality/-- the prototype o$ the S%ientist-;aker Cho %reates an arti$i%ial man, $rom Dr, Frankenstein to (yrell in Blade 0unner, 0oCever, )y re#u%ing his cogito to res cogitans, Des%artes, as it Cere, pat%hes up the Coun# he %ut into the te5ture o$ reality, 8nly *ant $ully arti%ulates the inherent para#o5es o$ sel$-%ons%iousness, 3hat *ant<s /trans%en#ental turn/ ren#ers mani$est is the impossi)ility o$ lo%ating the su)je%t in the /great %hain o$ )eing,/ into the 3hole o$ the universe-- all those notions o$ the universe as a harmonious 3hole in Chi%h every element has its oCn pla%e 1to#ay, they a)oun# in e%ologi%al i#eology2, +n %ontrast to it, su)je%t is in the most ra#i%al sense /out o$ joint/' it %onstitutively la%ks its oCn pla%e, Chi%h is Chy -a%an #esignates it )y the mathem L, the /)arre#/ S, +n Des%artes, this /out o$ joint/ state is still %on%eale#, (he .artesian universe stays Cithin the %on$ines o$ Chat Fou%ault, in his The +rder of Things, %alle# /%lassi%al episteme,/ that epistemologi%al $iel# regulate# )y -14the pro)lemati% o$ representations-- their %ausal en%hainment, their %larity an# evi#en%e, the %onne%tion )etCeen representation an# represente# %ontent, et%, 6 Upon rea%hing the point o$ a)solute %ertainty in cogito ergo sum, Des%artes #oes not yet %on%eive o$ the cogito as

%orrelative to the Chole o$ reality, i,e,, as the point e5ternal to reality, e5empte# $rom it, Chi%h #elineates reality<s horiFon 1in the sense o$ 3ittgenstein<s CellknoCn Tractatus metaphor on the eye that %an never )e part o$ the seen reality2, 9ather than the autonomous agent Chi%h /spontaneously/ %onstitutes the o)je%tive Corl# oppose# to itsel$, the .artesian cogito is a representation Chi%h, )y $olloCing the inherent notional en%hainment, lea#s us to other, superior representations, (he su)je%t $irst as%ertains that cogito is a representation Chi%h )elongs to an inherently #e$i%ient )eing 1#ou)t is a sign o$ imper$e%tion2' as su%h, it entails the representation o$ a per$e%t )eing $ree o$ in%ertitu#e, Sin%e it is o)vious that a #e$i%ient, in$erior entity or representation %annot )e the %ause o$ a superior entity or representation, the per$e%t )eing 1Io#2 ha# to e5ist, (he vera%ious nature o$ Io# $urthermore assures the relia)ility o$ our representations o$ e5ternal reality, an# so $orth, +n Des%artes< $inal vision o$ the universe, cogito is there$ore just one among many representations in an intri%ate totality, part o$ reality an# not yet 1or, in 0egelese, only /in itsel$ /2 %orrelative to the Chole o$ reality, 3hat, then, marks the )reak )etCeen Des%artes< cogito an# *ant<s /+/ o$ trans%en#ental apper%eptionK (he key to it is o$$ere# )y *ant<s 3ittgensteinian remark, aime# at Des%artes, that it is not legitimate to use /+ think/ as a %omplete phrase, sin%e it %alls $or a %ontinuation-/+ think that,,,1it Cill rain, you are right, Ce shall Cin,,,2,/ "%%or#ing to *ant, Des%artes $alls prey to the /su)reption o$ the hypostasiFe# %ons%iousness/E he Crongly %on%lu#es that, in the empty /+ think/ Chi%h a%%ompanies every representation o$ an o)je%t, Ce get hol# o$ a positive phenomenal entity, res cogitans 1a /small pie%e o$ the Corl#,/ as 0usserl put it2, Chi%h thinks an# is transparent to itsel$ in its %apa%ity to think, +n other Cor#s, sel$%ons%iousness ren#ers sel$-present an# sel$-transparent the /thing/ in me Chi%h thinks, 3hat is lost there)y is the topologi%al #is%or# )etCeen the $orm /+ think/ an# the su)stan%e Chi%h thinks, i,e,, the #istin%tion )etCeen the analyti%al proposition on the i#entity o$ the logi%al su)je%t o$ thought, %ontaine# in /+ think,/ an# the syntheti%al proposition on the i#entity o$ a person Dua thinking thing-su)stan%e, Gy arti%ulating this #istin%tion, *ant logi%ally precedes Des%artesE he )rings to light a kin# o$ /vanishing me#ia-13tor,/ a moment Chi%h has to #isappear i$ the .artesian res cogitans is to emerge 1 .P9, " 376-7>2, 7 (his *antian #istin%tion is revive# )y -a%an in the guise o$ the #istin%tion )etCeen the su)je%t o$ the enun%iation 1su(et de l25nonciation2 an# the su)je%t o$ the enun%iate# 1su(et de I25nonc52E the -a%anian su)je%t o$ the enun%iation 1L2 is also an empty, nonsu)stantial logi%al varia)le 1not $un%tion2, Chereas the su)je%t o$ the enun%iate# 1the /person/2 %onsists o$ the $antasmati% /stu$$/ Chi%h $ills out the voi# o$ L, (his gap Chi%h separates the empiri%al +<s sel$-e5perien%e $rom the + o$ trans%en#ental apper%eption %oin%i#es Cith the #istin%tion )etCeen e5isten%e Dua e5periential reality an# e5isten%e Dua logi%al %onstru%tion, i,e,, e5isten%e in the mathemati%al sense 1/there e5ists an M Chi%h,,,/2, (he status o$ *ant<s + o$ trans%en#ental apper%eption is that o$ a necessary an# simultaneously impossible logi%al %onstru%tion 1/impossi)le/ in the pre%ise sense that its notion %an never )e $ille# out Cith intuite# e5periential reality2, in shortE o$ the -a%anian real, Des%artes< error Cas pre%isely to %on$use e5periential reality Cith logi%al %onstru%tion Dua the real-impossi)le, > *ant<s reasoning is here $ar more re$ine# than it may appear, +n or#er to appre%iate $ully its $inesse, one has to make use o$ -a%an<s $ormula o$ $antasy 1N a2E /+ think/ only inso$ar as +

am ina%%essi)le to mysel$ Dua noumenal (hing Chi%h thinks, (he (hing is originally lost an# the $antasyo)je%t 1a2 $ills out its voi# 1in this pre%ise *antian sense -a%an remarks that a is /the stu$$ o$ the +/2, B (he a%t o$ /+ think/ is trans-phenomenal, it is not an o)je%t o$ inner e5perien%e or intuition' yet $or all that, it is not a nournenal (hing, )ut rather the voi# o$ its la%kE it is not su$$i%ient to say a)out the + o$ pure apper%eption that /o$ it, apart $rom them Othe thoughts Chi%h are its pre#i%atesP, Ce %annot have any %on%ept Chatsoever/ 1 .P9, " 36>2, 8ne has to a## that this lack of intuited content is constitutive of the I- the inaccessibility to the I of its own %kernel of being% makes it an I, (his is Chat *ant is not Duite %lear a)out, Chi%h is Chy he again an# again yiel#s to the temptation o$ %on%eiving o$ the relationship )etCeen the + o$ pure apper%eption an# the + o$ sel$-e5perien%e as the relationship )etCeen a (hing-initsel$ an# an e5periential phenomenon, 9 3hen, %onseDuently, *ant remarks that, /in the syntheti% original unity o$ apper%eption, + am %ons%ious o$ mysel$, not as + appear to mysel$, nor as + am in mysel$, )ut only that + am/ 1 .P9, G 17B 2, the $irst thing one has to noti%e here is the $un#amental para#o5 o$ this $ormulationE + en%ounter being #evoi# o$ all #eterminations-o$-thought at the very moment Chen, )y Cay o$ the utmost a)stra%tion, + %on$ine mysel$ to the empty $orm -16o$ thought Chi%h a%%ompanies every representation o$ mine, (hus, the empty $orm o$ thought %oin%i#es Cith )eing, Chi%h la%ks any $ormal #etermination-o$-thought, 0ere, hoCever, Chere *ant seems at his %losest to Des%artes, the #istan%e that separates them is in$initeE in *ant, this %oin%i#en%e o$ thought an# )eing in the a%t o$ sel$-%ons%iousness in no Cay implies a%%ess to mysel$ Dua thinking su)stan%eE /(hrough this + or he or it 1the thing2 Chi%h thinks, nothing $urther is represente# than a trans%en#ental su)je%t o$ the thoughts Q M, +t is knoCn only through the thoughts Chi%h are its pre#i%ates, an# o$ it, apart $rom them, Ce %annot have any %on%ept Chatsoever/ 1 .P9, " 36>2, +n shortE Ce %an provi#e no possi)le ansCer to the Duestion /0oC is the (hing Chi%h thinks stru%ture#K/ (he para#o5 o$ sel$-%ons%iousness is that it is possible only against the background of its own impossibilityE + am %ons%ious o$ mysel$ only inso$ar as + am out o$ rea%h to mysel$ Dua the real kernel o$ my )eing 1/+ or he or it 1the thing2 Chi%h thinks/2, + %annot a%Duire %ons%iousness o$ mysel$ in my %apa%ity o$ the /(hing Chi%h thinks,/ 1A +n Blade 0unner, De%kar#, a$ter learning that 9a%hael is a repli%ant Cho 1mis2per%eives hersel$ as human, asks in astonishmentE /0oC %an it not knoC Chat it isK/ 3e %an see, noC, hoC, more than tCo hun#re# years ago, *ant<s philosophy outline# an ansCer to this enigmaE the very notion o$ sel$-%ons%iousness implies the su)je%t<s sel$#e%enterment, Chi%h is $ar more ra#i%al than the opposition )etCeen su)je%t an# o)je%t, (his is Chat *ant<s theory o$ metaphysi%s ultimately is a)outE metaphysi%s en#eavors to heal the Coun# o$ the /primor#ial repression/ 1the ina%%essi)ility o$ the /(hing Chi%h thinks/2 )y allo%ating to the su)je%t a pla%e in the /great %hain o$ )eing,/ 3hat metaphysi%s $ails to noti%e is the pri%e to )e pai# $or this allo%ationE the loss o$ the very %apa%ity it Cante# to a%%ount $or, i,e,, human $ree#om, *ant himsel$ %ommits an error Chen, in his &riti6ue of $ractical 0eason, he %on%eives o$ $ree#om 1the postulate o$ pra%ti%al reason2 as a noumenal (hing' Chat gets o)$us%ate# there)y is his $un#amental insight a%%or#ing to Chi%h + retain my %apa%ity o$ a spontaneous-autonomous agent pre%isely an# only inso$ar as + am not a%%essi)le to mysel$ as a (hing, 8n %loser e5amination, Chat makes up the in%onsisten%ies Chi%h emerge Chen the + o$ pure apper%eption is i#enti$ie# Cith the noumenal Sel$ 1the /(hing Chi%h thinks/2K "s 0enry "llison puts it in his perspi%uous summary o$ StraCson<s %ritiDue o$ *ant, 11 in the %ase o$ this

i#enti$i%ation, the phenomenal + 1the empiri%al su)je%t2 has to )e %on%eive# o$ simultaneously as something Chi%h 1in the guise o$ an o)je%t o$ e5perien%e2 -17appears to the noumenal su)je%t an# as the appearan%e of the nournenal su)je%t, (hat is to say, everything that appears as part o$ the %onstitute# reality appears to the trans%en#ental su)je%t 1Chi%h is here %on%eive# as i#enti%al Cith the noumenal su)je%t2' on the other han#, the empiri%al su)je%t is, as is the %ase Cith every intuite# reality, a phenomenal appearan%e o$ some noumenal entity, in this %ase, o$ the noumenal su)je%t, (his #ou)ling, hoCever, is a nonsensi%al, sel$-%an%eling short-%ir%uitE i$ the noumenal su)je%t appears to itself, the #istan%e that separates appearan%e $rom noumena $alls aCay, (he agen%y Chi%h per%eives something as an appearan%e %annot itsel$ )e an appearan%e, +n su%h a %ase, Ce $in# ourselves in the nonsensi%al vi%ious %ir%le #es%ri)e# )y "lphonse "llais, Chere tCo appearan%es mutually re%ogniFe themselves as appearan%es 1 9aoul an# ;arguerite make an appointment at a maske# )all' in a se%ret %orner, they )oth take o$$ their masks an# utter a %ry o$ surprise-9aoul, sin%e his partner is not ;arguerite, an# ;arguerite, sin%e her partner is not 9aoul2, (hus, the only Cay out o$ this impasse is to #istinguish )etCeen the + o$ pure apper%eption an# the (hing-Chi%h-thinksE Chat + e5perien%e, Chat is given to me phenomenally in my intuition, the %ontent o$ my person 1the o)je%t o$ empiri%al psy%hology2, is, o$ %ourse, as Cith every phenomenon, the appearing o$ a (hing 1in this %ase o$ the (hing-Chi%h-thinks2, but this Thing cannot be the I of pure apperception, the transcendental sub(ect to whom the %Thing which thinks% appears as the empirical I, 3ith this %ru%ial point in min#, Ce %an give a pre%ise a%%ount o$ the #i$$eren%e )etCeen the ina%%essi)ility o$ the noumenal Sel$ an# o$ any o)je%t o$ per%eption, 3hen *ant says that the trans%en#ental su)je%t /is knoCn only through the thoughts Chi%h are its pre#i%ates, an# o$ it, apart $rom them, Ce %annot have any %on%ept Chatsoever/ 1 .P9, " 36>2, #oes not the same also hol# true $or the ta)le in $ront o$ me, $or e5ampleK (he ta)le is also knoCn only through the thoughts Chi%h are its pre#i%ates, an# o$ it, apart $rom them, Ce %annot have any %on%ept Chatsoever, 0oCever, #ue to the a)ove-#es%ri)e# sel$-re$erential #ou)ling o$ the appearing in the %ase o$ the +, %I think% must also remain empty on the phenomenal level, (he +<s apper%eption is )y #e$inition #evoi# o$ any intuitional %ontent' it is an empty representation Chi%h %arves a hole into the $iel# o$ representations, (o put it %on%iselyE *ant is %ompelle# to #e$ine the + o$ trans%en#ental apper%eption as neither phenomenal nor noumenal )e%ause o$ the para#o5 o$ auto7affection- if I were given to myself phenomenally, as an ob(ect of e8perience, I would simultaneously have to be given to myself noumenally, -1>"nother Cay to arrive at the same result is via the #uality o$ #is%ursive an# intuitive intelle%tE on a%%ount o$ his $initu#e, the su)je%t #isposes only o$ #is%ursive intelle%t, 0e is a$$e%te# )y things-in-themselves, an# he makes use o$ the #is%ursive intelle%t 1the netCork o$ $ormal trans%en#ental %ategories2 to stru%ture the multitu#e o$ $ormless a$$e%ts into o)je%tive realityE this stru%turing is his oCn /spontaneous,/ autonomous a%t, +$ the su)je%t Cere to possess intuitive intelle%t, it Coul# $ill out the a)yss Chi%h separates intelle%t $rom intuition an# Coul# thus gain a%%ess to things as they are in themselves, 0oCever, /Chile + %an %oherently, i$ va%uously, %laim that i$ + ha# an intuitive instea# o$ a #is%ursive intelle%t, + %oul# knoC other things 1o)je%ts2 as they are in themselves, + %annot similarly %laim that + %oul# knoC mysel$ as o)je%t in my %apa%ity as a spontaneous, thinking su)je%t,/ 14 3hy notK +$ + Cere to

possess an intuition o$ mysel$ Dua /(hing Chi%h thinks,/ i,e,, i$ + Cere to have an a%%ess to my noumenal Sel$, I would thereby lose the very feature which makes me an I of pure apperception' + Coul# %ease to )e the spontaneous trans%en#ental agent that %onstitutes reality, 13 (he same para#o5 repeats itsel$ apropos o$ the trans%en#ental o)je%t Dua %orrelate to the + o$ pure apper%eption, (hat is to say, hoC #oes *ant arrive at the notion o$ trans%en#ental o)je%tK 3hy %an<t he get )y Cith trans%en#ental %ategories on the one han# an# the a$$e%ts Chi%h )ear Citness to our )eing a%te# upon )y (hings-in-themselves on the other han#K (he /trans%en#ental o)je%t, that is, the %ompletely in#eterminate thought o$ something in general,/ has the $un%tion o$ %on$erring /upon all our empiri%al %on%epts in general relation to an o)je%t, that is, o)je%tive vali#ity/ 1 .P9, " 1A9 2, +n other Cor#s, Cithout this para#o5i%al o)je%t Chi%h /%an )e thought only as something in general Q M/ 1 .P9, " 1A9 2, the #i$$eren%e )etCeen $ormal an# trans%en#ental logi% Coul# $all o$$, that is, the ta)le o$ a priori %ategories Coul# remain a mere $ormal-logi%al netCork, )ere$t o$ the trans%en#ental poCer to %onstitute /o)je%tive reality,/ (rans%en#ental o)je%t is the $orm o$ the o)je%t in general )y means o$ a re$eren%e to Chi%h a priori %ategories synthesiFe the multitu#e o$ sensi)le intuitions into the representation o$ a uni$ie# o)je%tE it marks the point at Chi%h the general $orm o$ every possi)le o)je%t reverts to the empty representation o$ the /o)je%t in general,/ For that reason, the notion o$ the trans%en#ental o)je%t un#ermines the stan#ar# *antian #istin%tion )etCeen the $ormless stu$$ Chi%h #es%en#s $rom the trans%en#ent (hing 1sensi)le a$$e%ts Chi%h )ear Citness to hoC the su)je%t is passively a$$e%te# )y some noumenal entities2, an# the trans%en#ental $orm )y means o$ Chi%h the su)je%t mol#s this -1Bintuite# stu$$ into /reality/E it is an o)je%t entirely /%reate#/ )y the su)je%t, the /unity Chi%h thought proje%ts in $ront o$ itsel$ as the sha#oC o$ an o)je%t,/ 16 an intelligi)le $orm Chi%h is its oCn stu$$, "s su%h, it is the sem)lan%e o$ an o)je%t, i,e,, stricto sensu a metonymi%al o)je%tE the spa%e $or it is opene# up )y the simultaneous 1a%tual2 $initu#e an# 1potential2 in$initu#e o$ our e5perien%e, (he trans%en#ental o)je%t gives a )o#y to the gap Chi%h $orever separates the universal $ormal-trans%en#ental $rame o$ /empty/ %ategories $rom the $inite s%ope o$ our a%tual e5perien%e, o$ the a$$e%ts that provi#e our intuition Cith positive %ontent, +ts $un%tion is thus eminently anti-0umean, anti-skepti%alE it guarantees that trans%en#ental %ategories Cill re$er to all possi)le $uture o)je%ts o$ e5perien%e, (his #istin%tion )etCeen *ing7an7sich an# the trans%en#ental o)je%t %orrespon#s per$e%tly to the -a%anian #istin%tion )etCeen the 9eal Dua *ing an# ob(et petit aE the latter is pre%isely su%h a metonymi%al o)je%t Chi%h gives a )o#y to the la%k o$ positive o)je%ts, 17 "propos o$ /the trans%en#ental o)je%t, that is, the %ompletely in#eterminate thought o$ something in general,/ *ant saysE /(his %annot )e entitle# the noumenon' $or + knoC nothing o$ Chat it is in itsel$, an# have no %on%ept o$ it save as merely the o)je%t o$ a sensi)le intuition in general/ 1 .P9, " 473 2, +n a $irst approa%h, *ant seems to %ontra#i%t his oCn )asi% premise, %iting as proo$ o$ the non-noumenal status o$ the trans%en#ental o)je%t the $a%t that Ce knoC nothing o$ Chat it is in itsel$ isn<t this unknoCa)leness the very #e$inition o$ the noumenal o)je%tK 0oCever, this apparent in%onsisten%y is easily #ispelle# )y taking into a%%ount the pre%ise nature o$ the trans%en#ental o)je%tE 1> inso$ar as it gives )o#y to the o)je%t in general, i,e,, inso$ar as it $un%tions as a metonymi%al pla%e-hol#er o$ the o)je%tivity in whole, it is an ob(ect which, if given to me in intuition, would simultaneously have to be given. to me as it is in itself, 13e may re%all that herein also lies the $un#amental $eature o$

the + o$ pure apper%eptionE its representation is empty sin%e, Cere it to )e given phenomenally, it Coul# also )e given noumenally2 1B

-ro6 Kant to Hegel

(his am)iguity o$ *ant<s %on%erning the trans%en#ental o)je%t 1 *ant os%illates )etCeen %on%eiving o$ it as a (hing an# as something Chi%h is neither phenomenal nor noumenal2 is the reverse o$ the am)iguity %on%erning the trans%en#ental su)je%t' an#, $urthermore, it is not a simple #e$ault Chose -1 %orre%tion Coul# ena)le us to $ormulate the /proper/ *antian theory, )ut a necessary eDuivo%ality Chose roots )e%ame visi)le only Cith hin#sight, $rom a 0egelian perspe%tiveE i$ Ce %hoose any o$ the tCo poles o$ the alternative, *ant<s system in its entirety #isintegrates, (hat is to say, i$, on the one han#, Ce sti%k to the i#enti$i%ation o$ the trans%en#ental + Cith the noumenal (hing-Sel$, the noumenal Self phenomenally appears to itself, Chi%h means that the #i$$eren%e )etCeen phenomena an# noumena #issolves-/+/ )e%omes the singular su)je%to)je%t given to itsel$ in the /intelle%tual intuition,/ the /eye Chi%h sees itsel$/ 1the step a%%omplishe# )y Fi%hte an# S%helling, )ut un%on#itionally prohi)ite# )y *antE intelektuelle ,nschauung as the /a)solute starting-point/ o$ philosophiFing2, +$, on the other han#, the + o$ apper%eption-- this autonomous agent o$ the %onstitution o$ reality-- is not a noumenal (hing, then the #i$$eren%e )etCeen phenomena an# noumena again #issolves, yet in a Cholly #i$$erent CayE in 0egel<s Cay, 3hat Ce have to )ear in min# here is that 0egel reje%ts the very notion o$ /intelle%tual intuition/ as an ina#eDuate, /imme#iate/ synthesis, i,e,, that he remains thoroughly *antian in his insisten%e on the irre#u%i)le gap that separates #is%ursive intelle%t 1the level o$ the ?otion2 $rom intuition, Far $rom simply healing the *antian split, 0egel even ra#i%aliFes it-- hoCK "t this point, it is a#visa)le to $orget the stan#ar# te5t)ook phrases on 0egel<s /a)solute i#ealism/ in Chi%h-- or so the story goes-- the ?otion<s sel$-movement over%omes $ormalism )y generating the entire %ontent out o$ itsel$ an# thus )e%oming a)le to #ispense Cith the e5ternal instigation o$ the (hing-in-itsel$, +nstea# o$ #ire%tly plunging into su%h /$un#amental 0egelian propositions,/ let us rather return to the *antian #uality o$ the trans%en#ental netCork o$ %ategories an# o$ (hings-in-themselvesE trans%en#ental %ategories mol# the a$$e%ts Chi%h originate in noumenal things into /o)je%tive reality,/ 0oCever, as Ce have alrea#y seen, the pro)lem lies in the ra#i%al $initu#e o$ the a$$e%tsE they are never /all,/ sin%e the totality o$ a$$e%ts is never given to us' i$ this totality Cere to )e given, Ce Coul# have a%%ess to (hings-in-themselves, "t this pre%ise point, 0egel<s %ritiDue o$ *antian /$ormalism/ intervenesE he i#enti$ies as the site o$ insu$$i%ien%y not the $inite nature o$ a$$e%ts, )ut the a)stra%t %hara%ter o$ thought itsel$, (he very nee# $or a$$e%ts 1i,e,, $or a heterogeneous material to provi#e %ontent to our intelle%t2 )ears Citness to the $a%t that our thought is a)stra%t$ormal, that it has not yet a%hieve# the level o$ Chat 0egel %alls /a)solute $orm,/ (his Cay, the trans%en#ental o)je%t ra#i%ally %hanges its $un%tionE $rom -19-

the in#e5 o$ a #e$i%ien%y on the si#e o$ intuition-- i,e,, o$ the $a%t that our representations are $orever )ran#e# )y our $initu#e, that the Corl# o$ intuite# o)je%ts is never given in its totality-- it shi$ts into the in#e5 o$ the #e$i%ien%y o$ the very discursive form, +n this pre%ise sense 0egel<s /a)solute i#ealism/ is nothing )ut the *antian /%riti%ism/ )rought to its utmost %onseDuen%esE /there is no metalanguage/' it is never possi)le $or us to o%%upy the neutral pla%e $rom Chi%h Ce %oul# measure the #istan%e that separates our sem)lan%e o$ knoCle#ge $rom the +n-itsel$ o$ (ruth, +n short, 0egel %arries to its e5treme *ant<s %riti%ism at the very point Chere he seems to regress into a)solute /panlogi%ism/E )y Cay o$ a$$irming that every tension between .otion and reality, every relationship of the .otion to what appears as its irreducible +ther encountered in the sensible, e8tra7notional e8perience, already is an intra7 notional tension, i.e., already implies a minimal notional determination of this %otherness.% 1 (he most o)vious e5ample o$ this notional #etermination, o$ %ourse, is the empiri%ist %ounterposition o$ primary 1shape2 an# se%on#ary 1%olor, taste2 Dualities o$ the per%eive# o)je%tE the su)je%t has in itsel$ the measure Chi%h alloCs him to #istinguish )etCeen Chat are merely its /su)je%tive impressions/ an# Chat /o)je%tively e5ists,/ =et the same goes $or the *antian (hing-in-itsel$E hoC #oes the su)je%t arrive at itK +n a)stra%ting $rom every sensi)le #etermination that pertains to the o)je%ts o$ e5perien%e, Chat remains is the o)je%t o$ pure a)stra%tion, the pure /thing-o$-thought/ 1 edankending2, +n short, our sear%h $or a pure presupposition, una$$e%te# )y the su)je%t<s spontaneous a%tivity, pro#u%es an entity Chi%h is pure posite#ness, (herein %onsists 0egel<s /i#ealist/ CagerE Chat appears in an# to our e5perien%e as the e5tranotional surplus, as the /otherness/ o$ the o)je%t irre#u%i)le to the su)je%t<s notional $rameCork, impenetra)le to it, is alCays-alrea#y the $etishisti%, /rei$ie#/ 1mis2per%eption o$ an in%onsisten%y o$ the notion to itsel$, +n this sense, 0egel points out, in his +ntro#u%tion to $henomenology of Spirit, hoC the very measure Ce use to test the truth o$ our knoCle#ge%laims is alCays %aught in the pro%ess o$ testingE i$ our knoCle#ge is prove# ina#eDuate, i$ it #oes not $it our measure o$ Chat %ounts as (rue, then Ce must not only e5%hange our knoCle#ge $or its more a#eDuate $orm, )ut Ce must simultaneously repla%e the very measuring-ro# o$ (ruth, the in-itsel$ Chi%h our knoCle#ge $aile# to attain, 19 0egel<s point is not a #elirious solipsism, )ut rather a simple insight into hoC Ce-- $inite, histori%al su)je%ts-$orever la%k any measuring-ro# Chi%h Coul# guarantee our %onta%t Cith the (hing itsel$, (he #ogmati%-4Arationalist intuition o$ eternal (ruths, the empiri%ist sensi)le per%eptions, the a priori %ategorial $rameCork o$ the trans%en#ental re$le%tion, or-- tCo e5amples Chose value is not purely histori%al, sin%e they in#i%ate positions still %laime# )y %ontemporary philosophy-- the phenomenologi%al notion o$ Lebenswelt 1li$e-Corl#2 as the alCays-alrea#y presuppose# $oun#ation o$ our reasoning, an# the intersu)je%tive spee%h-%ommunity, all are $alse attempts to )reak the vi%ious %ir%le o$ Chat 0egel %alle# /e5perien%e,/ 4A +n a $irst approa%h, Chat 0egel a%%omplishes here may strike us as a simple reversal o$ *antE instea# o$ the gap separating $orever the su)je%t $rom the su)stantial (hing, Ce get their i#entity 1the ")solute Dua su)stan%eQ su)je%t2, 0egel is nonetheless the most %onseDuential o$ *antiansE the 0egelian su)je%t-- i,e,, Chat 0egel #esignates as a)solute, sel$-relating negativity-- is nothing )ut the very gap Chi%h separates phenomena $rom the (hing, the a)yss )eyon# phenomena %on%eive# in its negative mo#e, i,e,, the purely negative gesture o$ limiting phenomena Cithout provi#ing any positive %ontent Chi%h Coul# $ill out the spa%e

)eyon# the limit, For that reason, Ce must )e very attentive i$ Ce are not to miss Chat 0egel has in min# Chen he insists that the ")solute has to )e %on%eive# also as su)je%t, not only as su)stan%eE the stan#ar# notion o$ the gra#ual )e%oming-su)je%t o$ the su)stan%e 1o$ the /a%tive/ su)je%t leaving its /imprint/ on the su)stan%e, mol#ing it, me#iating it, e5pressing in it his su)je%tive %ontent2 is here #ou)ly mislea#ing, First, Ce must )ear in min# that Cith 0egel this su)je%tiviFation o$ the o)je%t never /turns out/E there is alCays a remain#er o$ the su)stan%e Chi%h elu#es the grasp o$ /su)je%tive me#iation/' an# $ar $rom )eing a simple impe#iment preventing the su)je%t<s $ull a%tualiFation, this remain#er is stricto sensu %orrelative to the very )eing o$ the su)je%t, 3e rea%h there)y one o$ the possi)le #e$initions o$ ob(et aE that surplus o$ the Su)stan%e, that /)one,/ Chi%h resists sub(ectivi4ation- ob(et a is %orrelative to the su)je%t in its very ra#i%al in%ommensura)ility Cith it, Se%on#ly, Ce have the opposite notion a%%or#ing to Chi%h the su)je%t is that very /nothing,/ the purely $ormal voi# Chi%h is le$t over a$ter the su)stantial %ontent has Cholly /passe# over/ into its pre#i%ates#eterminationsE in the /su)je%tiviFation/ o$ Su)stan%e, its %ompa%t +n-itsel$ is #issolve# into the multitu#e o$ its parti%ular pre#i%ates-#eterminations, o$ its /)eings-$or-other,/ an# /su)je%t/ is that very M, the empty $orm o$ a /%ontainer,/ Chi%h remains a$ter all its %ontent Cas /su)je%tiviFe#,/ (hese tCo %on%eptions are stri%tly %orrelative, i,e,, /su)je%t/ an# /o)je%t/ are the tCo le$t-overs o$ this same pro%ess, or, rather, the tCo si#es o$ the same le$t-41over %on%eive# either in the mo#ality o$ $orm 1su)je%t2 or in the mo#ality o$ %ontent, o$ /stu$$/ 1o)je%t2E a is the /stu$$/ o$ the su)je%t Dua empty $orm,

The Nonequi7alent E. hange

(he same para#o5 pertains to the 0egelian notion o$ in$inite ju#gment in its opposition to negative ju#gment, 41 3ith re$eren%e to the in$amous thesis on /#eterminate negation,/ one Coul# e5pe%t negative ju#gment to succeed in$inite ju#gment as a /higher,/ more %on%rete $orm o$ #iale%ti%al unity-Cithin-#i$$eren%eE )y a$$irming a non-pre#i%ate, the in$inite ju#gment merely posits an a)stra%t, Cholly in#eterminate, empty Geyon#, Chereas negative ju#gment negates positive ju#gment in a #eterminate Cay 1i,e,, )y saying that a thing is an o)je%t o$ nonsensi)le intuition, Ce not only a)stra%tly negate one o$ its pre#i%ates, Ce also invert a)stra%t negation into positive #eterminationE Ce #elineate the $iel# o$ /nonsensi)le intuition/ as that to Chi%h the thing in Duestion )elongs2, For 0egel, hoCever, it is in$inite ju#gment Cith its a)stra%t, in#eterminate negation Chi%h )rings $orth the /truth/ o$ negative ju#gment-- ChyK Perhaps Chat o$$ers a key to this enigma is the logi% o$ e8change at Cork hereE negative ju#gment remains Cithin the %on$ines o$ an /eDuivalent e5%hange/' impli%itly at least, Ce get something in e5%hange $or Chat Ce renoun%e 1)y saying that a thing is /an o)je%t o$ nonsensi)le intuition,/ Ce o)tain in e5%hange $or the loss o$ the #omain o$ sensi)le intuition another positively #etermine# #omain, that o$ nonsensi)le intuition2, Chereas in the %ase o$ in$inite ju#gment the loss is pure' Ce get nothing in e5%hange, -et us e5amine more %losely the para#igmati% %ase o$ this logi% o$ e5%hange, the #iale%ti% o$ Bildung 1%ulture-e#u%ation2 in the %hapter on Spirit $rom the $henomenology of Spirit, 44 (he starting point o$ this #iale%ti% is the state o$ e5treme alienation, o$ the splitting )etCeen su)je%t an# su)stan%e, Chi%h are here oppose# un#er the guises o$ /no)le %ons%iousness/ an# the State, "s a matter o$ $a%t, this very opposition alrea#y results $rom an impli%it a%t o$ e5%hangeE in e5%hange $or his utter alienation 1$or his yiel#ing all su)stantial %ontent to the 8ther, to the State2, the su)je%t-sel$-%ons%iousness-- re%eives honor 1the honor o$ serving the

%ommon Ioo# em)o#ie# in the State2, GetCeen these tCo e5tremes a pro%ess o$ e5%hangeRme#iation takes pla%eE the /no)le %ons%iousness/ alienates its pure For-itsel$ 1its silent honora)le serving o$ the State2 in language Dua me#ium o$ the universality o$ thought 1$lattery to the ;onar%h, the hea# -44o$ the State2' in e5%hange $or this alienation, su)stan%e itsel$ a%%omplishes a $irst step toCar# its /su)je%tiviFation,/ i,e,, it %hanges $rom the unattaina)le State, a)stra%tly oppose# to us, into Cealth Dua su)stantial %ontent Chi%h alrea#y is at our #isposal 1money Ce get $or $lattering the ;onar%h2, 8n the other han#, Su)stan%e itsel$ 1the State2 is not only su)or#inate# to the su)je%tivity o$ sel$-%ons%iousness via its trans$ormation into CealthE in e5%hange $or this su)or#ination, it a%Duires itsel$ the $orm o$ su)je%tivity-the impersonal State is repla%e# )y the a)solute ;onar%hy' it )e%omes i#enti$ie# Cith the person o$ the ;onar%h 1%L29tat, c2est moi.%2, (hroughout the entire #iale%ti% o$ Bildung, the appearan%e o$ an eDuivalent e5%hange )etCeen su)je%t 1sel$-%ons%iousness2 an# su)stan%e is thus maintaine#E in e5%hange $or his in%reasing alienation, $or sa%ri$i%ing a $urther su)stantial part o$ himsel$, the su)je%t re%eives honor, Cealth, the language o$ Spirit an# insight, the heaven o$ Faith, the Utility o$ the :nlightenment, 0oCever, Chen Ce rea%h the apogee o$ this #iale%ti%, /a)solute $ree#om,/ the e5%hange )etCeen the parti%ular an# the universal 3ill, the su)je%t /gets nothing in e5%hange $or everything,/ 0e /passes into an empty nothing/' his alienation )e%omes an a)stra%t negation Chi%h o$$ers no positive, #eterminate %ontent in e5%hange, 1(he histori%al epo%h Chi%h stan#s $or this moment o$ /a)solute $ree#om/ is, o$ %ourse, the Ha%o)ini%al 9eign o$ (error, in Chi%h, $or no apparent reason, + %oul# )e pro%laime# traitor an# have my hea# %ut o$$ at any momentE the %hapter on Spirit en%ompasses the entire spiritual #evelopment o$ :urope $rom the me#ieval $eu#al state to the Fren%h 9evolution,2 =et it is pre%isely this $alling apart o$ the appearan%e o$ a symmetri%al, )alan%e# e5%hange that makes possi)le the spe%ulative-#iale%ti%al reversalE sel$-%ons%iousness has only to )e%ome aCare o$ hoC this ?othingness Chi%h appears to a parti%ular 3ill as an a)stra%t, oppose#, e5ternal threat %oin%i#es Cith its oCn $or%e o$ negativity' it has to internaliFe this $or%e o$ negativity an# re%ogniFe in it its oCn essen%e, the very kernel o$ its oCn )eing, /Su)je%t/ emerges at this very point o$ utterly meaningless voi#an%e )rought a)out )y a negativity Chi%h e5plo#es the $rame o$ )alan%e# e5%hange, (hat is to say, Chat is /su)je%t/ i$ not the in$inite poCer o$ a)solute negativityRme#iationE in %ontrast to a mere )iologi%al li$e, sel$-%ons%iousness %ontains in itsel$ its oCn negation, it maintains itsel$ )y Cay o$ negative sel$-relating, (his Cay, Ce pass $rom a)solute $ree#om 1o$ the revolutionary citoyen2 into /the Spirit %ertain o$ itsel$/ epitomiFe# )y the *antian moral su)je%tE the e5ternal negativity o$ the revolutionary (error is internaliFe# into the poCer o$ -43moral -aC, into the pure *noCle#ge an# 3ill Dua Universality, Chi%h is not something e5ternally oppose# to the su)je%t )ut something Chi%h %onstitutes the very a5is o$ his sel$%ertainty' /Free 3ill/ is a 3ill that a%ts in a%%or#an%e Cith the universal moral -aC, not in a%%or#an%e Cith parti%ular 1/pathologi%al/2 motivations Chi%h enslave it to the Corl# o$ o)je%ts, 0ere is the passage $rom $henomenology Chi%h re%apitulates this movementE +n the Corl# o$ %ulture 1Bildung2 itsel$, it Osel$-%ons%iousnessP #oes not get as $ar as to )ehol# its negation or alienation in this $orm o$ pure a)stra%tion' on the %ontrary, its negation is $ille# Cith a %ontent, either honour or Cealth, Chi%h it gains in pla%e o$ the sel$ that it has alienate#

$rom itsel$' or the language o$ Spirit an# insight Chi%h the #isrupte# %ons%iousness a%Duires' or it is the heaven o$ $aith, or the Utility o$ the :nlightenment, "ll these #eterminations have vanishe# in the loss su$$ere# )y the sel$ in a)solute $ree#om' its negation is the #eath that is Cithout meaning, the sheer terror o$ the negative that %ontains nothing positive, nothing that $ills it Cith a %ontent, "t the same time, hoCever, this negation in its real e5isten%e is not something alien' it is neither the universal ina%%essi)le necessity in Chi%h the ethi%al Corl# perishes, nor the parti%ular a%%i#ent o$ private possession, nor the Chim o$ the oCner on Chi%h the #isrupte# %ons%iousness sees itsel$ #epen#ent' on the %ontrary, it is the universal will Chi%h in this its ultimate a)stra%tion has nothing positive an# there$ore %an give nothing in return $or the sa%ri$i%e, Gut $or that very reason it is imme#iately one Cith sel$%ons%iousness, or it is the pure positive, )e%ause it is the pure negative' an# the meaningless #eath, the un$ille# negativity o$ the sel$, %hanges roun# in its inner ?otion into a)solute positivity, 43 (he logi% o$ this internaliFation o$ negativity usually un#ergoes tCo types o$ %riti%ism, (he stan#ar# ;ar5ist approa%h %ites it as the supreme proo$ o$ 0egel<s /hi##en positivism,/ o$ his /a%%eptan%e o$ the e5isting or#er O das Bestehende P/E it sees in it the repetition o$ the Protestant gesture o$ #islo%ating a%tual so%ial $ree#om into /inner/ moral $ree#om, Chi%h leaves untou%he# all the #istortions o$ a%tual so%ial li$e, "%%or#ing to this approa%h, the 0egelian /re%on%iliation/ Dua internaliFation o$ negativity )ears Citness to an in#eli)le mark o$ renun%iation, o$ a resigne# a%%eptan%e o$ /irrational,/ perverte# so%ial %on#itionsE )y Cay o$ this internaliFation o$ -46the Fren%h so%ial revolution into the Ierman philosophi%al revolution, 9eason is %ompelle# to re%ogniFe itsel$ in the un-9eason o$ the Corl#, +n a #i$$erent vein, the #e%onstru%tionist rea#ing insists on hoC this passage, $rom e5ternal revolutionary (error into the pressure o$ moral %ons%ien%e Chi%h terroriFes us $rom Cithin, hinges on a /%lose# e%onomy/ Chi%h ena)les us to internaliFe-#omesti%ate the ra#i%al :5ternality o$ the (error, to trans$orm it into a su)or#inate# moment o$ our sel$-relating, (his se%on# rea#ing $ails to appre%iate the e5tent to Chi%h the /internaliFation/ o$ the (error into the moral -aC, $ar $rom /gentri$ying/ its traumati% impa%t, gives rise to a kin# o$ parasiti%al, malign $oreign )o#y in the very kernel o$ the su)je%t<s )eing, 0egel<s impli%it lesson here is that the /e5ternal/ revolutionary (error Coul# not )e a)le to hol# the su)je%t in %he%k Cere he not alrea#y terroriFe# /$rom Cithin,/ )y the ine5ora)le superego-agen%y Chose #eman#s %an never )e met sin%e, in its eyes, our very e5isten%e is )ran#e# )y guilt, (he result o$ this /internaliFation/ is the *antian su)je%tE the su)je%t %on#emne# to an eternal split, i,e,, $orever #oome# to %onten# Cith /pathologi%al/ impulses, (he pressure e5erte# on the su)je%t, Chi%h $irst seeme# to %ome $rom the outsi#e, is noC e5perien%e# as something Chi%h #e$ines-- or, rather, su)verts-- the very kernel o$ his sel$-i#entity, (he su)je%t Cho, in the Ha%o)ini%al (error, ha# to a%%ept his Corthlessness in the eyes o$ the State, must noC, in his %apa%ity as moral su)je%t, sa%ri$i%e Chat he most %herishes to a Demon Cithin, (herein %onsists the 0egelian /negation o$ negation/E Chat $irst appears as an e5ternal o)sta%le reveals itsel$ to )e an inherent hin#ran%e, i,e,, an outsi#e $or%e turns into an inner %ompulsion, 46 (he reproa%h, a%%or#ing to Chi%h the 0egelian #iale%ti%al pro%ess implies a /%lose# e%onomy/ Chere every loss is in a#van%e re%ompense#, /su)late#/ into a moment o$ sel$me#iation, thus results $rom a misrea#ing, Para#o5i%ally, the one to Chom su%h a /%lose#

e%onomy/ %an legitimately )e attri)ute# is ;ar5 himsel$, 3hat + have in min# here, o$ %ourse, is the uniDue moment Chen ;ar5 is at his most 0egelianE his $ormulation o$ the proletarian as /su)stan%eless su)je%tivity/ in the $amous manus%ript$ragment on /Pre%apitalist epo%hs/ $rom rundrisse, 47 "$ter #eploying his gran#iose %on%eption o$ the proletariat as the apogee o$ the histori%al pro%ess o$ /alienation,/ o$ the gra#ual #isengaging o$ the la)or $or%e $rom the #omination o$ the /organi%,/ su)stantial %on#itions o$ the pro%ess o$ pro#u%tion 1the #ou)le $ree#om o$ the proletarianE he stan#s $or the a)stra%t su)je%tivity $ree# $rom all su)stantialorgani% ties, yet at the same -47time he is #ispossesse# an# thus o)lige# to sell on the market his oCn la)or $or%e in or#er to survive2, ;ar5 %on%eives o$ the proletarian revolution as a /materialist/ version o$ the 0egelian re%on%iliation o$ su)je%t an# su)stan%eE it reesta)lishes the unity o$ the su)je%t 1la)or $or%e2 Cith the o)je%tive %on#itions o$ the pro%ess o$ pro#u%tion, yet not un#er the hegemony o$ these o)je%tive %on#itions 1Chere in#ivi#uals $igure as mere su)or#inate# moments o$ their so%ial totality2, )ut Cith %olle%tive su)je%tivity as the me#iating $or%e o$ this unity, +n so%ialism, the %olle%tive su)je%t is )oun# to ren#er transparent an# %ontrol the pro%ess o$ pro#u%tion an# so%ial repro#u%tion in its entirety, From this ;ar5ian perspe%tive, o$ %ourse, the 0egelian /re%on%iliation/ emerges as a mere /re%on%iliation in the me#ium o$ thought/ that leaves so%ial reality un#istur)e#, Perhaps, hoCever, a$ter more than a %entury o$ polemi%s on the ;ar5ist /materialist reversal o$ 0egel,/ the time has %ome to raise the inverse possi)ility o$ a 0egelian %ritiDue o$ ;ar5, Does not 0egel ena)le us to #is%ern, in the very $oun#ation o$ the ;ar5ian notion o$ the proletarian revolution, a kin# o$ perspe%tive-illusion Chi%h hinges pre%isely on the /%lose# e%onomy/ o$ the #iale%ti%al reversalK +t Cas possi)le $or ;ar5 to imagine /#is-alienation/ as the reversal )y means o$ Chi%h the su)je%t reappropriates the entire su)stantial %ontent, 0oCever, su%h a reversal is pre%isely Chat 0egel pre%lu#esE in 0egel<s philosophy, /re%on%iliation/ #oes not #esignate the moment Chen /su)stan%e )e%omes su)je%t,/ Chen a)solute su)je%tivity is elevate# into the pro#u%tive groun# o$ all entities, )ut rather the a%knoCle#gment that the #imension o$ su)je%tivity is ins%ri)e# into the very %ore o$ Su)stan%e in the guise o$ an irre#u%i)le la%k Chi%h $orever prevents it $rom a%hieving $ull sel$-i#entity, /Su)stan%e as su)je%t/ ultimately means that a kin# o$ ontologi%al /%ra%k/ $orever #enoun%es as a sem)lan%e every /Corl#-vieC,/ every notion o$ the universe Dua totality o$ the /great %hain o$ )eing,/ 8ne must there$ore #raC the %on%lusion that ;ar5 himsel$, un#er the guise o$ %om)ating 0egel, retroa%tively %onstru%ts the $igure o$ 0egel Dua the philosopher Cho elevates sel$me#iating ?otion into the Iroun# an# Su)stan%e o$ the universeE Chat ;ar5 )o5es Cith is ultimately the i#ealisti% sha#oC o$ his oCn ontologi%al premises, +n short, /0egel as a)solute i#ealist/ is a displacement o$ ;ar5<s oCn #isavoCe# ontology, +s not the symptom o$ this #ispla%ement, an# there)y o$ the inherent impossi)ility o$ the ;ar5ian proje%t, the ra#i%ally am)iguous %hara%ter o$ ;ar5<s re$eren%e to 0egelK (hat is to say, in his en#eavor to #elineate the .apital-universe )y means o$ -4>the %ategories o$ 0egel<s logi%, ;ar5 %ontinually an# systemati%ally os%illates )etCeen tCo possi)ilitiesE

-- (he Duali$i%ation o$ .apital as the alienate# Su)stan%e o$ the histori%al pro%ess Chi%h reigns over the atomiFe# su)je%ts 1see the $amous $ormulae $rom rundrisse on the proletariat Dua /su)stan%eless su)je%tivity/ Chi%h posits .apital as its oCn non)eing2' Cithin this perspe%tive, 9evolution ne%essarily appears as an a%t )y means o$ Chi%h the histori%al Su)je%t appropriates to himsel$ his alienate# su)stantial %ontent, i,e,, re%ogniFes in it his oCn pro#u%t, (his moti$ a%hieve# its ultimate e5pression in Ieorg -ukS%s< #istory and &lass &onsciousness, 4> -- (he opposite Duali$i%ation o$ .apital as Su)stan%e Chi%h is alrea#y in itsel$ Su)je%t, i,e,, Chi%h is not anymore an empty-a)stra%t universality )ut an universality repro#u%ing itsel$ through the %ir%ular pro%ess o$ its sel$me#iation an# sel$-positing 1see the #e$inition o$ .apital as /money Chi%h )egets more money/E ;oney-.ommo#ity-;oney2-- in short, .apital is ;oney-Chi%h-)e%ame-Su)je%t, (his theme o$ /0egel<s logi% as the notional stru%ture o$ the movement o$ .apital/ assumes its ultimate e5pression in the 0egelian rea#ing o$ the /%ritiDue o$ politi%al e%onomy,/ Chi%h $lourishe# in 3est Iermany in the early seventies, 4B

+oney and &u/0e ti7ity

-et us then return to 0egelE revolutionary (error #esignates the turning point at Chi%h the appearan%e o$ an eDuivalent e5%hange %ollapses, the point at Chi%h the su)je%t gets nothing in e5%hange $or its sa%ri$i%e, 0ere, hoCever, at this very point at Chi%h negation %eases to )e /#eterminate/ an# )e%omes /a)solute,/ the su)je%t encounters itself, sin%e the su)je%t Dua cogito is this very negativity prior to every a%t o$ e5%hange, (he %ru%ial move $rom revolutionary (error to the *antian su)je%t is thus simply the move $rom S to LE at the level o$ (error, the su)je%t is not yet )arre# )ut remains a $ull, su)stantial entity, i#enti%al to a parti%ular %ontent Chi%h is threatene# )y the e5ternal pressure o$ the (error<s a)stra%t an# ar)itrary negativity, (he *antian su)je%t, on the %ontrary, is this very a)yss, this voi# o$ a)solute negativity to Chom every /pathologi%al,/ parti%ular positive %ontent appears as /posite#,/ as something e5ternally assume# an# thus ultimately %ontingent, .onseDuently, the move $rom S to L entails a ra#i%al shi$t in the very notion o$ the su)je%t<s sel$-i#entityE in it, + i#enti$y mysel$ to that very voi# Chi%h a moment ago threatene# to sCalloC the most -4Bpre%ious parti%ular kernel o$ my )eing, (his is hoC the su)je%t Dua L emerges $rom the stru%ture o$ e5%hangeE it emerges Chen /something is e5%hange# $or nothing,/ that is to say, it is the very /nothing/ + get $rom the sym)oli% stru%ture, $rom the 8ther, in e5%hange $or sa%ri$i%ing my /pathologi%al/ parti%ularity, the kernel o$ my )eing, 3hen + get nothing in return, + get mysel$ Dua L, Dua the empty point o$ sel$-relating, 4 +t Coul# )e o$ great theoreti%al interest to esta)lish the %on%eptual link )etCeen this genesis o$ sel$-%ons%iousness an# the mo#ern notion o$ paper money, +n the ;i##le "ges, money Cas a %ommo#ity Chi%h so to speak guarantee# its oCn valueE a gol# %oin-- like any other %ommo#ity-- Cas simply Corth its /a%tual/ value, 0oC #i# Ce get $rom that value to to#ay<s paper money, Chi%h is intrinsi%ally Corthless, yet universally use# to pur%hase %ommo#itiesK Grian 9otman 49 #emonstrate# the ne%essity o$ an interme#iate term, the so-%alle# /imaginary money,/ (he pro)lem Cith the gol# money Cas that o$ physi%al #e)asementE a gap ne%essarily arose )etCeen /goo#/ money 1the pure unsullie# issue o$ the state2 an# /)a#/ money 1the Corn an# #iminishe# %oins in %ir%ulation2' this gap )etCeen the goo# stan#ar#

money an# the Corn %urren%y Cas knoCn as agio, 8n the )asis o$ this #i$$eren%e )etCeen /goo#/ an# /)a#/ money, a neC $orm o$ money emerge# in mer%antile states, a so-%alle# /)ank-money/E it represente# money e5a%tly a%%or#ing to the stan#ar# o$ mint, i,e,, money inso$ar as it has not yet )een #evalue# )y use' hoCever, $or this very reason, it Cas not em)o#ie# )ut e5iste# only as an imaginary point o$ re$eren%e, ;ore pre%isely, it e5iste# as a %onvention )etCeen a )ank an# an in#ivi#ualE as a paper )y means o$ Chi%h a )ank promise# to pay a parti%ular mer%hant a %ertain amount upon his presenting this paper, (his Cay, the mer%hant Cas guarantee# that the money he gave to the )ank Coul# keep its /real/ value, (here are tCo %ru%ial points to )e note# here, (he $irst is that, )y Cay o$ this operation, /money entere# into a relation Cith itsel$ an# )e%ame a %ommo#ity/E 3A the #upli%ation into /goo#,/ )ut only imaginary, money an# /)a#,/ empiri%ally e5isting gol# money, su)je%te# to Cear an# tear, ma#e it possi)le to measure the /pri%e o$ money itsel$,/ +t Cas possi)le to say that this gol# %oin that + hol# in my han#, #ue to its Cear an# tear, is Corth only so mu%h, only a per%entage o$ /goo#/ money, o$ its oCn /true/ value, (he se%on# point is that this imaginary money Cas /#ei%ti%ally roote# in the signature o$ a parti%ular name# payee/E 31 the paper issue# )y the )ank Cas a monetary promise ma#e )y it to a name#, in#ivi#ual mer%hant, +n or#er to arrive at paper money as Ce knoC it to#ay, this -4 #ei%ti% promise Cith %on%rete #ates an# names has to )e #epersonaliFe# into a promise ma#e to the anonymous /)earer/ to pay the gol#-eDuivalent o$ the sum Critten on paper money-thus, the an%horing, the link to a %on%rete in#ivi#ual Cas %ut loose, "n# the su)je%t Cho %ame to re%ogniFe itsel$ as this anonymous /)earer/ is the very su)je%t o$ sel$-%ons%iousness-ChyK 3hat is at stake here is not simply that this /)earer/ #esignates a neutral universal $un%tion Chi%h %an )e $ille# in )y any in#ivi#ual' i$ Ce are to attain sel$-%ons%iousness, the empty universality o$ the /)earer/ has to assume a%tual e5isten%e, it has to )e posite# as su%h, i,e,, the sub(ect has to relate to itself, to conceive of itself, as :to; an empty %bearer,% and to perceive his empirical features which constitute the positive content of his particular %person% as a contingent variable, (his shi$t is again the very shi$t $rom S to L, $rom the $ullness o$ the /pathologi%al/ su)je%t to cogito Dua empty sel$-relating Chi%h e5perien%es its oCn positive, empiri%al %ontent as something /posite#,/ i,e,, %ontingent an# ultimately in#i$$erent, 34

-ro6 &u/0e t to &u/stan e555and (a 4

(he gap that separates ;ar5 $rom 0egel, i,e,, the %ru%ial #imension o$ Chat 0egel %alls /su)je%t/ 1as oppose# to empiri%al in#ivi#uals2, )e%omes visi)le the moment one traverses the path /$rom su)stan%e to su)je%t/ in the opposite #ire%tion, 3hat Ce have in min# here is the reproa%h usually a##resse# to 0egel )y his nominalist a#versaries, $rom Feuer)a%h an# young ;ar5 onCar#s, Chose )asi% premise is that /a%tually e5isting in#ivi#uals/ realiFe their potentials in the so%ial netCork o$ their mutual relationships 1/the essen%e o$ man is the totality o$ his so%ial relationships,/ as ;ar5 put it2, "%%or#ing to this reproa%h, 0egel<s /i#ealist mysti$i%ation/ pro%ee#s in tCo steps, First, 0egel transposes-translates this multitu#e o$ relations )etCeen su)je%ts Dua %on%rete in#ivi#uals into the relationship o$ the su)je%tin#ivi#ual to the Su)stan%eE so%ial relationships between in#ivi#uals un#ergo a su##en transsu)stantiation an# %hange into the relationship o$ the in#ivi#ual to the So%iety Dua su)stan%e, (hereupon, in a se%on# move, 0egel transposes this relationship o$ the in#ivi#ualsu)je%t to the Su)stan%e into the relationship o$ the Su)stan%e to itself (he para#igmati% %ase

o$ this /unmasking o$ the i#ealist mysti$i%ation/ is provi#e# )y the %ritiDue o$ religious %ons%iousness ela)orate# )y Feuer)a%h an# young ;ar5, Chi%h %on%eives o$ Io# as the alienate#, inverte#, /su)stantialiFe#/ e5pression o$ the )asi% stru%ture o$ so%ial relations )etCeen a%tual an# -49a%tive in#ivi#uals, "%%or#ing to this %ritiDue, the $irst step o$ the religious mysti$i%ation is to /groun#/ the in#ivi#ual<s relations to his so%ial environs, to other in#ivi#uals, in his relationship to Io#E Chen + relate to Io#, + relate in an inverte#-alienate# $orm to my oCn so%ial essen%e, i,e,, Chat + 1mis2per%eive as /Io#/ is nothing )ut a /rei$ie#,/ e5ternaliFe# e5pression o$ the $un#amental Cay + am relate# to my $elloC %reatures, 8n%e this step is a%%omplishe#, the ne5t step that $olloCs automati%ally is that +, a %on%rete in#ivi#ual, i#enti$y my relating to Io# Cith Io#<s sel$-relating, Su$$i%e it to re%all mysti%al $ormulas on hoC the eye through Chi%h + see Io# is the very eye through Chi%h Io# is looking at 0imsel$, From the proper 0egelian perspe%tive, hoCever, Ce are here at the very opposite point o$ losing the spe%i$i% #imension o$ su)je%tivity, i,e,, o$ re#u%ing the su)je%t to a su)or#inate# moment o$ the Su)stan%e<s sel$-relating, +t is pre%isely an# only here that Ce en%ounter sub(ect as #istin%t $rom the /in#ivi#ual/E the 0egelian /su)je%t/ is ultimately nothing )ut a name $or the e5ternality o$ the Su)stan%e to itsel$, $or the /%ra%k/ )y Cay o$ Chi%h the Su)stan%e )e%omes /alien/ to itsel$, 1mis2per%eiving itsel$ through human eyes as the ina%%essi)le-rei$ie# 8therness, (hat is to say, inso$ar as the relationship o$ the su)je%t to the Su)stan%e overlaps Cith the Su)stan%e<s sel$-relating, the $a%t that Su)stan%e appears to su)je%t as an aliene5ternal-ina%%essi)le entity )ears Citness to a sel$-splitting o$ the Su)stan%e itsel$, 33 +n his 9crits, -a%an resolves the Corn-out pro)lem o$ the relationship )etCeen the in#ivi#ual an# so%iety via an elegant re$eren%e to pre%isely this moment o$ 0egel<s philosophyE psy%hoanalyti%al theory ena)les us to re%ogniFe their /re%on%iliation/-- the /me#iation/ o$ the +n#ivi#ual an# the Universal-- in the very splitting that runs through )oth o$ them, 36 +n other Cor#s, the pro)lem remains unsolva)le as long as Ce insist upon either the in#ivi#ual or So%iety as an organi%, sel$-en%lose# 3holeE the $irst step toCar# the solution is to relate the splitting Chi%h traverses the so%ial Su)stan%e 1/so%ial antagonism/2 to the splitting Chi%h is %onstitutive o$ the su)je%t 1in the -a%anian theory, the su)je%t is pre%isely not /in-#ivi#ual,/ an in#ivisi)le 8ne, )ut %onstitutively #ivi#e#, L2, (his rea#ing o$ 0egel Chi%h lo%ates the /re%on%iliation/ o$ the Universal an# the Parti%ular into the very splitting Chi%h %uts through them an# thus unites them, also provi#es an ansCer to the eternal pro)lem o$ solipsism an# the possi)ility o$ %ommuni%ation 1)etCeen #i$$erent su)je%ts or, at a more general level, )etCeen #i$$erent %ultures2E Chat )egs the Duestion in the solipsist hypothesis is the presuppose# sel$-en%losure o$ the in#ivi#ual or so%iety, +n other Cor#s, -3A%ommuni%ation is ren#ere# possi)le )y the very $eature Chi%h may seem to un#ermine most ra#i%ally its possi)ilityE + %an %ommuni%ate Cith the 8ther, + am /open/ to him 1or it2, pre%isely an# only inso$ar as + am alrea#y in mysel$ split, )ran#e# )y /repression,/ i,e,, inso$ar as 1to put it in a someChat naive-patheti% Cay2 I cannot ever truly communicate with myself- the 8ther is originally the #e%entere# 8ther Pla%e o$ my oCn splitting, +n %lassi%al Freu#ian termsE /others/ are here only )e%ause an# inso$ar as + am not simply i#enti%al to mysel$ )ut have an un%ons%ious, inso$ar as + am prevente# $rom having #ire%t a%%ess to the truth o$ my oCn )eing, +t is this truth that + am looking $or in othersE Chat propels me to

/%ommuni%ate/ Cith them is the hope that + Cill re%eive $rom them the truth a)out mysel$, a)out my oCn #esire, "n# the same goes $or the no less Corn-out pro)lem o$ /%ommuni%ation )etCeen #i$$erent %ultures,/ (he %ommon groun# that alloCs %ultures to talk to ea%h other, to e5%hange messages, is not some presuppose# share# set o$ universal values, et%,, )ut rather its opposite, some share# deadlock' %ultures /%ommuni%ate/ inso$ar as they %an re%ogniFe in ea%h other a #i$$erent ansCer to the same $un#amental /antagonism,/ #ea#lo%k, point o$ $ailure, 37 3hat is there$ore %ru%ial $or 0egel<s notion o$ act is that an a%t alCays, )y #e$inition, involves a moment o$ e5ternaliFation, sel$-o)je%tiviFation, o$ the jump into the unknoCn, (o /pass to the a%t/ means to assume the risk that Chat + am a)out to #o Cill )e ins%ri)e# into a $rameCork Chose %ontours elu#e my grasp, that it may set in motion an un$oreseea)le train o$ events, that it Cill a%Duire a meaning #i$$erent $rom or even totally oppose# to Chat + inten#e# to a%%omplish-- in short, it means to assume one<s role in the game o$ the /%unning o$ reason,/ 1"n# Chat is at stake in la passe, the %on%lu#ing moment o$ the psy%hoanalyti%al pro%ess, is pre%isely the analysan#<s rea#iness to $ully assume this ra#i%al sel$-e5ternaliFation, i,e,, /su)je%tive #estitution/E + am only Chat + am $or the others, Chi%h is Chy + have to renoun%e the $antasy-support o$ my )eing, my %linging to /my oCn private +#aho,/ to some hi##en treasure in me, ina%%essi)le to others,2 3> (he )asi% pro)lem Cith the a%t in 0egel is there$ore not its ne%essary ultimate $ailure 1#ue to the inter$eren%e o$ the 8ther su)verting every inten#e# meaning, one %an never a#eDuately e5ternaliFe, transpose into the mo#e o$ intersu)je%tive a%tuality, our internal proje%t2, )ut rather its e5a%t oppositeE a wholly successful act :an act %corresponding to its notion%; would bring about catastrophe, i,e,, either a sui%i#e 1the a%%omplishe# sel$o)je%tiviFation, the trans$ormation o$ the su)je%t into a thing2 or a lapse -31into ma#ness 1the /short-%ir%uit,/ the imme#iate sign o$ eDuality, )etCeen +nsi#e an# 8utsi#e, i,e,, the 1mis2per%eption o$ the -aC o$ my 0eart as the -aC o$ the 3orl#2, +n other Cor#s, i$ the su)je%t is to survive his a%t, he is %ompelle# to organiFe its ultimate $ailure, to a%%omplish it /Cith $ingers %rosse#,/ to avoi# totally i#enti$ying Cith it, to ins%ri)e it into an overall e%onomy Chi%h su)verts its pro%laime# goal, so that Chat appears as a $ailure is a%tually its true aim, (he %ommon notion o$ the /%unning o$ reason/ re#u%es it to a relationship o$ te%hnologi%al manipulationE instea# o$ a%ting #ire%tly upon the o)je%t, Ce interpose )etCeen ourselves an# the o)je%t another o)je%t an# let them intera%t $reely' the $ri%tional Cear an# tear o$ o)je%ts realiFes our aim, Chile Ce maintain a sa$e #istan%e, keeping ourselves out o$ the melee, 8ne has only to re%all "#am Smith<s /invisi)le han# o$ the market/E every in#ivi#ual pursues his or her egotisti%al interests, )ut their intera%tion realiFes the .ommon Ioo# o$ in%reasing the nation<s Cel$are, (he i#ea is that the 0egelian ")solute entertains the same relationship toCar# %on%rete in#ivi#uals engaging in histori%al strugglesE +t is not the general i#ea that is impli%ate# in opposition an# %om)at, an# that is e5pose# to #anger, +t remains in the )a%kgroun#, untou%he# an# uninjure#, (his may )e %alle# the cunning of reason-- that it sets the passions to Cork $or itsel$, Chile that Chi%h #evelops its e5isten%e through su%h impulsion pays the penalty' an# su$$ers loss,,,, (he parti%ular is $or the most part o$ too tri$ling value as %ompare# Cith the generalE in#ivi#uals are sa%ri$i%e# an#

a)an#one#, (he +#ea pays the penalty o$ #eterminate e5isten%e an# %orrupti)ility, not $rom itsel$, )ut $rom the passions o$ in#ivi#uals, 3B (his Duotation $rom 0egel<s The $hilosophy of #istory $its per$e%tly the %ommon notion o$ the /%unning o$ reason/E in#ivi#uals Cho $olloC their parti%ular aims are unknoCingly instruments o$ the realiFation o$ the Divine plan, Gut %ertain elements #istur) this seemingly %lear pi%ture, Usually passe# over in silen%e is the very main point o$ 0egel<s argumentation apropos o$ the /%unning o$ reason/E the ultimate impossibility o$ it, +t is impossi)le $or any #eterminate su)je%t to o%%upy the pla%e o$ the /%unning o$ reason/ an# to e5ploit another<s passions Cithout getting involve# in their la)or, i,e,, Cithout paying in $lesh the pri%e $or his e5ploitation, +n this pre%ise sense, the /%unning o$ reason/ is alCays re#ou)le#E an artisan, $or e5ample, makes use o$ the $or%es o$ nature 1Cater, steam,,,2 an# lets them -34intera%t $or en#s e5ternal to them, to mol# the raC material into a $orm appropriate $or human %onsumption' $or him, the aim o$ the pro%ess o$ pro#u%tion is the satis$a%tion o$ human nee#s, +t is here, hoCever, that he is as it Cere the vi%tim o$ his oCn ruseE the true aim o$ the pro%ess o$ so%ial pro#u%tion is not the satis$a%tion o$ in#ivi#ual nee#s )ut the very #evelopment o$ pro#u%tive $or%es, Chat 0egel re$ers to as the /o)je%tiviFation o$ the Spirit,/ 0egel<s thesis is there$ore that the manipulator himself is alwaysalready manipulatedE the artisan Cho e5ploits nature )y Cay o$ the /%unning o$ reason/ is in turn e5ploite# )y the /o)je%tive spirit,/ "n#, a%%or#ing to 0egel, the supreme proo$ o$ this impossi)ility o$ o%%upying the position o$ the /%unning o$ reason/ is provi#e# )y Io# himsel$ .hrist<s su$$ering on the %ross e5plo#es the logi% o$ Divinity Cho keeps itsel$ in the )a%kgroun# an# pulls the strings o$ the theater o$ 0istory $rom a sa$e #istan%e, .ru%i$i5ion #esignates the point at Chi%h it is no longer possi)le $or the #ivine +#ea to /remain in the )a%kgroun#, untou%he# an# uninjure#/E it is Io# himsel$ Cho, )y Cay o$ /)e%oming man/ an# #ying on the %ross, /pays the penalty,/

The &u/0e t as 8Vanishing +ediator8

(his para#o5i%al relationship o$ su)je%t an# su)stan%e, Chere the su)je%t emerges as the %ra%k in the universal Su)stan%e, hinges on the notion o$ the su)je%t as the /vanishing me#iator/ in the pre%ise sense o$ the Freu#ian-a%anian 9eal, i,e,, the stru%ture o$ an element Chi%h, although noChere a%tually present an# as su%h ina%%essi)le to our e5perien%e, nonetheless has to )e retroa%tively %onstru%te#, presuppose#, i$ all other elements are to retain their %onsisten%y, +n 0egel<s $henomenology of Spirit, Ce en%ounter more than on%e this stru%ture o$ the /vanishing me#iator,/ Su$$i%e it to mention tCo su%h lo%iE the passage o$ the #iale%ti% o$ -or# an# Gon#sman into stoi%ism' the passage o$ /phrenology,/ the last $orm o$ the /o)serving 9eason,/ into /a%tive 9eason/E -- +n the #iale%ti% o$ -or# 1;aster2 an# Gon#sman, *noCle#ge $irst )elongs to the Gon#sman in the guise o$ his /savoir-$aire/ 1knoC-hoC2, o$ his pra%ti%al skills a)out han#ling things in or#er to provi#e satis$a%tion $or the -or#-;aster, +t may seem that the passage $rom this te%hni%al /knoChoC/ to (hought 1an# there)y to stoi%ism as the position o$ the thinking Gon#sman-SlaveE it is %lear $rom 0egel<s presentation that it is the Slave, not the ;aster, Cho arrives at the /la)or o$ the ?otion/ )y means o$ the -33-

/notion o$ la)or/2 is #ire%t an# unam)iguousE Ce attain the universality o$ (hought Dua $orm o$ a%tuality )y Cay o$ the typi%ally 0egelian reversal o$ e5ternal $inality into sel$-$inality, i,e,, o$ e5ternal $orm into a)solute $orm, (hrough his e$$ort to mol#, to $orm, e5ternal o)je%ts so that they $it the en# o$ satis$ying the ;aster<s nee#s, the Slave )e%omes aCare o$ hoC (hought as su%h is alrea#y the $orm o$ every possi)le o)je%tivity, 3hat is missing $rom this a%%ount, hoCever, is the very moment e5pose#, isolate# )y -a%an as the inaugural moment o$ philosophyE the /appropriation o$ *noCle#ge )y the ;aster,/ "%%or#ing to -a%an, philosophy emerges Chen the ;aster appropriates to himsel$ the Slave<s /knoC-hoC/ an# trans$orms it into a universal episteme #isengage# $rom utilitarian interests, i,e,, into philosophi%al ontologyK 3 +n the history o$ philosophy, this moment roughly %orrespon#s to Plato an# "ristotle, Chereas stoi%ism, Chi%h $olloCs them, stan#s $or an attempt o$ the Slave to parti%ipate in the ;aster<s #isintereste# *noCle#ge 1stoi%ism is the philosophy o$ the Slave Cho posits his /inner $ree#om/ as the only level at Chi%h he is eDual to the ;aster2, 3hy then is this interme#iate term, this inaugural gesture o$ philosophi%al #is%ourse, missing $rom 0egel<s a%%ountK Perhaps the reason %an )e sought in the $a%t that the position o$ Philosopher Dua /;aster Cho thinks 1Cho possesses knoCle#ge2/ is inherently impossi)le and as such is a mere fantasy of philosophy Chi%h %an never )e realiFe#K 3as it not alrea#y Plato Cho, %linging to his #ream o$ a knoCing ;aster 1the /Philosopher-*ing/2, Cas )oun# to neC an# neCer #isappointments, $in#ing himsel$ again an# again re#u%e# to the role o$ a %ourt jester, Chispering a#vi%e in the ignorant ;aster<s earK 39 -- Phrenology en#s Cith the in$inite ju#gment /Spirit is a )one,/ 6A Chose spe%ulative %ontent is the i#entity o$ the su)je%t an# o)je%t, i,e,, the poCer o$ the Spirit to /)e%ome/ an inert thing, to /me#iate/ it' Chat then $olloCs is the passage into a%tive 9eason Chi%h en#eavors to %onsummate, to implement, to /realiFe,/ this truth o$ the o)serving 9eason, i,e,, to transpose it $rom its +n-itsel$ into its For-itsel$E )y means o$ his a%tivity o$ mol#ing o)je%ts, the su)je%t a%tualiFes himsel$, /%hanges into an o)je%t/' he a%Duires an e5isten%e in#epen#ent o$ his su)je%tive +nCar#ness in the guise o$ the human shape o$ the o)je%ts aroun# him, (here is again, hoCever, a %ertain )ump Chi%h )elies the smooth run o$ this passage an# intro#u%es a note o$ %ompulsive neurosis into the #iale%ti%al pro%ess, Chi%h otherCise $olloCs the matri5 o$ hysteri%iFationE the su)je%t es%apes into a%tivity, he transposes Chat he alrea#y possesse# into an in$inite task to )e -36gra#ually realiFe# through his %ontinuous e$$ort, +n other Cor#s, Ce en%ounter here a %ase o$ Chat psy%hoanalyti% theory %alls acting out, Gy Cay o$ shi$ting $rom phrenology into /a%tive 9eason,/ the su)je%t e$$e%tively puts o$$ the uneasy en%ounter Cith Chat is alrea#y here, Cith the 9ealE he transposes his i#entity Cith the #ea#, inert o)je%t 1Chi%h, at the en# o$ the phrenologi%al e5perien%e, is alrea#y realiFe#2 into the goal o$ his in$inite a%tivity-- the same as in %ourtly love Chere the knight again an# again assumes neC tasks in or#er to a#journ the $inal moment o$ the se5ual en%ounter Cith the la#y, +n )oth %ases, the aim o$ $light is the sameE to avoi# %on$ronting an un)eara)le trauma, in the $irst %ase the un%anny a)yss o$ the su)je%t 6ua L, the voi# o$ a)solute sel$-%ontra#i%tion, in the se%on# %ase the traumati% $a%t that /there is no se5ual relationship,/ +$, hoCever, this is hoC things stan#, then )etCeen the imme#iate naivetJ o$ the phrenologi%al attitu#e 1Chi%h /truly )elieves/ that the key to the se%rets o$ the Spirit is %ontaine# in the skull<s %onve5ities an# is thus unaCare o$ the spe%ulative %ontent o$ the eDuation /Spirit is a )one/2 an# the attitu#e o$ /a%tive 9eason/ 1Chi%h en#eavors to realiFe this spe%ulative %ontent )y Cay o$ )estoCing on the o)je%ts the $orm Chi%h suits spiritual en#s2 Ce must interpose a )rie$, evanes%ent, yet $or stru%tural

reasons ne%essary moment at Chi%h %ons%iousness has a $ore)o#ing o$ the spe%ulative truth o$ phrenology, )ut is unable to endure it and therefore runs away from it into activity, 61

%i6itation ,re edes Trans enden e

"gainst the )a%kgroun# o$ this shi$t $rom *ant<s su)je%t Dua the + o$ pure apper%eption to 0egel<s su)je%t Dua the %ra%k in the universal Su)stan%e, it is possi)le to #elineate the e5a%t nature o$ the relationship )etCeen the 9eal an# the o)je%t small a 1ob(et petit a2, (he o)vious solution, o$ %ourse, is to %on%eive o$ the 9eal as the su)stan%e o$ (ouissance ra#i%ally e5ternal to the sym)oli% or#er, an# o$ the status o$ ob(et a as that o$ a sem)lan%eE the sem)lan%e o$ )eing, (he translation into *antian terms seems no less o)viousE the 9eal is the *ing7an7sich, the ina%%essi)le su)stan%e, an# a the trans%en#ental o)je%t, (his translation seems impose# )y the Cay *ant #i$$erentiates )etCeen the trans%en#ental o)je%t an# the *ing7an7sichE they are o$ the same nature, yet in the %ase o$ the (hing the a%%ent is on its in#epen#en%e $rom the su)je%t<s per%eption, $rom the su)je%t<s)eing a$$e%te# )y it 1the (hing is Chat it is /in itsel$,/ irrespe%tive o$ us2' Chereas in the %ase o$ trans%en#ental o)je%t, the a%%ent shi$ts imper%epti)ly, )ut %ru-37%iallyE the trans%en#ental o)je%t is the un#erlying, unknoCn groun# o$ appearan%e, i,e,, o$ Chat Ce per%eive as an o)je%t o$ e5perien%e, 0oCever, it is this groun# %on%eive# o$ in the mo#e o$ our thinking' that is, it is the unknoCn M that has to )e thought o$ as an M 1a sensuously un$ul$ille# %on%eption2 i$ our e5perien%e is to retain its %onsisten%y, (he point is, pre%isely, that it has to be thought, +n other Cor#s, the trans%en#ental o)je%t is a edankendingE it is as it Cere the /+n-itsel$ inso$ar as it is $or us, $or the %ons%iousness,/ i,e,, it #esignates the Cay the +n-itsel$ is present in thought, 64 (he pro)lem Cith this seemingly o)vious solution is that it lea#s to the /su)stantialiFation/ o$ the (hingE it %ompels us to %on%eive the (hing as the $ullness o$ the in-itsel$ an# the trans%en#ental o)je%t as the Cay this $ullness is present in our e5perien%e-- in the guise o$ its opposite, o$ an empty thought #evoi# o$ any intuitive %ontent, +n this perspe%tive, the status o$ the trans%en#ental o)je%t is stri%tly se%on#ary' it #esignates the negative Cay the (hing is present in the $iel# o$ our e5perien%eE as the empty thought o$ an un#erlying, ina%%essi)le M, "n# are things not homologous in the relationship )etCeen the -a%anian (hing Dua su)stan%e o$ (ouissance an# ob(et petit a, the surplus-enjoymentK +s not the 9eal (hing a kin# o$ pree5isting su)stan%e /%ultivate#,/ /gentri$ie#/ )y the Sym)oli%, an# is not a the sem)lan%e o$ the lost (ouissance, i,e,, Chat remains in the Sym)oli% o$ the lost 9ealK +t is here that the $ate o$ our %omprehension o$ -a%an an# *ant is #e%i#e#, (hat is to say, a %ertain $un#amental am)iguity pertains to the notion o$ the 9eal in -a%anE the 9eal #esignates a su)stantial har# kernel that pre%e#es an# resists sym)oliFation an#, simultaneously, it #esignates the le$t-over, Chi%h is posite# or /pro#u%e#/ )y sym)oliFation itsel$, 63 0oCever, Chat Ce must avoi# at any pri%e is %on%eiving o$ this le$t-over as simply se%on#ary' as i$ Ce have first the su)stantial $ullness o$ the 9eal an# then the pro%ess o$ sym)oliFation Chi%h /eva%uates/ (ouissance, yet not entirely, leaving )ehin# isolate# remain#ers, islan#s o$ enjoyment, ob(ets petit a, +$ Ce su%%um) to this notion, Ce lose the para#o5 o$ the -a%anian 9ealE there is no su)stan%e o$ enjoyment Cithout, prior to, the surplus o$ enjoyment, The substance is a mirage retroactively invoked by the surplus, (he illusion that pertains to a Dua surplus-enjoyment is there$ore the very illusion that, )ehin# it, there is the lost su)stan%e o$ (ouissance, in other Cor#s, a Dua sem)lan%e #e%eives in a -a%anian CayE not )e%ause it is a #e%eit$ul su)stitute o$

the 9eal, )ut pre%isely )e%ause it invokes the impression o$ some su)stantial 9eal )ehin# it' it #e%eives )y posing as a sha#oC o$ -3>the un#erlying 9eal, 66 "n# the same goes $or *antE Chat *ant $ails to noti%e is that das *ing is a mirage invoke# )y the trans%en#ental o)je%t, Limitation precedes transcendenceE all that /a%tually e5ists/ is the $iel# o$ phenomena an# its limitation, Chereas das *ing is nothing )ut a phantasm Chi%h, su)seDuently, $ills out the voi# o$ the trans%en#ental o)je%t, -a%an<s ultimate point in his rea#ing o$ *ant is that the distinction between phenomena and the Thing can be sustained only within the space of desire as structured by the intervention of the signifier, it is this intervention that )rings a)out the split separating the a%%essi)le, sym)oli%ally stru%ture#, reality $rom the voi# o$ the 9eal, the in#e5 o$ the lost (hing, 3hat Ce e5perien%e as /reality/ #is%loses itsel$ against the )a%kgroun# o$ the la%k, o$ the a)sen%e o$ it, o$ the (hing, o$ the mythi%al o)je%t Chose en%ounter Coul# )ring a)out the $ull satis$a%tion o$ the #rive, (his la%k o$ the (hing %onstitutive o$ /reality/ is there$ore, in its $un#amental #imension, not epistemologi%al, )ut rather pertains to the para#o5i%al logi% o$ #esire-- the para#o5 )eing that this (hing is retroa%tively pro#u%e# )y the very pro%ess o$ sym)oliFation, i,e,, that it emerges in the very gesture o$ its loss, +n other 1 0egel<s2 Cor#s, there is nothing-- no positive su)stantial entity-- )ehin# the phenomenal %urtain, only the gaFe Chose phantasmagorias assume the #i$$erent shapes o$ the (hing, -a%an is $or that reason $ar $rom $alling prey to a theoreti%ally illegitimate short-%ir%uit )etCeen the psy%hoanalyti%al pro)lemati% o$ the unattaina)le lost o)je%t o$ #esire an# the epistemologi%al pro)lemati% o$ the o)je%t o$ knoCle#ge, o$ its unknoCa)le %hara%ter, 67 Tuite to the %ontrary, Chat he aims to #o is to #emonstrate pre%isely hoC this short-%ir%uit results $rom a kin# o$ perspe%tive illusion Chi%h generates an illegitimate 1although stru%turally ne%essary2 /su)stantiviFation/ o$ the (hing, (he status o$ the (hing-(ouissance )e%omes epistemologi%al' its unattaina)le %hara%ter is per%eive# as unknoCa)leness the moment Ce /su)stantiviFe/ it an# assume that it ontologi%ally pre%e#es its loss, i,e,, that there is something to see /)ehin# the %urtain/ 1o$ the phenomena2, (his priority o$ limitation over trans%en#en%e also she#s a neC 10egelian2 light on the *antian su)limeE Chat Ce e5perien%e as the positive su)lime %ontent 1the moral laC in ourselves, the #ignity o$ the $ree Cill2 is o$ a stri%tly se%on#ary nature' it is something Chi%h merely $ills out the original voi# opene# up )y the )reak#oCn o$ the $iel# o$ representations, +n other Cor#s, the Su)lime #oes not involve the )reak#oCn o$ the $iel# o$ phenomena, i,e,, the e5perien%e o$ hoC no phenomenon, even the mightiest one, %an appropriately e5press the suprasensi)le +#ea, (his notion--3Bthat, in the e5perien%e o$ the Su)lime, phenomena prove un$it to ren#er the +#ea-- results $rom a kin# o$ perspe%tive-illusion, 3hat a%tually )reaks #oCn in the e5perien%e o$ the Su)lime is the very notion that, )ehin# the $iel# o$ phenomena, lies some ina%%essi)le positive, su)stantial (hing, +n other Cor#s, this e5perien%e #emonstrates that phenomena an# noumena are not to )e %on%eive# as tCo positive #omains separate# )y a $rontierE the $iel# o$ phenomena as su%h is limite#, yet this limitation is its inherent #etermination, so that there is nothing /)eyon#/ this limit, (he limit ontologi%ally precedes its Geyon#E the o)je%t Chi%h Ce e5perien%e as /su)lime,/ its elevate# glitter, Schein, is a mere se%on#ary positiviFation o$ the

/nothing,/ the voi#, )eyon# the limit, "n#-- as #emonstrate# )y -a%an in his Seminar on the :thi% o$ Psy%hoanalysis-- this *antian notion o$ the Su)lime is Cholly %ompati)le Cith the Freu#ian notion o$ su)limationE in the Freu#ian theory, the /su)lime/ #esignates an empiri%al o)je%t that o%%upies, $ills in, the voi#, the empty pla%e, o$ the /primor#ially represse#/ (hing, )e%oming /elevate# to the #ignity o$ the (hing,/ +n this pre%ise sense, the su)lime o)je%t is simultaneously the sur$a%e Schein or /grima%e,/ a pure sem)lan%e #evoi# o$ any su)stantial support, and something /more real than reality itsel$/E in its very %apa%ity o$ a pure sem)lan%e, it /gives )o#y/ to a )oun#ary Chi%h $i5es the limits o$ 1Chat Ce e5perien%e as2 reality, i,e,, it hol#s the pla%e o$, stan#s in $or, Chat has to )e e5%lu#e#, $ore%lose#, i$ /reality/ is to retain its %onsisten%y, 6> "s regar#s 0egel<s %ritiDue o$ *ant, the %ru%ial thing is to avoi# the seemingly o)vious %on%lusion that 0egel /#elivers,/ makes a $oray into, Chat *ant shirks $rom an# #esignates as ina%%essi)le, (hat is to say, a%%or#ing to *ant, Ce, $inite )eings, are %on#emne# to the gap that separates intuition $rom %on%ept' it is this very gap Chi%h #e$ines our $initu#e, *ant<s point is that trans%en#ental %onstitution 1i,e,, the su)je%t<s /spontaneity/2 %an o%%ur only Cithin this horiFon o$ $initu#eE in an in$inite )eing 1Io#2, intuition an# intelle%t Coul# %oin%i#e, Chi%h is Chy su%h a )eing Coul# over%ome the opposition o$ theoreti%al an# pra%ti%al reason 1an#, %onseDuently, the nee# $or their me#iation in the /%apa%ity o$ ju#ging/2, Su%h a )eing Coul# )e %apa)le o$ /intelle%tual intuition/ or, to put it in another Cay, o$ pro#u%tive per%eptionE the very a%t o$ per%eption Coul# %reate 1not merely /%onstitute/ in the trans%en#ental sense2 the per%eive# o)je%ts, 0oC #oes 0egel respon# to this splittingK 0e in no Cay asserts that this intelle%tual intuition, the unity o$ %on%ept an# intuition, posite# )y *ant in the ina%%essi)le #ivine Geyon#, is alrea#y a%tual, present, in the + o$ pure sel$%ons%iousness' i$ this Cere the %ase, Ce Coul# have to #o Cith a -3 senseless solipsisti% %reationism, Cith the notion o$ an + #ire%tly %reating o)je%ts, 0egel<s point here is $ar more re$ine#E a%%or#ing to him, the very notion o$ /intelle%tual intuition/ )elongs to the level o$ a)stra%t Un#erstan#ing 1as oppose# to #iale%ti%al 9eason2, i,e,, it presents the synthesis o$ the Sensi)le an# the +ntelle%tual as something that takes pla%e in a separate #omain )eyon# their splitting, (he a%tual synthesis o$ the Sensi)le an# o$ the +ntelle%tual is alrea#y e$$e%tuate# in Chat Cas $or *ant their splitting, sin%e the suprasensi)le +#ea is nothing but the inherent limitation o$ the intuite# phenomena, 0egel thus %an )e sai# to rea$$irm the *antian gap that $orever separates intuition an# intelle%tE $or an /o)je%t/ to emerge in the $iel# o$ Chat Ce e5perien%e as reality, the multitu#e o$ sensi)le intuitions Chi%h provi#e its %ontent must )e supplemente# )y the /sensuously un$ul$ille# %on%eption/ o$ an M Dua edankending, i,e,, the voi# Chi%h no empiri%al, positive $eature %an $ill out, sin%e it is a %orrelative, a /rei$ie#/ e$$e%t, o$ the sub(ect<s syntheti% a%t o$ apper%eption, 6B (he very tetra# o$ *ant-Fi%hte-S%helling-0egel appears thus in a neC light, 3hen *ant $ormulate# the pro)lemati% o$ trans%en#ental %onstitution, o$ the + Dua pure apper%eption, he opene# up a neC #omain, yet he a#van%e# only hal$-Cay into it an# thus got stu%k in in%onsisten%ies' )oth Fi%hte an# S%helling en#eavore# to over%ome these *antian in%onsisten%ies )y %on%eiving o$ the *antian split )etCeen intelle%t an# 1sensi)le2 intuition as the lapse $rom some original unity, the true starting point o$ philosophy, Chi%h, o$ %ourse, is none other than intelle%tual intuition 1intelektuelle ,nschauung2, the unity o$ intuition an# intelle%t, o$ o)je%t an# su)je%t, o$ theory an# pra5is, et%, 0egel, hoCever, para#o5i%ally returns to 1ant, i,e,, he re(ects these post-*antian attempts o$ a )e$orehan#, pre%ipitate,

/imme#iate/ synthesis an# proposes to over%ome *ant<s in%onsisten%ies in a #i$$erent, /0egelian/ CayE )y #emonstrating hoC synthesis alrea#y is a%tualiFe# Chere *ant saC only the splitting, so that there is no nee# to postulate a separate, a##itional a%t o$ synthesis in the /intelle%tual intuition,/ 3e #o not pass $rom *ant to 0egel )y filling out the empty pla%e o$ the (hing, i,e,, the )la%k voi# per%epti)le in the %ra%k o$ the hal$-opene# Cin#oC in ;agritte<s Lunette d2approche, 6 )ut by affirming this void as such, in its priority to any positive entity that strives to $ill it out,

8Total Re all8# Knowledge in Real

"n#-- to return to noir-- it is this voi#, stan#ing $or the irre#u%i)le gap )etCeen the + o$ apper%eption an# the noumenal /(hing Chi%h thinks,/ -39Chi%h opens up the possi)ility o$ a /paranoia%/ attitu#e a%%or#ing to Chi%h noumenally-- Dua /(hing Chi%h thinks/-- + am an arti$a%t, a plaything in the han#s o$ an unknoCn ;aker, (he last impersonation o$ this $igure o%%urs in the noir-reneCal o$ the eighties, in the guise o$ the neC type o$ $ather Chi%h %hara%teriFes /postin#ustrial,/ %orporate late %apitalism, a $ather epitomiFe# )y (yrell in Blade 0unner, a lone $igure o$ un%anny, ethereal, $rail materiality, #evoi# o$ a se5ual partner, (his $ather %learly materialiFes the .artesian :vil IeniusE a $ather Cho e5erts #omination over me not at the level o$ my sym)oli% i#entity, )ut at the level o$ Chat + am Dua /(hing Chi%h thinks,/ 69 +n others Cor#s, a $ather Cho is not anymore S 1 , ;aster-Signi$ier Chose ?ame guarantees my sym)oli% i#entity, my pla%e in the te5ture o$ sym)oli% tra#ition, )ut S 4 , *noCle#ge Chi%h %reate# me as its arti$a%t, (he moment $ather %hanges his status $rom S 1 to S 4 , $rom empty ;aster-Signi$ier to *noCle#ge, +, the son, )e%ome a monster, 7A 0ere$rom the hysteri%iFation o$ the monster-sonE the Duestions monsters a##ress to their ;aker, $rom Dr, Frankenstein<s %reature to the 9utger 0auer %hara%ter in Blade 0unner, ultimately vary one an# the same moti$E /3hy #i# you s%reC me upK 3hy #i# you %reate me the Cay you #i#, in%omplete, %ripple#K/ 8r, to Duote the lines $rom ;ilton<s $aradise Lost Chi%h serve# as the motto to the $irst e#ition o$ "rankensteinE /Di# + reDuest thee, ;aker, $rom my %lay R (o moul# me manK Di# + soli%it thee R From #arkness to promote meK/ 71 (his para#o5 o$ the /su)je%t Cho knoCs he is a repli%ant/ ren#ers %lear Chat the /nonsu)stantial status o$ the su)je%t/ amounts toE Cith regar# to every su)stantial, positive %ontent o$ my )eing, + /am/ nothing )ut a repli%ant, i,e,, the #i$$eren%e Chi%h makes me /human/ an# not a repli%ant is to )e #is%erne# noChere in /reality,/ (herein %onsists the impli%it philosophi%al lesson o$ Blade 0unner atteste# to )y numerous allusions to the .artesian cogito 1like Chen the repli%ant-%hara%ter playe# )y Darryl 0annah ironi%ally points out /+ think, there$ore + am/2E Chere is the cogito, the pla%e o$ my sel$-%ons%iousness, Chen everything that + a%tually am is an arti$a%t-- not only my )o#y, my eyes, )ut even my most intimate memories an# $antasiesK +t is here that Ce again en%ounter the -a%anian #istin%tion )etCeen the su)je%t o$ enun%iation an# the su)je%t o$ enun%iate#E everything that + positively am, every enun%iate# %ontent + %an point at an# say /that<s me,/ is not /+/' + am only the voi# that remains, the empty #istan%e toCar# every %ontent, Blade 0unner thus gives a #ou)le tCist to the %ommonsense #istin%tion

-6A)etCeen human an# an#roi#, ;an is a repli%ant Cho #oes not knoC it' yet i$ this Cere all, the $ilm Coul# involve a simplisti% re#u%tionist notion that our sel$-e5perien%e Dua $ree /human/ agents is an illusion $oun#e# upon our ignoran%e o$ the %ausal ne5us Chi%h regulates our lives, For that reason, Ce shoul# supplement the $ormer statementE it is only Chen, at the level o$ the enun%iate# %ontent, + assume my repli%ant-status, that, at the level o$ enun%iation, + )e%ome a truly human su)je%t, /+ am a repli%ant/ is the statement o$ the su)je%t in its purest-the same as in "lthusser<stheory o$ i#eology Chere the statement /+ am in i#eology/ is the only Cay $or me to truly avoi# the vi%ious %ir%le o$ i#eology 1or the SpinoFeian version o$ itE the aCareness that nothing %an ever es%ape the grasp o$ ne%essity is the only Cay $or us to )e truly $ree2, 74 +n short, the impli%it thesis o$ Blade 0unner is that repli%ants are pure su)je%ts pre%isely inso$ar as they testi$y that every positive, su)stantial %ontent, in%lusive o$ the most intimate $antasies, is not /their oCn/ )ut alrea#y implante#, +n this pre%ise sense, su)je%t is )y #e$inition nostalgi%, a su)je%t o$ loss, -et us re%all hoC, in Blade 0unner, 9a%hael silently starts to %ry Chen De%kar# proves to her that she is a repli%ant, (he silent grie$ over the loss o$ her /humanity,/ the in$inite longing to )e or to )e%ome human again, although she knoCs this Cill never happen' or, %onversely, the eternal gnaCing #ou)t over Chether + am truly human or just an an#roi#-- it is these very un#e%i#e#, interme#iate states Chi%h make me human, 73 3hat is o$ %ru%ial importan%e here is that Ce #o not %on$use this ra#i%al /#e%entere#ness/ %hara%teriFing the repli%ants Cith the #e%entere#ness %hara%teriFing the su)je%t o$ the signi$ier Cith regar# to the )ig 8ther, to the sym)oli% or#er, 3e %an, o$ %ourse, rea# Blade 0unner as a $ilm a)out the pro%ess o$ su)je%tiviFation o$ the repli%antsE #espite the $a%t that their most intimate memories are not /true/ )ut only implante#, repli%ants su)je%tiviFe themselves )y Cay o$ %om)ining these memories into an in#ivi#ual myth, a narrative Chi%h alloCs them to %onstru%t their pla%e in the sym)oli% universe, Furthermore, are not our /human/ memories also /implante#/ in the sense that Ce all )orroC the elements o$ our in#ivi#ual myths $rom the treasury o$ the )ig 8therK "re Ce not, prior to our speaking, spoken )y the #is%ourse o$ the 8therK "s to the truth o$ our memories, #oes not, a%%or#ing to -a%an, truth have the stru%ture o$ a $i%tionK :ven i$ its ingre#ients are invente# or implante#, not /really ours,/ Chat remains /ours/ is the uniDue Cay Ce su)je%tiviFe them, Ce integrate them into our sym)oli% universe, From this perspe%tive, the lesson o$ Blade -610unner is that manipulation is ultimately #oome# to $ailE even i$ (yrell arti$i%ially implante# every element o$ our memory, Chat he Cas not a)le to $oresee is the Cay repli%ants Cill organiFe these elements into a mythi%al narrative Chi%h Cill then give rise to the hysteri%al Duestion, 76 3hat -a%an has in min# Cith cogito, hoCever, is the e8act opposite of this gesture of sub(ectivi4ationE the /su)je%t/ Dua L emerges not via su)je%tiviFationnarrativiFation, i,e,, via the /in#ivi#ual myth/ %onstru%te# $rom the #e%entere# pie%es o$ tra#ition' instea#, the su)je%t emerges at the very moment when the individual loses its support in the network of tradition' it %oin%i#es Cith the voi# that remains a$ter the $rameCork o$ sym)oli% memory is suspen#e#, (he emergen%e o$ cogito thus un#ermines the su)je%t<s inveterateness in the sym)oli% tra#ition )y Cay o$ opening up an irre#u%i)le gap )etCeen the horiFon o$ meaning, o$ narrative tra#ition, an# an impossi)le knoCle#ge Chose possession Coul# ena)le me to gain a%%ess to the (hing + am in the 9eal, )eyon# all narrativiFation, all sym)oliFation or histori%iFation, " $ull re%olle%tion 1/total re%all/2 Coul#

there$ore amount to $illing out the voi# Chi%h %onstitutes me Dua L, su)je%t o$ sel$%ons%iousness, i,e,, to i#enti$ying-re%ogniFing mysel$ as /he or it, the (hing Chi%h thinks,/ +n -a%anian terms, /total re%all/ Coul# amount to the /knoCle#ge in the 9eal,/ 77 9epli%ants knoC their li$e span is limite# to $our years, (his %ertainty saps the openness o$ their /)eing-toCar#s-#eath/' it )ears Citness to their arrival at the impossi)le point o$ knoCing hoC they are stru%ture# Dua /thing-ma%hine Chi%h thinks,/ For that reason, repli%ants are ultimately the impossi)le $antasy-$ormation o$ us human mortalsE the $antasy o$ a )eing %ons%ious o$ itsel$ Dua (hing, o$ a )eing Chi%h #oes not have to pay $or a%%ess to sel$%ons%iousness Cith L, Cith the loss o$ its su)stantial support, " %ra%k in this $antasy there$ore ena)les us to )roa%h the Duestion o$ /arti$i%ial intelligen%e/E #o %omputers thinkK 3hat is %ru%ial to the #e)ates on arti$i%ial intelligen%e is that an inversion has taken pla%e, Chi%h is the $ate o$ every su%%ess$ul metaphorE one $irst tries to simulate human thought Cith the %omputer, )ringing the mo#el as %lose as possi)le to the human /original,/ until at a %ertain point matters reverse an# the Duestion emergesE what if this %model% is already a model of the %original% itself, Chat i$ human intelligen%e itsel$ operates like a %omputer, is /programme#,/ et%,K 1(herein %onsists also the intriguing impli%ation o$ the %omputergenerate# /virtual reality/E Chat i$ our /true/ reality itsel$ has to )e virtualiFe#, %on%eive# as an arti$a%tK2 (he %omputer raises in pure -64$orm the Duestion o$ sem)lan%e, o$ a #is%ourse Chi%h Coul# not )e that o$ a sem)lan%eE it is %lear that the %omputer in some sense only /simulates/ thought' yet how does the total simulation of thought differ from %real% thought) ?o Con#er, then, that the spe%ter o$ /arti$i%ial intelligen%e/ appears as an entity Chi%h is simultaneously prohibited an# %onsi#ere# impossibleE Ce assert that it is not possi)le $or a ma%hine to think at the same time, Ce try to prohi)it resear%h in these #ire%tions, on the groun#s that it is #angerous, ethi%ally #u)ious, et%, Do then /%omputers think/ or notK (he ansCer hinges pre%isely on this logi% o$ the reverse# metaphor Chere, instea# o$ %on%eiving o$ the %omputer as the mo#el $or the human )rain, Ce %on%eive o$ the )rain itsel$ as a /%omputer ma#e o$ $lesh an# )loo#,/ Chere, instea# o$ #e$ining the ro)ot as the arti$i%ial man, Ce #e$ine man himsel$ as a /natural ro)ot,/ et%, (his reversal %oul# )e $urther e5empli$ie# )y resorting to the #omain o$ se5uality, 3e usually %onsi#er mastur)ation as an /imaginary se5ual a%t,/ i,e,, an a%t Chere the )o#ily %onta%t Cith a partner is only imagine#' is it not possi)le to reverse the terms an# to %on%eive the /proper/ se5ual a%t, the a%t Cith an /a%tual/ partner, as a kin# o$ /mastur)ation Cith a real 1instea# o$ only imagine#2 partner/K (he Chole point o$ -a%an<s insisten%e on the /impossi)ility o$ se5ual relationship/ is that this, pre%isely, is Chat the /a%tual/ se5ual a%t is' man<s partner is never a Coman in the real kernel o$ her )eing, )ut Coman Dua a, re#u%e# to the $antasy-o)je%t 1let us just re%all -a%an<s #e$inition o$ the phalli% enjoyment as essentially mastur)atory2@ +t is against this )a%kgroun# that Ce %an provi#e one o$ the possi)le #e$initions o$ the -a%anian 9ealE the 9eal #esignates the very remain#er Chi%h resists this reversal 1o$ %omputer Dua mo#el o$ human )rains into )rains themselves Dua )loo#-an#-$lesh %omputer' o$ mastur)ation Dua imaginary se5ual a%t into the a%tual se5ual a%t Dua mastur)ation Cith a real partner2, (he 9eal is that M on Chose a%%ount this /sDuaring o$ the %ir%le/ ultimately is #oome# to $ail, (his reversal relies on a kin# o$ realiFation o$ the metaphorE Chat at $irst

appears as a mere metaphori%al simulation, a pale imitation, o$ the true reality 1%omputer as a metaphor o$ the true )rains, et%,2 )e%omes the original para#igm imitate# )y )loo#-an#-$lesh reality 1)rains $olloC in an alCays imper$e%t Cay the $un%tioning o$ the %omputer, et%,2, 3hat Ce e5perien%e as /reality/ is %onstitute# )y su%h a reversalE as -a%an puts it, /reality/ is alCays $rame# )y a $antasy, i,e,, $or something real to )e e5perien%e# as part o$ /reality,/ it must $it the preor#aine# %oor#inates o$ our $antasy-spa%e 1a se5ual a%t must $it the %oor#i-63nates o$ our imagine# $antasy-s%ripts, a )rain must $it the $un%tioning o$ a %omputer, et%,2, (his Cay, Ce %an propose a se%on# #e$inition o$ the 9ealE a surplus, a har# kernel, Chi%h resists any pro%ess o$ mo#eling, simulation, or metaphori%iFation, -et us re%all hoC, apropos o$ ,lien3, some revieCers Duote# a series o$ $eatures 1the a%tion takes pla%e in a %lose# male %ommunity Chere even 9ipley has to shave her hea# in or#er to )e%ome part o$ it' humans are utterly #e$enseless against the threat o$ the /alien,/ et%,2 as an argument $or %on%eiving the /alien/ as a metaphor o$ "+DS, 3hat one has to a##, $rom the -a%anian perspe%tive, is that all the talk a)out /alien,/ the monster, as a metaphor o$ "+DS $alls short o$ the %ru%ial $a%t that "+DS itsel$ oCes its tremen#ous impa%t not to its raC reality o$ an illness, to its imme#iate physi%al impa%t, hoCever horri$ying it may )e, )ut to the e5traor#inary li)i#inal energy investe# in it 1"+DS is per%eive# as irresisti)le, it strikes su##enly, as i$ $rom noChere, it seems to $un%tion per$e%tly as Io#<s punishment $or our promis%uous Cay o$ li$e,,,2, +n short, "+DS o%%upies a %ertain preor#aine# pla%e in our i#eologi%al $antasy-spa%e, an# the monstrous /alien/ ultimately just materialiFes, gives )o#y to, this $antasy-#imension Chi%h $rom the very )eginning Cas at Cork in the "lDSphenomenon, 8ur point is thus a very elementary oneE true, the %omputer-generate# /virtual reality/ is a sem)lan%e, it #oes $ore%lose the 9eal' )ut Chat Ce e5perien%e as the /true, har#, e5ternal reality/ is )ase# upon e5a%tly the same e5%lusion, (he ultimate lesson o$ /virtual reality/ is the virtualiFation o$ the very /true/ realityE )y the mirage o$ /virtual reality,/ the /true/ reality itsel$ is posite# as a sem)lan%e o$ itsel$, as a pure sym)oli% e#i$i%e, (he $a%t that /a %omputer #oesn<t think/ means that the pri%e $or our a%%ess to /reality/ is that something must remain unthought, -66-

9 Cogito and the &e.ual $ifferen e

The Kantian Cra 4 in the 'ni7ersal
+t may seem para#o5i%al to evoke a /%ra%k in the universal/ apropos o$ *antE Cas *ant not o)sesse# )y the Universal, Cas not his $un#amental aim to esta)lish the universal $orm 1%onstitutive2 o$ knoCle#ge, #oes his ethi%s not propose the universal $orm o$ the rule Chi%h regulates our a%tivity as the sole %riterion o$ morality, et%,K =et as soon as the (hing-in-itsel$ is posite# as unattaina)le, every universal is potentially suspended, :very universal implies a point o$ e5%eption at Chi%h its vali#ity, its hol#, is %an%ele#' or, to put it in the language o$ %ontemporary physi%s, it implies a point o$ singularity, (his /singularity/ is ultimately the 1antian sub(ect himself, namely the empty su)je%t o$ the trans%en#ental apper%eption, 8n a%%ount o$ this singularity, ea%h o$ *ant<s three %ritiDues /stum)les/ against universaliFation, +n /pure reason,/ antinomies emerge Chen, in the use o$ %ategories, Ce rea%h )eyon# our $inite e5perien%e an# en#eavor to apply them to the totality o$ the universeE i$ Ce en#eavor to %on%eive the universe as a !hole, it appears simultaneously as $inite an# in$inite, as an allem)ra%ing %ausal ne5us an# %ontaining $ree )eings, +n /pra%ti%al reason,/ the /%ra%k/ is intro#u%e# )y the possi)ility o$ /ra#i%al :vil,/ o$ an :vil Chi%h, as to its $orm, coincides with the ood 1the $ree Cill Dua Cill Chi%h $olloCs universal sel$-posite# rules %an %hoose to )e /evil/ out o$ prin%iple, not on a%%ount o$ /pathologi%al,/ empiri%al impulses2, +n the /%apa%ity o$ ju#ging/ Dua /synthesis/ o$ pure an# pra%ti%al reason, the split o%%urs tCi%e, First, Ce have the opposition o$ aestheti%s an# teleology, the tCo poles Chi%h, together, -67#o not $orm a harmonious 3hole, Geauty is /purpose$ulness Cithout purpose/E a pro#u%t o$ man<s %ons%ious a%tivity, it )ears the mark o$ purpose$ulness, yet an o)je%t appears as /)eauti$ul/ only inso$ar as it is e5perien%e# as something Chi%h serves no #e$inite purpose, Chi%h is here Cithout reason or en#, +n other Cor#s, Geauty #esignates the para#o5i%al point at Chi%h human a%tivity 1Chi%h is otherCise instrumental, #ire%te# at realiFing %ons%ious aims2 starts to $un%tion as a spontaneous natural $or%eE a true Cork o$ art never pro%ee#s $rom a %ons%ious plan, it must /groC out spontaneously,/ (eleology, on the other han#, #eals Cith #is%erning hi##en purposes at Cork in a nature su)mitte# to )lin# me%hani%al laCs, i,e,, ontologi%ally %onstitute# as /o)je%tive reality/ )y means o$ trans%en#ental %ategories among Chi%h there is no pla%e $or purpose$ulness, 1 (he Su)lime is to )e %on%eive# pre%isely as the in#e5 o$ the $aile# /synthesis/ o$ Geauty an# Purpose-- or, to use elementary mathemati%al language, as the interse%tion o$ the tCo sets, the set o$ Chat is /)eauti$ul/ an# the set o$ Chat is /purpose$ul/-- a negative interse%tion, to )e sure, i,e,, an interse%tion %ontaining elements Chi%h are neither )eauti$ul nor purpose$ul, Su)lime phenomena 1more pre%isely, phenomena Chi%h arouse in the su)je%t the sentiment o$ the Su)lime2 are in no Cay )eauti$ul' they are %haoti%, $ormless, the very opposite o$ a harmonious $orm, an# they also serve no purpose, i,e,, they are the very opposite o$ those $eatures that )ear Citness to a hi##en purpose$ulness in nature 1they are monstrous in the sense o$ the ine5pe#iently e5%essive, over)loCn %hara%ter o$ an organ or an o)je%t2, "s su%h,

the Su)lime is the site o$ the ins%ription o$ pure su)je%tivity Chose a)yss )oth Geauty an# (eleology en#eavor to %on%eal )y Cay o$ the appearan%e o$ 0armony, 0oC then, on a %loser look, is the Su)lime relate# to the tCo sets o$ Geauty an# (eleology Chose interse%tion it isK "s to the relationship )etCeen the Geauti$ul an# the Su)lime, *ant, as is Cell knoCn, %on%eives o$ )eauty as the sym)ol o$ the Ioo#' at the same time, he points out that Chat is truly su)lime is not the o)je%t Chi%h arouses the $eeling o$ su)limity )ut the moral -aC in us, our suprasensi)le nature, "re then )eauty an# su)limity simply to )e %on%eive# as tCo #i$$erent sym)ols o$ the Ioo#K 8r is it not, on the %ontrary, that this #uality points toCar# a %ertain %hasm Chi%h must pertain to the moral -aC itsel$K -a%an #raCs a line o$ #emar%ation )etCeen the tCo $a%ets o$ laCE on the one han#, laC Dua sym)oli% :go+#eal-i,e,, laC in its pa%i$ying $un%tion, laC Dua guarantee o$ the so%ial pa%t, Dua the interme#iating (hir# Chi%h #issolves the impasse o$ imagi-6>nary aggressivity' on the other han#, laC in its superego #imension-- i,e,, laC Dua /irrational/ pressure, the $or%e o$ %ulpa)ilitiFation totally in%ommensura)le Cith our a%tual responsi)ility, the agen%y in Chose eyes Ce are a priori guilty an# Chi%h gives )o#y to the impossi)le imperative o$ enjoyment, +t is this #istin%tion )etCeen :go-+#eal an# superego Chi%h ena)les us to spe%i$y hoC Geauty an# Su)limity are #i$$erently relate# to the #omain o$ ethi%s, Geauty is the sym)ol o$ the Ioo#, i,e,, o$ the moral -aC as the pa%i$ying agen%y Chi%h reins in our egotism an# ren#ers possi)le harmonious so%ial %oe5isten%e, +n %ontrast, the #ynami%al su)lime-- vol%ani% eruptions, stormy seas, mountain pre%ipi%es, et%,-- )y its very $ailure to sym)oliFe 1to represent sym)oli%ally2 the suprasensi)le moral -aC evokes its superego #imension, (he logi% at Cork in the e5perien%e o$ the #ynami%al su)lime is there$oreE true, + may )e a tiny parti%le o$ #ust throCn aroun# )y Cin# an# sea, poCerless in $a%e o$ the raging $or%es o$ nature, yet all this fury of nature pales in comparison with the absolute pressure e8erted on me by the superego, which humiliates me and compels me to act against my fundamental interests< 13hat Ce en%ounter here is the )asi% para#o5 o$ the *antian autonomyE + am a $ree an# autonomous su)je%t, #elivere# $rom the %onstraints o$ my pathologi%al nature, pre%isely an# only inso$ar as my $eeling o$ sel$-esteem is %rushe# #oCn )y the humiliating pressure o$ the moral -aC,2 (herein %onsists also the superego #imension o$ the HeCish Io# evoke# )y the high priest ")ner in 9a%ine<s ,thaliahE /=e crains *ieu et n2ai point d2autre crainte.../-- the $ear o$ raging nature an# o$ the pain other men %an in$li%t on me %onverts into su)lime pea%e not simply )y my )e%oming aCare o$ the suprasensi)le nature in me )eyon# the rea%h o$ the $or%es o$ nature )ut )y my realiFing hoC the pressure o$ the moral -aC is stronger than even the mightiest o$ natural $or%es, (he unavoi#a)le %on%lusion to )e #raCn $rom all this isE i$ Geauty is the sym)ol o$ the Ioo#, the Su)lime is the sym)ol o$,,,0ere, alrea#y, the homology gets stu%k, (he pro)lem Cith the su)lime o)je%t 1more pre%iselyE Cith the o)je%t Chi%h arouses in us the $eeling o$ the Su)lime2 is that it fails as a sym)ol' it evokes its Geyon# )y the very $ailure o$ its sym)oli% representation, So, i$ Geauty is the sym)ol o$ the Ioo#, the Su)lime evokes-- ChatK (here is only one ansCer possi)leE the nonpathologi%al, ethi%al, suprasensi)le #imension, $or sure, )ut the suprasensible, the ethical stance, insofar as it eludes the domain of the ood-- in shortE ra#i%al :vil, :vil as an ethi%al attitu#e, 4 +n to#ay<s popular i#eology, this para#o5 o$ the *antian Su)lime is Chat

-6Bperhaps ena)les us to #ete%t the roots o$ the pu)li% $as%ination Cith $igures like 0anni)al -e%ter, the %anni)al serial killer $rom (homas 0arris<s novelsE Chat this $as%ination ultimately )ears Citness to is a #eep longing $or a -a%anian psy%hoanalyst, (hat is to say, 0anni)al -e%ter is a su)lime $igure in the stri%t *antian senseE a #esperate, ultimately $aile# attempt o$ the popular imagination to represent to itsel$ the i#ea o$ a -a%anian analyst, (he %orrelation )etCeen -e%ter an# the -a%anian analyst %orrespon#s per$e%tly to the relation Chi%h, a%%or#ing to *ant, #e$ines the e5perien%e o$ the /#ynami% su)lime/E the relation )etCeen Cil#, %haoti%, untame#, raging nature an# the suprasensi)le +#ea o$ 9eason )eyon# any natural %onstraints, (rue, -e%ter<s evil-- he not only kills his vi%tims, )ut then goes on to eat parts o$ their entrails-- strains to its limits our %apa%ity to imagine the horrors Ce %an in$li%t on our $elloC %reatures' yet even the utmost e$$ort to represent to ourselves -e%ter<s %ruelty $ails to %apture the true #imension o$ the a%t o$ the analystE )y )ringing a)out la travers5e du fantasme 1the %rossing o$ our $un#amental $antasy2, he literally /steals the kernel o$ our )eing,/ the ob(ect small a, the se%ret treasure, agalma, Chat Ce %onsi#er most pre%ious in ourselves, #enoun%ing it as a mere sem)lan%e, -a%an #e$ines the ob(ect small a as the $antasmati% /stu$$ o$ the +,/ as that Chi%h %on$ers on the L, on the $issure in the sym)oli% or#er, on the ontologi%al voi# that Ce %all /su)je%t,/ the ontologi%al %onsisten%y o$ a /person,/ the sem)lan%e o$ a $ullness o$ )eing-- an# it is pre%isely this /stu$$ / that the analyst pulveriFes, /sCalloCs,/ (his is the reason $or the une5pe%te# /eu%haristi%/ element at Cork in -a%an<s #e$inition o$ the analyst, namely his repeate# ironi% allusion to 0ei#eggerE /3ange ton *asein@/-- /:at your )eing-there@/ (herein resi#es the poCer o$ $as%ination that pertains to the $igure o$ 0anni)al -e%terE )y its very $ailure to attain the a)solute limit o$ Chat -a%an %alls /su)je%tive #estitution,/ this $igure ena)les us to get a presentiment o$ the +#ea o$ the analyst, So, in The Silence of the Lambs, -e%ter is truly %anni)alisti% not in relation to his vi%tims )ut in relation to .lari%e SterlingE their relationship is a mo%king imitation o$ the analyti% situation, sin%e in e5%hange $or his helping her to %apture /Buffalo Bill,/ he Cants her to %on$i#e in him-- ChatK Pre%isely Chat the analysan# %on$i#es to the analyst, the kernel o$ her )eing, her $un#amental $antasy 1the %rying o$ the lam)s2, (he Dui# pro Duo propose# )y -e%ter to .lari%e is there$oreE /+<ll help you i$ you let me eat your *asein@/ (he inversion o$ the proper analyti% relation turns on the $a%t that -e%ter %ompensates .lari%e )y helping her tra%k #oCn /Buffalo Bill,/ (hus, he is not %ruel enough to )e a -a%anian analyst, sin%e -6 in psy%hoanalysis, Ce must pay the analyst so that he alloCs us to o$$er him our *asein on a plate, +$, %onseDuently, the Su)lime is oppose# to the Geauti$ul Cith regar# to the tCo si#es o$ the moral -aC 1the pa%i$ying :go-+#eal versus the $ero%ious superego2, hoC are Ce to #istinguish it $rom its %ounterpole in the &riti6ue of =udgement, $rom teleology in natureK (he Su)lime #esignates nature in its purposeless raging, in the e5pen#iture o$ its $or%es Chi%h does not serve anything 1 -a%an<s #e$inition o$ enjoyment $rom the $irst pages o$ :n%ore2, Chereas the teleologi%al o)servation #is%overs in nature a presuppose# 1merely re$le5ive, not %onstitutive2 knowledge, i,e,, the regulative hypothesis o$ teleology is that /nature knoCs/ 1the $loC o$ events #oes not $olloC /)lin#/ me%hani% %ausality' it is gui#e# )y some %ons%ious purpose$ulness2, 3 +n the Su)lime, nature #oes not knoC-- an# Chere /it #oesn<t knoC,/ it en(oys 1Ce are there)y again at the superego Dua laC Chi%h enjoys, Dua the agen%y o$ laC permeate# Cith o)s%ene enjoyment2, (he se%ret %onne%tion )etCeen su%h an out)urst o$ the

/enjoyment o$ nature/ an# the superego is the key to Hohn For# The #urricane 1 193B2, the story o$ a san#)ar, on%e an islan# para#ise run )y the Fren%h governor De -aage 1 9aymon# ;assey2 6 Cho #enies mer%y to (erangi, an a)origine %on#emne# $or hitting )a%k at a Fren%hman, 3hen (erangi es%apes $rom the prison to rejoin his Ci$e, De -aage pursues him mer%ilessly until a hurri%ane #estroys everything, De -aage, o$ %ourse, is an irrational laCan#-or#er e5tremist, in$este# Cith myopi% arrogan%e-- in short, a superego $igure i$ there ever Cas one, From this perspe%tive, the $un%tion o$ the hurri%ane shoul# )e to tea%h De -aage that there are things more important than the penal %o#eE Chen De -aage is %on$ronte# )y the ruination %ause# )y the hurri%ane, he hum)ly grants (erangi his $ree#om, =et the para#o5 is that the hurri%ane #estroys the native #Cellings an# their islan# para#ise, Chile De -aage is spare#' so the hurri%ane must rather )e %on%eive# as a mani$estation o$ *e Laage<s patriar%hal-superego Crath@ +n other Cor#s, Chat so)ers De -aage is his %on$rontation Cith the #estru%tive nature o$ the $ury Chi%h #Cells in him' the hurri%ane makes him aCare o$ the Cil#, untame# en(oyment that pertains to his $anati%al #evotion to the laC, 0e is a)le to grant amnesty to (erangi not )e%ause he gaine# an insight into the nullity o$ human laCs in %omparison Cith the immensity o$ the $or%es o$ nature as they mani$est themselves in the hurri%ane, )ut )e%ause he realiFe# that the hi##en reverse o$ Chat he per%eive# as his moral re%titu#e is ra#i%al :vil Chose #estru%tive poCer oversha#oCs even the $ero%ity o$ the hurri%ane, -69-

The Christian &u/li6e, or, the 8$ownward:&ynthesis8

"lthough .hristianity remains Cithin the %on$ines o$ the Su)lime, it )rings a)out the su)lime e$$e%t in a Cay e5a%tly opposite to that o$ *antE not through the e5treme e5ertions o$ our %apa%ity to represent 1Chi%h nonetheless $ails to ren#er the suprasensi)le +#ea an# thus para#o5i%ally su%%ee#s in #elineating its spa%e2, )ut as it Cere a contrario, through the re#u%tion o$ the representative %ontent to the loCest imagina)le levelE at the level o$ representation, .hrist Cas the /son o$ a man,/ a ragge#, misera)le %reature %ru%i$ie# )etCeen tCo %ommon )rigan#s' an# it is against the )a%kgroun# o$ this utterly Cret%he# %hara%ter o$ his earthly appearan%e that his #ivine essen%e shines through all the more poCer$ully, +n the late Ui%torian age, the same me%hanism Cas responsi)le $or the i#eologi%al impa%t o$ the tragi% $igure o$ the /elephant-man,/ as the su)title o$ one o$ the )ooks a)out him suggests 1 , Study in #uman *ignity2E it Cas the very monstrous an# nauseating #istortion o$ his )o#y Chi%h ren#ere# visi)le the simple #ignity o$ his inner spiritual li$e, "n# is not the same logi% the essential ingre#ient o$ the tremen#ous su%%ess o$ Stephen 0aCking<s , Brief #istory of TimeK 3oul# his ruminations a)out the $ate o$ the universe remain so attra%tive to the pu)li% i$ it Cere not $or the $a%t that they )elong to a %ripple#, paralyFe# )o#y %ommuni%ating Cith the Corl# only through the $ee)le movement o$ one $inger an# speaking Cith a ma%hinegenerate# impersonal voi%eK (herein %onsists the /.hristian Su)lime/E in this Cret%he# /little pie%e o$ the real/ lies the ne%essary %ounterpart 1$orm o$ appearan%e2 o$ pure spirituality, (hat is to say, Ce must )e very %are$ul here not to miss 0egel<s pointE Chat 0egel aims at is not the simple $a%t that, sin%e the Suprasensi)le is in#i$$erent to the #omain o$ sensi)le representations, it %an appear even in the guise o$ the loCest representation, 0egel insists again an# again that there is no spe%ial /suprasensi)le realm/ )eyon# or apart $rom our universe o$ sensi)le e5perien%e' the re#u%tion to the nauseating /little pie%e o$ the real/ is thus stricto sensu per$ormative, pro#u%tive o$ the spiritual #imension' the spiritual /#epth/ is generated )y the monstrous #istortion o$ the sur$a%e, +n other Cor#s, the point is not only that Io#<s em)o#iment in a ragge# %reature ren#ers visi)le to us, human mortals, 0is true nature

)y Cay o$ the %ontrast, o$ the ri#i%ulous, e5treme #is%or#, )etCeen 0im an# the loCest $orm o$ human e5isten%e' the point is rather that this e5treme #is%or#, this a)solute gap, is the #ivine poCer o$ /a)solute negativity,/ Goth HeCish an# -7A.hristian religions insist on the a)solute #is%or# )etCeen Io# 1Spirit2 an# the #omain o$ 1sensi)le2 representations' their #i$$eren%e is o$ a purely $ormal natureE in HeCish religion Io# #Cells in a Geyon# unattaina)le through representations, separate# $rom us )y an un)ri#gea)le gap, Chereas the .hristian Io# is this gap itself, +t is this shi$t that %auses the %hange in the logi% o$ the Su)lime, $rom the prohi)ition o$ representation to the a%%eptan%e o$ the most null representation, 7 (his /.hristian Su)lime/ involves a spe%i$i% mo#e o$ the #iale%ti%al movement Chi%h might )e %alle# the /#oCnCar#-synthesis/E the %on%lu#ing moment is here not a triumphant /synthesis,/ )ut the loCest point at Chi%h the very %ommon groun# o$ position an# negation is Corn aCay, 3hat Ce get stu%k Cith is a remain#er Chi%h $alls out $rom the sym)oli% or#erE the or#er o$ universal sym)oli% me#iation as it Cere %ollapses into an inert le$t-over, "part $rom the .hristian Su)lime, the $urther e5amples o$ it are the tria# o$ positive-negativein$inite ju#gment, the #iale%ti% o$ phrenology 1 /Spirit is a )one/2, an#, o$ %ourse, the tria# o$ -aC Chi%h %on%lu#es the %hapter on 9eason an# sets the passage into Spirit, into 0istory, in 0egel $henomenology of SpiritE reason as laCgiver' reason as testing laCs' the a%%eptan%e o$ laC $or the simple $a%t that it is laC, 9eason $irst #ire%tly posits laCs Dua universal ethi%al pre%epts 1 /:veryone ought to speak the truth,/ et%,2' on%e it gains an insight into the %ontingent %ontent an# the possi)le %on$li%tual nature o$ these laCs 1#i$$erent ethi%al norms may impose on us mutually e5%lusive $orms o$ )ehavior2, it assumes a kin# o$ reflective #istan%e an# limits itsel$ to their testing, to assessing hoC they $it $ormal stan#ar#s o$ universality an# %onsisten%y' $inally, 9eason )e%omes aCare o$ the empty, purely $ormal %hara%ter o$ this pro%e#ure, o$ its in%apa%ity to pro%ure a%tual spiritual su)stan%e $ille# out Cith %on%rete, positive %ontent, 9eason is thus %ompelle# to re%on%ile itsel$ to the $a%t that it %an neither posit nor re$le%t upon laCs Cithout presupposing our inveterate#ness in some %on%rete, determinate ethi%al su)stan%e, in a laC Chi%h is in $or%e simply because it is law, i,e,, )e%ause it is a%%epte# as a %onstitutive part o$ our %ommunity<s histori%al tra#ition, 3e pass to history stricto sensu, to the su%%ession o$ a%tual histori%al $igures o$ Spirit, only on the )asis o$ our a%%epting that Ce are em)e##e# in some histori%ally spe%i$ie# /spiritual su)stan%e,/ > (he logi% o$ these three stages $olloCs the tria# o$ positing, e5ternal an# #eterminate re$le%tion, an#, Chat may surprise some)o#y not verse# in 0egel, the thir#, %on%lu#ing moment that %onsists o$ an imme#iate a%%eptan%e o$ the given ethi%al su)stan%e' one Coul# -71rather e5pe%t it to %onstitute the /loCest/ moment, the imme#iate starting point $rom Chi%h Ce then /progress/ )y Cay o$ re$le%tive me#iation, (he tria# o$ -aC in its entirety thus e5empli$ies the )reak#oCn o$ re$le%tionE it en#s Cith the re$le%ting su)je%t getting a%%ustome# to the ethi%al su)stan%e Dua universal, presuppose# me#ium Chi%h me#iates his very attempts at re$le%tive me#iation, (his resigne# a%%eptan%e o$ the imme#iate %hara%ter o$ the very totality-o$-me#iation is Chat 0egel has in min# Cith /#eterminate re$le%tion/E re$le%tive totality is /hel# together/ )y a %ontingent, nonre$le%te# remain#er Chi%h is /simply there,/ B

"s to its $ormal stru%ture, this e$$e%t o$ the .hristian Su)lime hinges on a %ertain temporal inversionE a material Chi%h, presente# in /normal/ linear su%%ession, in no Cay a$$e%ts our sensitivity to the Su)lime nonetheless a%Duires the aura o$ the /Su)lime/ the moment it un#ergoes a purely temporal manipulation, "n e5emplary %ase is Paul ?eCman melo#rama The 9ffect of amma7rays on 3an7in7the73oon 3arigolds, the story o$ ;athil#a, a girl in her early teens Cho lives in a poor $amily Cith her ol#er sister, the vi%tim o$ epilepti% atta%ks )y means o$ Chi%h she a%ts out her $rustrations, an# her mother, a resigne#, %yni%al e%%entri% Cho /hates the Corl#/' she es%apes #omesti% misery )y investing her energy in )iologi%al e5periments Cith see#s e5pose# to ra#ioa%tive rays, ;athil#a presents the results o$ her e5periments at a s%hool %ompetition an#, une5pe%te#ly, Cins, Upon returning home, she $in#s her pet ra))it, given to her )y the )iology tea%her, #ea# on her )e#E her mother has kille# it in revenge $or the #aughter<s pu)li% su%%ess, ;athil#a puts the ra))it on a pilloC an# )rings it #oCn the stairs to the gar#en to )e )urie#, Chile her mother %ontinues her %yni%al Cise%ra%king, " stan#ar# pe#agogi%al melo#rama o$ the #aughter<s moral vi%tory over her resigne# mother Cho $aile# in her attempt to %ontaminate the #aughter Cith her hatre#E the #aughter trans%en#s her #egra#e# home atmosphere )y Cay o$ )iologi%al e5periments Chi%h ma#e her aCare o$ the mysteries o$ the universe, 3hat #istinguishes this $ilm is a simple temporal manipulation in its last hal$ hourE the s%ene o$ the s%hool %ompetition is interrupte# at the most tense moment, Cith ;athil#a stum)ling in her spee%h' Ce pass imme#iately to the a$termath, Chen her #runken mother enters the hall an# asks a passer-)y Cho Con, 3e hear the missing part o$ ;athil#a<s spee%h, e5pressing her )elie$ in the mysterious %harm o$ the universe, at the very en# o$ the $ilmE it a%%ompanies the pain$ul events Ce see on the s%reen 1 ;athil#a %arrying the #ea# ra))it past the #runk mother2, "n# it is this simple %on$rontation, this %ontrast )e-74tCeen the visual level 1the humiliate# %hil# %arrying the #ea# animal2 an# the soun#tra%k 1a truly *antian triumphant spee%h on the mysteries o$ the starry sky a)ove us/2, Chi%h )rings a)out the su)lime e$$e%t, Philip *au$man The Unbearable Lightness of Being resorts to a similar temporal #ispla%ement Chi%h su%%ess$ully %on#enses the en#ing o$ *un#era<s novel, -ate at night, the hero, a #issi#ent #o%tor e5ile# to the .Fe%h %ountrysi#e, returns home Cith his Ci$e $rom a #an%e in a near)y small toCn' the last sight o$ them is the point-o$-vieC shot o$ the #ark ma%a#am roa# illuminate# )y the lights o$ their tru%k, (hen, a su##en %ut to .ali$ornia a %ouple o$ Ceeks laterE their $rien# Sa)ina, Cho lives there as a s%ulptor, re%eives a letter in$orming her o$ their #eath in a tra$$i% a%%i#ent Chen returning home $rom a #an%e, an# %omments that they must have )een happy at the time o$ their #eath, 3hat then $olloCs is a %ut Chi%h transposes us )a%k to the previous s%eneE a simple %ontinuation o$ the point-o$vieC shot, $rom the #river<s seat, o$ the roa# into Chi%h our gaFe penetrates, 0ere, as Cell as in amma7rays, the su)lime e$$e%t o$ this last shot Chi%h en#s the $ilm results $rom a temporal #ispla%ementE it hinges on the %oe5isten%e o$ our, the spe%tator<s, knoCle#ge that the hero an# his Ci$e are alrea#y #ea#, Cith their $orCar#-moving gaFe on a strangely illuminate# roa#, (he point is not only that the allure o$ this strange illumination a%Duires the meaning o$ #eath, )ut rather that this last point-o$-vieC shot )elongs to some)o#y Cho is still alive although Ce knoC that he is alrea#y #ea#E a$ter the $lash-$orCar# to .ali$ornia in$orming us o$ their #eath, the hero an# his Ci$e #Cell in the #omain /)etCeen the tCo #eaths,/ i,e,, the same shot Chi%h Cas, prior to the $lash-$orCar#, a simple point-o$-vieC shot o$ a living su)je%t ren#ers noC the gaFe o$ the /living #ea#,/

The 8-or6ulae of &e.uation8

(he pro)lem Cith this a%%ount, hoCever, is that it privileges one mo#e o$ the Su)lime 1the /#ynami%al/ superego-Su)lime mani$este# in raging nature, in the #isplay o$ intense, %on%entrate# For%e Chi%h threatens to overChelm us2 to the #etriment o$ its se%on# mo#e, the /mathemati%al/ Su)lime 1the #iFFiness that seiFes us Chen Ce are %on$ronte# Cith an in$inite series Chose totality lies )eyon# our grasp2, (his split o$ the Su)lime itsel$, o$ the interse%tion o$ Geauty an# (eleology, into /mathemati%al/ an# /#ynami%al/ Su)lime, is $ar $rom negligi)le sin%e it #ire%tly %on%erns se5ual #i$$eren%e, (he /o$$i%ial/ theory o$ the Su)lime sustaine# not -73only )y *ant )ut alrea#y )y Gurke, his $orerunner an# sour%e, links the opposition mas%uline R $eminine to the opposition Su)lime R Geauti$ul' in %ontrast, our aim is to #emonstrate that, prior to the opposition Sublime > Beautiful, se8ual difference is inscribed in the inherent split of the Sublime into mathematical and dynamical, "s is Cell knoCn, the %on%eptual matri5 that un#erlies the opposition o$ the tCo mo#es o$ the Su)lime is set up alrea#y in the &riti6ue of $ure 0eason, in the guise o$ the #i$$eren%e )etCeen the tCo types o$ antinomies o$ pure reason 1 &$0, G 676- 2, 3hen, in its use o$ trans%en#ental %ategories, 9eason goes )eyon# the $iel# o$ possi)le e5perien%e )y Cay o$ applying the %ategories to entities Chi%h %annot ever )e%ome o)je%ts o$ possi)le e5perien%e 1the universe as a 3hole, Io#, soul2, it gets entangle# in antinomies, i,e,, it ne%essarily arrives at tCo %ontra#i%tory %on%lusionsE the universe is $inite an# in$inite' Io# e5ists an# #oes not e5ist, *ant arranges these antinomies into tCo groupsE mathemati%al antinomies arise Chen %ategories are applie# to the universe as a 3hole 1the totality o$ phenomena Chi%h is never given to our $inite intuition2, Chereas #ynami%al antinomies emerge Chen Ce apply %ategories to o)je%ts Chi%h #o not )elong to the phenomenal or#er at all 1Io#, soul2, 3hat is o$ %ru%ial importan%e here is the #i$$erent logi% o$ the tCo types o$ antinomies, (his #i$$eren%e %on%erns $irst o$ all the mo#ality o$ the link )etCeen the elements o$ the series Chose synthesis )rings a)out the antinomyE in the %ase o$ mathemati%al antinomies, Ce are #ealing Cith a multitu#e 1 das 3annigfaltige2 a%%essi)le to sensi)le intuition, i,e,, Cith a simple coe8istence o$ the elements given in the intuition 1Chat is at stake here is their #ivisi)ility an# their in$initu#e2' in the %ase o$ #ynami%al antinomies, Ce are #ealing Cith intelle%t, a syntheti% poCer Chi%h rea%hes )eyon# a mere sensi)le intuition, that is to say, Cith the ne%essary logi%al interconnection 1 /erknuepfung2 o$ the elements 1notions o$ %ause an# e$$e%t2, (his #i$$eren%e o$ the tCo types o$ antinomies %an )e $urther spe%i$ie# Cith re$eren%e to the opposition homogeneity R heterogeneityE in the mathemati%al antinomy, all elements )elong to the same spatiotemporal series' in the #ynami%al antinomy, on the %ontrary, Ce progress $rom e$$e%t to %ause or groun# Chi%h 1in prin%iple, at least2 %an )elong to a #i$$erent 1nonsensi)le, intelligi)le2 ontologi%al or#er, (he $a%t that a %ause 1may 1also2 not )e a %ause Cithin the series alloCs $or the possi)ility that )oth poles o$ the antinomy are trueE %on%eive# phenomenally, the event M-- say, my giving a han# to a #roCning person-- is #etermine# )y the universal -76-

%ausal ne5us 1as a material event, it is su)mitte# to physi%al %ausality2' %on%eive# noumenally, this same event is )rought a)out )y a heterogeneous, intelligi)le %ause 1as an ethi%al a%t, it #epen#s on the $ree Cill o$ the autonomous su)je%t2, "nother aspe%t o$ the same opposition is that mathemati%al antinomies %on%ern the real e8istence o$ their o)je%t 1the universe as a 3hole2, i,e,, they e5ten# the s%ope o$ reality )eyon# the limits o$ possi)le e5perien%e, Chereas #ynami%al antinomies %on%ern an o)je%t Chi%h #oes not )elong to /reality/ %on%eive# o$ as the $iel# o$ possi)le e5perien%e 1Io#, the soul $urnishe# Cith $ree Cill,,,2, (his #i$$eren%e in the stru%ture o$ mathemati%al an# #ynami%al antinomies hinges on the #ou)le negation Chi%h #e$ines the status o$ phenomenaE noumenon is a non-phenomenon, a limitation o$ phenomena, an#, $urthermore, the $iel# o$ phenomena itsel$ is never %omplete or Chole, ;athemati%al antinomies are antinomies o$ the /non-all/ o$ the phenomenal $iel#E they result $rom the para#o5 that, although there is no o)je%t given to us in intuition Chi%h #oes not )elong to the phenomenal $iel#, this $iel# is never /all,/ never %omplete, Dynami%al antinomies, on the %ontrary, are antinomies o$ universalityE logi%al %onne%tion o$ the phenomena in the universal %ausal ne5us ne%essarily involves an e5%eption, the noumenal a%t o$ $ree#om Chi%h /sti%ks out,/ suspen#ing the %ausal ne5us an# starting a neC %ausal series /spontaneously,/ out o$ itsel$, (he status o$ the #ispute# o)je%t there$ore #i$$ers ra#i%allyE the /universe as a 3hole/ is the totality of phenomena, Chereas /Io#/ or /soul/ are noumenal entities beyond phenomena, .onseDuently, the solution o$ the antinomies is also #i$$erent in ea%h o$ the tCo %ases, +n the $irst %ase, )oth the thesis an# the antithesis are $alse, sin%e the very o)je%t to Chi%h the thesis attri)utes $initu#e an# the antithesis in$initu#e #oes not e5ist 1the universe as the 3hole o$ phenomenal reality is a sel$-%ontra#i%tory entityE it speaks o$ /reality,/ i,e,, it uses trans%en#ental %ategories %onstitutive $or the $iel# o$ possi)le e5perien%e, yet simultaneously it rea%hes )eyon# possi)le e5perien%e, sin%e the universe in its entirety %an never )e the o)je%t o$ our $inite e5perien%e2, +n the se%on# %ase, Chere the #ispute# o)je%t 1soul, Io#2 is not %on%eive# as an o)je%t o$ possi)le e5perien%e, i,e,, as a part o$ reality, it is possi)le $or )oth the thesis an# the antithesis to )e true, (his #uality o$ mathemati%al an# #ynami%al repro#u%es the #uality o$ o)je%t an# su)je%t, o$ theoreti%al an# pra%ti%al reasonE theoreti%al reason aims at completing the %ausal %hain, i,e,, at ren#ering the entire %ausal ne5us Chi%h le# to the event to )e e5plaine# 1the regulative +#eal o$ pure reason2, Chereas pra%ti%al reason aims at -77suspen#ing the %ausal ne5us )y Cay o$ a $ree a%t Chi%h )egins /out o$ itsel$ an# there$ore %annot )e e5plaine# )y the pre%e#ing %ausal %hain, 3hat has all this to #o Cith se5ual #i$$eren%eK 9 -a%an en#eavore# to $ormaliFe se5ual #i$$eren%e Dua #is%ursive $a%t )y means o$ his /$ormulae o$ se5uation,/ in Chi%h on the /mas%uline/ si#e the universal $un%tion 1U5,F5E all 5 are su)mitte# to the $un%tion F2 implies the e5isten%e o$ an e5%eption 1:5,notF5E there is at least one 5 Chi%h is e5empte# $rom the $un%tion F2, Chereas on the $eminine si#e a parti%ular negation 1notU5,F5E not-all 5 are su)mitte# to the $un%tion F2 implies that there is no e5%eption 1not:5,notF5E there is no 5 Chi%h %oul# )e e5empte# $rom the $un%tion F2E

3hat Ce have to )e attentive to apropos o$ these $ormulae o$ se5uation is that they are stru%ture# like antinomies in the *antian sense, not like %ontrary polesE the relationship o$ %ontrariety is e5%lu#e# here, 1+n the %ase o$ the /mas%uline/ antinomy, $or e5ample, the %ontrary to /all 5 are su)mitte# to the $un%tion F/ is not /there is at least one 5 Chi%h is e5empte# $rom the $un%tion F,/ )ut /no 5 is su)mitte# to the $un%tion F,/2 .ommon sense Coul# there$ore suggest that the $ormulae are, i$ linke# in tCo #iagonal pairs, eDuivalentE is not /all 5 are su)mitte# to the $un%tion F/ stri%tly eDuivalent to /there is no 5 Chi%h %oul# )e e5empte# $rom the $un%tion F/K "n#, on the other han#, is not /not-all 5 are su)mitte# to the $un%tion F/ stri%tly eDuivalent to /there is 1at least2 one 5 Chi%h is e5empte# $rom the $un%tion F/K 1A -a%an<s aim, on the %ontrary, is to %all into Duestion these tCo signs o$ eDuationE the universal $un%tion implies a %onstitutive e5%eption' the la%k o$ e5%eption to the $un%tion F prevents its universal span, 11 3hat pre%ise notion o$ se5uality un#erlies these /$ormulae o$ se5uation/K -a%an<s ansCer isE se5uality is the e$$e%t on the living )eing o$ the impasses Chi%h emerge Chen it gets entangle# in the sym)oli% or#er, i,e,, the e$$e%t on the living )o#y o$ the #ea#lo%k or in%onsisten%y that pertains to the sym)oli% or#er Dua or#er o$ universality, *ant Cas the $irst philosopher to $ormulate the /%ra%k in the universal,/ Chi%h is Chy his antinomies o$ pure reason-- antinomies, pre%isely, o$ universaliFation-- #ire%tly heral# -a%an<s $ormulae o$ se5uation, Para#o5i%al as it may soun#, the 1antian antinomies designate the moment at which se8ual difference is for the first time inscribed in the philosophical discourse, not in the guise o$ the opposition )etCeen the tCo %ontra#i%tory poles o$ every antinomy 1the universe is -7>$inite R the universe is in$inite, et%,2, )ut in the guise o$ the #i$$eren%e in the tCo types o$ antinomies, 14 (he $irst tCo 1 /mathemati%al/2 antinomies are /$eminine/ an# repro#u%e the para#o5es o$ the -a%anian logi% o$ /not-all/' Chereas the last tCo 1 /#ynami%al/2 antinomies are /mas%uline/ an# repro#u%e the para#o5es o$ universality %onstitute# through e5%eption, (hat is to say, a -a%anian translation o$ the mathemati%al antinomies yiel#s the tCo $ormulae o$ the /$eminine/ si#e o$ se5uation, (he thesis on the in$inity o$ the universe has to )e rea# as a #ou)le negation, not as a universal a$$irmationE 1inso$ar as Ce rea# the $un%tion F as /to )e pre%e#e# )y another phenomenon in time/2 /there is no phenomenon which is not pre%e#e# )y another phenomenon/ 1there is no 5 e5empte# $rom the $un%tion F2, not /all 8 are su)mitte# to the $un%tion F,/ (he thesis on the $initu#e o$ the universe has to )e rea# as /not7 all 8 are su)mitte# to the $un%tion F/ 1i,e,, all phenomena are not in$initely #ivisi)le an# R or pre%e#e# )y other phenomena2, not as /there is one 8 which is e5empte# $rom the $un%tion F,/ Dynami%al antinomies, on the %ontrary, #isplay the stru%ture o$ the /mas%uline/ para#o5es o$ se5uationE /all 8 are su)mitte# to the $un%tion F / 1everything in the universe is %aught in the universal netCork o$ %auses an# e$$e%ts2 on %on#ition that there is one 8 which is e8empted $rom this $un%tion 1i,e,, $ree#om is possi)le' there is an element Chi%h es%apes the universal %hain o$ %auses an# is %apa)le o$ starting autonomously, out o$ itsel$, a neC %ausal %hain2, 13 Feminists are usually repulse# )y -a%an<s insisten%e on the $eminine /not-all,/ Does it not imply that Comen are somehoC e5%lu#e# $rom $ully parti%ipating in the Sym)oli% or#er, una)le to Cholly integrate themselves into it, %on#emne# to lea#ing a parasiti%al e5isten%eK "n#, truly, #o not these propositions )elong to the )est vein o$ patriar%hal i#eology, #o they not )ear Citness to a hi##en normativity to the #etriment o$ ComanK ;an is a)le to $in# his i#entity in the Sym)oli%, to assume $ully his sym)oli% man#ate, Chereas Coman is

%on#emne# to hysteri%al splitting, to Cearing masks, to not Canting Chat she preten#s to Cant, 0oC are Ce to %on%eive o$ this $eminine resistan%e to sym)oli% i#enti$i%ationK 3e Coul# %ommit a $atal mistake i$ Ce Cere to rea# su%h resistan%e as the e$$e%t o$ a pree5istent $eminine su)stan%e opposing sym)oliFation, as i$ Coman is split )etCeen her true ?ature an# the impose# sym)oli% mask, " %ursory glan%e at -a%an<s /$ormulae o$ se5uation/ tells us that Coman<s e5%lusion #oes not mean that some positive entity is prevente# $rom )eing integrate# into the sym)oli% or#erE it Coul# )e Crong to %on%lu#e, $rom /not-all Coman is -7Bsu)mitte# to the phalli% signi$ier,/ that there is something in her Chi%h is not su)mitte# to it' there is no e5%eption, an# /Coman/ is this very none5istent /nothing/ Chi%h nonetheless makes the e5isting elements /not-all,/ 16 "n# the su)je%t Dua N, Dua pure /+ think/ o$ su)stan%eless sel$relating, is pre%isely su%h a /nothingness/ Cithout any positive ontologi%al %onsisten%y o$ its oCn, yet nonetheless intro#u%ing a gap into the $ullness o$ )eing, 3e are there)y at the para#o5i%al #iale%ti% o$ the -imit an# its Geyon#, 17 -a%an<s point is the logi%al priority o$ the not-all to the "ll, o$ the -imit to Chat lies Geyon#E it is only a$terCar#s, in a se%on# time, that the voi# opene# up )y the -imit is $ille# out )y a positive Geyon#, (herein %onsists the anti-.artesian sting o$ the -a%anian logi% o$ /not-all/ 1as oppose# to Des%artes<s premise that the less per$e%t %annot a%t as the %ause o$ Chat is more per$e%t, the premise Chi%h serves as the $oun#ation $or his proo$ o$ Io#<s e5isten%e2E the in%omplete /%auses/ the %omplete, the +mper$e%t opens up the pla%e su)seDuently $ille# out )y the mirage o$ the Per$e%t, From this perspe%tive, the seemingly misogynist #e$inition o$ Coman as trun%ate# man a%tually asserts her ontologi%al priorityE her /pla%e/ is that o$ a gap, o$ an a)yss ren#ere# invisi)le the moment /man/ $ills it out, ;an is #e$ine# )y the #ynami% antinomyE )eyon# his phenomenal, )o#ily e5isten%e, he possesses a noumenal soul, +$, in opposition to it, /Coman has no soul,/ this in no Cay entails that she is simply an o)je%t #evoi# o$ soul, (he point is rather that this negativity, this la%k as su%h, #e$ines herE she is the -imit, the a)yss, retroa%tively $ille# out )y the mirage o$ soul,

8I A6 Not 3here I Thin48

Goth /$eminine/ an# /mas%uline/ positions are there$ore #e$ine# )y a $un#amental antinomyE the /mas%uline/ universe involves the universal netCork o$ %auses an# e$$e%ts $oun#e# in an e5%eption 1the /$ree/ su)je%t Chi%h theoreti%ally grasps its o)je%t, the %ausal universe o$ the ?eCtonian physi%s2' the /$eminine/ universe is the universe o$ )oun#less #ispersion an# #ivisi)ility Chi%h, $or that very reason, %an never )e roun#e# o$$ into a universal 3hole, +n *ant, mathemati%al antinomy $in#s its solution in the none5isten%e o$ its very o)je%t 1universe Dua totality o$ the o)je%ts o$ possi)le e5perien%e2' no Con#er, then, that in -a%an also /la Femme n<e5iste pas,/ 0oC #oes this notion o$ se5ual #i$$eren%e a$$e%t the .artesian cogito an# *ant<s %riti%ism o$ itK " %ommonpla%e o$ #e%onstru%tionist $eminism is -7 that the neutrality o$ the .artesian cogito is $alse an# %on%eals male prima%y 1on a%%ount o$ its a)stra%t-universal %hara%ter, et%,2, 3hat this %ritiDue $ails to take into a%%ount is the moment o$ the /vanishing me#iator,/ the voi# o$ the pure /+ think/ Chi%h logi%ally pre%e#es the .artesian res cogitansE the .artesian cogito is /mas%uline/ not )e%ause o$ its a)stra%t-

universal %hara%ter, )ut )e%ause it is not /a)stra%t/ enough, +n res cogitans, the nonsu)stantial voi# o$ /+ think/ is alrea#y o)$us%ate#, surreptitiously trans$orme# into a /thinking su)stan%e/-- an#, to put it su%%in%tly, se5ual #i$$eren%e is eDuivalent to the #i$$eren%e )etCeen the .artesian res cogitans an# the *antian pure $orm o$ /+ think,/ +n the span o$ three years, -a%an ela)orate# tCo oppose# rea#ings o$ the cogito, +n )oth %ases, he )roke up the unity o$ cogito ergo sum? cogito is %on%eive# o$ as the result o$ the $or%e# %hoi%e )etCeen thought an# )eing, i,e,, /+ am not Chere + think,/ 0oCever, in the Seminar on the $our $un#amental %on%epts 1 19>6->72, the %hoi%e is that o$ thought' the a%%ess to thought 1 /+ think/2 is pai# $or )y the loss o$ )eing, 1> 3hereas in the unpu)lishe# Seminar on the logi% o$ $antasy 1 19>>->B2, the %hoi%e is that o$ )eing' the a%%ess to )eing 1 /+ am/2 is pai# $or )y the relegation o$ thought to the Un%ons%ious, /+ am not Chere + think/ %an thus )e rea# in tCo CaysE either as the *antian /+ think/ Dua pure $orm o$ apper%eption $oun#e# on the ina%%essi)ility o$ the +<s )eing, o$ the /(hing Chi%h thinks,/ or as the .artesian a$$irmation o$ the su)je%t<s )eing $oun#e# on the e5%lusion o$ thought, 8ur i#ea is to rea# these tCo versions o$ /+ am not Chere + think / synchronously, as the #uality Chi%h registers se5ual #i$$eren%eE the /mas%uline/ cogito results $rom the /su)reption o$ the hypostasiFe# %ons%iousness/' it %hooses )eing an# thus relegates thought to the Un%ons%ious 1 /+ am, there$ore it thinks/2, Chereas /la $emme n<e5iste pas/ involves a cogito Chi%h %hooses thought an# is thus re#u%e# to the empty point o$ apper%eption prior to its /su)stantialiFation/ in a res cogitans 1 /+ think, there$ore it e5-sists/2, (his #uality in the -a%anian thematiFation o$ cogito is the e$$e%t o$ a ra#i%al shi$t in his tea%hing Chi%h %an )e lo%ate# in a very pre%ise CayE it o%%urs someChere )etCeen the Seminar on the ethi%s o$ psy%hoanalysis 1B an# the 5crit /1ant avec Sade,/ Critten tCo years later as the rJsumJ o$ some i#eas $irst propose# in the Seminar, 1 (he e$$e%ts o$ this shi$t %an )e #is%erne# at a multitu#e o$ levels, -et us )egin Cith the moti$ o$ the su)lime )o#y #Celling in the un%anny spa%e /)etCeen the tCo #eaths, / (his )o#y is $irst i#enti$ie# as that o$ the sa#ist<s vi%tim-- the )o#y o$ the -79inno%ent young Coman Cho magi%ally retains her )eauty Chile un#ergoing en#less unspeaka)le su$$erings, +n /1ant avec Sade,/ hoCever, su##enly the sa#ist e5e%utioner himsel$ is %on%eive# o$ as an o)je%t-instrument 1o$ the 8ther<s (ouissance2E he a%Duires this status o$ ob(et a )y Cay o$ transposing his su)je%tive splitting onto his vi%tim, L, .losely %onne%te# Cith this %hange in the moti$ o$ the su)lime )o#y is the am)iguous status o$ "ntigoneE on the one han#, she epitomiFes #esire Dua #esire o$ the 8ther 1the #esire Cith regar# to Chi%h she #oes not yiel# is the #esire o$ the )ig 8ther, o$ mores, Chi%h #eman#s that the 1)rother<s2 )o#y )e integrate# into the sym)oli% tra#ition )y Cay o$ the appropriate $uneral rite2' on the other han#, her sui%i#al a%t involves a Cilling sel$-e5%lusion $rom the )ig 8ther, a suspension o$ the 8ther<s e5isten%e, 8n a more general level, this shi$t generates a $un#amental tension in -a%an<s approa%h to ethi%s, 8n the one han#, Ce have an ethi%s o$ #esire, o$ /not giving Cay as to one<s #esire/ 1ne pas c5der sur son d5sir2-- to put it )rie$ly, yiel#ing to enjoyment 1(ouissance2 means %ompromising our #esire, so the authenti% ethi%al attitu#e involves sa%ri$i%ing enjoyment $or the sake o$ the purity o$ our #esire, 19 8n the other han#, #esire itsel$ is %on%eive# o$ as a #e$ense against enjoyment, i,e,, as a mo#e o$ %ompromise 1Ce take $light into the en#less sym)oli% metonymy o$ #esire in or#er to avoi# the real o$ (ouissance2, so that the only true ethi%s is that o$ drive, o$ our %ommitment to the sinthome 4A Chi%h #e$ines the %ontours o$ our relation to enjoyment, (his tension )etCeen an

ethi%s o$ #esire an# an ethi%s o$ #rive $urther #etermines -a%an<s shi$t $rom #istan%ing to i#enti$i%ation, (hat is to say, up to the last stage o$ his tea%hing, the pre#ominant ethi%al attitu#e o$ -a%anian psy%hoanalysis involve# a kin# o$ Gre%htian gesture o$ #istan%ingE $irst the #istan%ing $rom imaginary $as%ination through the Cork o$ sym)oli% /me#iation/' then the assumption o$ sym)oli% %astration, o$ the la%k %onstitutive o$ #esire' then the /going through the $antasy/E the assumption o$ the in%onsisten%y o$ the 8ther %on%eale# )y the $antasys%enario, 3hat all these #e$initions have in %ommon is that they %on%eive o$ the %on%lu#ing moment o$ the psy%hoanalyti% %ure as a kin# o$ /e5it/E as a move out, out $rom imaginary %aptivation, out $rom the 8ther, +n his very last phase, hoCever, -a%an outlines a reversal o$ perspe%tive, unhear# o$ as to its ra#i%alityE the %on%lu#ing moment o$ the psy%hoanalyti% %ure is attaine# Chen the su)je%t $ully assumes his or her i#enti$i%ation Cith the sinthome, Chen he or she unreserve#ly /yiel#s/ to it, rejoins the pla%e Chere /it Cas,/ giving up the $alse #istan%e Chi%h #e$ines our every#ay li$e, ->AFor that reason, Ce shoul# avoi# the trap o$ interpreting the se%on# version o$ the cogito %hoi%e as -a%an<s /last Cor#/ in this matter, #evaloriFing the $irst version, or vi%e versa' instea#, Ce shoul# maintain their irre#u%i)le antagonism-- again-- as an in#e5 o$ the ins%ription o$ the se5ual #i$$eren%e, Gut isn<t su%h a link )etCeen cogito an# se5ual #i$$eren%e all too a)stra%t, all too nonhistori%alK 3e %an ansCer this reproa%h )y re$erring to ;ar5, Cho in the +ntro#u%tion to rundrisse, #emonstrate# hoC an a)stra%t %ategory, Chi%h on a%%ount o$ its a)stra%tuniversal %hara%ter is vali# $or all epo%hs, a%Duires so%ial a%tuality only at a pre%isely #etermine# histori%al moment, 3hat ;ar5 ha# in min# Cas the a)stra%t notion o$ Cork, o$ using one<s Corking $or%e, irrespe%tive o$ its parti%ular Dualitative #eterminationE this notion realiFes itsel$, /)e%omes a%tual,/ only in %apitalism, Chere the Corking $or%e is o$$ere# on the market as a %ommo#ity, e5%hangea)le $or money an# as su%h in#i$$erent to its parti%ular #eterminations, 41 3hat Ce en%ounter here is the logi% o$ in itself > for itself in Chi%h a thing becomes Chat it always7already CasE in %apitalism, /Cork/ )e%omes Chat it alCaysalrea#y Cas, "n# the same hol#s $or the logi% o$ se5ual #i$$eren%eE it is only in *ant-- i,e,, at the moment Chen the su)je%t is $or the $irst time e5pli%itly %on%eive# o$ as nonsu)stan%e, not as /part o$ the Corl#/-- that se5ual #i$$eren%e )e%omes Chat it alCays-alrea#y Cas, not a #i$$eren%e o$ tCo su)stantial, positive entities, )ut the /ontologi%al s%an#al/ o$ the tCo types o$ antinomies an# there)y the #i$$eren%e o$ the tCo mo#alities o$ cogito,

Cogito as the -antasy:Ga;e

+n his %ritiDue o$ Fou%ault<s rea#ing o$ Des%artes, Derri#a %on%eives cogito as a hyper)oli%, e5%essive moment o$ ma#ness, the vorte5 o$ pure /+ think,,,,/ in its a)solute se%lusion Chi%h is not yet the inCar#ness, the sel$presen%e, o$ a thinking su)stan%e, 44 (his cogito, prior to res cogitans, is the /$eminine/ cogito, (he %hoi%e )etCeen $eminine an# mas%uline cogito is there$ore more intri%ate than it may seem' it elu#es the %lear-%ut alternative o$ /thought or )eingE/ -- (he /mas%uline/ cogito %hooses )eing, the /+ am,/ yet Chat it gets is )eing Chi%h is merely thought, not real )eing 1cogito /ergo sum,/ + think /there$ore + am,/ as -a%an Crites it2, i,e,, it

gets the $antasy-)eing, the )eing o$ a /person,/ the )eing in /reality/ Chose $rame is stru%ture# )y $antasy, -- (he /$eminine/ cogito %hooses thought, the pure /+ think,/ yet Chat it ->1gets is thought )ere$t o$ any $urther pre#i%ates, thought Chi%h %oin%i#es Cith pure )eing, or, more pre%isely, the hyper)oli% point Chi%h is neither thought nor )eing, 3hen, %onseDuently, in his Seminar 9ncore, -a%an speaks o$ (ouissance feminine, o$ Coman enjoying it Cithout knoCing it, this in no Cay entails her a%%ess to some ine$$a)le $ullness o$ )eingE as he e5pli%itly points out, (ouissance feminine is none5istent, (he pu)li%ity poster $or ,lien3 1on the le$t si#e the hea# o$ the :(-monster, the slimy metal skull, $i5ing its gaFe on Sigourney 3eaver' on the right the terri$ie# $a%e o$ Sigourney 3eaver Cith her eyes loCere#, #iverting her gaFe $rom the monster, yet her Chole attention $i5e# on it2 %oul# )e title# /#eath an# the mai#en/E here Ce en%ounter cogito at its purest Chen 1Chat Cill )e%ome2 the su)je%t %onstitutes itsel$ )y reje%ting the slimy su)stan%e o$ (ouissance, 43 +t is there$ore not su$$i%ient to say that +t 1the alien (hing2 is a /proje%tion o$ our oCn represse#/E the + itsel$ %onstitutes itsel$ )y Cay o$ reje%tion o$ the (hing, )y Cay o$ assuming a #istan%e toCar# the su)stan%e o$ enjoyment, +n this pun%tuality o$ pure horror she thinks' she is re#u%e# to pure thoughtE the moment Ce a)stain $rom the %on$rontation Cith the /alien, / the moment Ce re%oil $rom this stain o$ horror an# retreat to the haven o$ our /)eing,/ at some #e%entere# pla%e /it/ )egins to think, (his, then, is -a%an<s version o$ /the spirit is a )one/E the pure /+ think/ takes pla%e only Chen the su)je%t en#ures the %on$rontation Cith the senseless stain o$ (ouissance, "n# #o Ce not en%ounter another version o$ it in :, ", Poe<s /(he Fa%ts in the .ase o$ ;, Ual#emar,/ one o$ the re%urrent re$eren%es o$ -a%anK 3hen Ual#emar, $or a )rie$ moment aCakene# $rom the sleep o$ #eath, utters the /impossi)le/ statement /+ am #ea#@/, his )o#y, Chi%h hitherto retaine# the $roFen, sti$$ )eauty o$ a Dorian Iray, all o$ a su##en %hanges into /a nearly liDui# mass o$ loathsome-- o$ #etesta)le putres%en%e,/ in short, into a pure, $ormless, slimy su)stan%e o$ enjoyment, (he ne%essary %orrelate o$ this slimy su)stan%e Chi%h e5ists in its $ullness o$ )eing is the position o$ enun%iation $rom Chi%h Ual#emar pronoun%es his /+ am #ea#@/, the pure-impossi)le thought, cogito Dua the point o$ thought )ere$t o$ )eing, Dua none5istent-impossi)le $antasygaFe )y Cay o$ Chi%h + o)serve my oCn non)eing, "t the very moment o$ my re#u%tion to a pure cogito Dua impossi)le gaFe, a $ormless slime o$ the su)stan%e o$ (ouissance ha# to emerge someChere else, (his is Chat -a%an aims at Cith his $ormula L a, :ventually, everything that has hitherto )een sai# is %on#ense# in Frank .apra<s It2s a !onderful Life, a $ilm Chose unmistaka)le noir un#ertones ->4)elie the %ommon re#u%tion o$ .apra<s universe to a ?eC Deal populist humanism, 3hen, out o$ utter #espair, the hero 1 Hames SteCart2 is on the )rink o$ %ommitting sui%i#e, the angel .laren%e stops him an# su)mits him to a *ripkean mental e5periment Cith possi)le universesE he sen#s him )a%k to his small ;assa%husetts toCn, )ut ren#ers him unre%ogniFa)le an# #evoi# o$ his i#entity, in%lu#ing his past history, so that he %an Citness hoC things might have turne# out in the %ase o$ his none5isten%e, (his Cay, the hero regains his optimism, sin%e the %atastrophi% %onseDuen%es o$ his a)sen%e are ma#e mani$estE his

)rother is #ea#, having #roCne# long ago 1the hero Cas not there to save him2, the ol# goo#hearte# pharma%ist is rotting in jail 1the hero Cas not there to Carn him o$ ina#vertently putting in poison Chen mi5ing a me#i%ine2, his Ci$e is a #espairing ol# mai#, an#, a)ove all, his $ather<s small loan so%iety, provi#ing %re#its to Corking-%lass $amilies an# thus serving as the last shiel# o$ the popular %ommunity against the ruthless lo%al %apitalist Cho Cants to %ontrol the entire toCn, oes )ankrupt 1the hero Cas not there to take his $ather<s )usiness over2, So, instea# o$ a %ommunity Chere soli#arity prevails an# every poor $amily has a mo#est home o$ its oCn, the hero $in#s himsel$ in a )ursting, violent "meri%an small toCn, $ull o$ ru#e #runkar#s an# noisy night %lu)s, totally %ontrolle# )y the lo%al magnate, 3hat imme#iately strikes the eye here is that the "meri%a en%ountere# )y the hero Chen he Citnesses the Cay things Coul# turn out in his a)sen%e is the a%tual "meri%a, i,e,, its $eatures are taken $rom grim so%ial reality 1the #issolution o$ %ommunal soli#arity, the )oast$ul vulgarity o$ the nightli$e, et%,2, (he relationship o$ #ream an# reality is thus reverse#E in the mental e5periment that the hero is su)je%te# to, Chat he e5perien%es as a nightmarish #ream is the a%tual li$e, 3e see him en%ounter the real in the $ilmi% #ream, an# it is pre%isely in or#er to es%ape this traumati% real that the hero takes re$uge Cithin the 1#iegeti%2 /reality,/ i,e,, the i#eologi%al $antasy o$ an i#ylli% toCn %ommunity still a)le to resist the ruthless pressure o$ )ig .apital, (his is Chat -a%an means Chen he says that the traumati% 9eal is en%ountere# in #reams' this is the Cay i#eology stru%tures our e5perien%e o$ reality, 0oCever, o$ primary interest here is the .artesian #imension o$ this mental e5periment, (hat is to say, Chen SteCart is sent )a%k to his toCn as a stranger, he is )ere$t o$ his entire sym)oli% i#entity re#u%e# to a pure cogitoE as the angel .laren%e points out, he has no $amily, no personal history' even the small Coun# on his lips has #isappeare#, (he only remaining kernel o$ %ertainty, the kernel o$ the 9eal Chi%h remains /the ->3same/ in the tCo #i$$erent sym)oli% universes, is his cogito, the pure $orm o$ sel$%ons%iousness #evoi# o$ any %ontent, &ogito #esignates this very point at Chi%h the /+/ loses its support in the sym)oli% netCork o$ tra#ition an# thus, in a sense Chi%h is $ar $rom metaphori%al, %eases to e5ist, "n# the %ru%ial point is that this pure cogito %orrespon#s per$e%tly to the $antasygaFeE in it, + $oun# mysel$ re#u%e# to a none5istent gaFe, i,e,, a$ter losing all my e$$e%tive pre#i%ates, + am nothing )ut a gaFe para#o5i%ally entitle# to o)serve the Corl# in Chi%h + #o not e5ist 1like, say, the $antasy o$ parental %oitus Chere + am re#u%e# to a gaFe Chi%h o)serves my oCn %on%eption, prior to my a%tual e5isten%e, or the $antasy o$ Citnessing my oCn $uneral2, +n this pre%ise sense one %an say that fantasy, in its most )asi% #imension, implies the choice of thought at the e8pense of beingE in $antasy, + $in# mysel$ re#u%e# to the evanes%ent point o$ a thought %ontemplating the %ourse o$ events #uring my a)sen%e, my non)eing-- in %ontrast to symptom, Chi%h implies the choice of being, sin%e 1as Ce shall see apropos o$ Freu#<s %ase o$ the Ci$e Cho %uts her le$t ring-$inger2 Chat emerges in a symptom is pre%isely the thought Chi%h Cas lost, /represse#,/ Chen Ce %hose )eing, (here is a $urther $eature Chi%h %on$irms this $antasy-status o$ the .artesian cogito, (he $un#amental stru%ture o$ the $antasy-gaFe involves a kin# o$ sel$-#upli%ation o$ the gaFeE it is as i$ Ce are o)serving the /primor#ial s%ene/ $rom )ehin# our oCn eyes, as i$ Ce are not imme#iately i#enti$ie# Cith our look )ut stan# someChere /)ehin#/ it, 3hi%h is Chy, in 0it%h%o%k 0ear !indow, the Cin#oC itsel$ %learly a%ts as a giganti% eye 1the %urtain raising #uring the %re#its stan#s $or opening the eyeli#s upon our aCakening, et%,2E He$$eries 1 Hames SteCart2 is immo)iliFe# pre%isely inso$ar as he is re#u%e# to the o)je%t-gaFe )ehin# his oCn

giganti% eye, i,e,, inso$ar as he o%%upies this spa%e outsi#e reality seen )y the eye, 3hat is %ru%ial, hoCever, is that Des%artes, in his opti%al Critings, outline# the same $antasyE that o$ a man interposing )etCeen himsel$ an# reality a #ea# animal<s eye an#, instea# o$ #ire%tly o)serving reality, o)serving pi%tures that emerge in the )a%k o$ the animal eye, 46 +s not the same dispositif at Cork in a series o$ gothi% or %ostume $ilmsE there is a giganti% eye up on the Call, usually a relie$ s%ulpture, an# all o$ a su##en, Ce )e%ome aCare that there a%tually is some)o#y hi##en )ehin# the eye an# o)serving Chat is going onK (he para#o5 here is that the ga4e is concealed by an eye, i,e,, by its very organ, "n# is not the same e%onomy at Cork in the 1#eserve#ly2 most $amous s%ene o$ Davi# -yn%h Blue /elvet, Cith *yle ;a%-a%hlan o)serving the sa#omaso%histi% eroti% game o$ +sa)ella 9ossellini an# Dennis ->60opper through the %ra%k in the Car#ro)e, the %ra%k Chi%h %learly $un%tions as a hal$-opene# eye an# thus posits the vieCer )ehin# his oCn eyeK 8ur point here is the ultimate %oin%i#en%e )etCeen this $antasy-gaFe Chi%h immo)iliFes the su)je%t, #eprives him o$ his e5isten%e in reality, an# re#u%es him to an o)je%t-gaFe o)serving reality $rom Chi%h he is missing, an# the .artesian cogito Chi%h, at the height o$ its ra#i%al #ou)t, is also re#u%e# to a none5isting gaFe a%Duiring #istan%e $rom its oCn )o#ily presen%e, i,e,, o)serving reality $rom /)ehin# its oCn retina,/

8&elf: ons iousness Is an "/0e t8

(his, then, is the $irst o$ -a%an<s tCo versions o$ cogitoE /+ think, the re$ore it is,/ 0oC are Ce to %on%eive o$ the other version, /+ am, there$ore it thinks/K -et us re%all a small symptomati% a%t #es%ri)e# in Freu# $sychopathology of 9veryday LifeE During a session a young marrie# Coman mentione# )y Cay o$ asso%iation that she ha# )een %utting her nails the #ay )e$ore an# /ha# %ut into the $lesh Chile she Cas trying to remove the so$t %uti%le at the )ottom o$ the nail/, (his is o$ so little interest that Ce ask ourselves in surprise Chy it Cas re%alle# an# mentione# at all, an# Ce )egin to suspe%t that Chat Ce are #ealing Cith is a symptomati% a%t, "n# in $a%t it turne# out that the $inger Chi%h Cas the vi%tim o$ her small a%t o$ %lumsiness Cas the ring-$inger, the one on Chi%h a Ce##ing ring is Corn, 3hat is more, it Cas her Ce##ing anniversary' an# in the light o$ this the injury to the so$t %uti%le takes on a very #e$inite meaning, Chi%h %an easily )e guesse#, "t the same time, too, she relate# a #ream Chi%h allu#e# to her hus)an#<s %lumsiness an# heranesthesia as a Ci$e, Gut Chy Cas it the ring-$inger on her left han# Chi%h she injure#, Chereas a Ce##ing ring is Corn Oin her %ountryP on the right han#K 0er hus)an# is a laCyer, a /#o%tor o$ laC/ O Doktor #er 9e%hte, literally /#o%tor o$ right1s2/P, an# as a girl her a$$e%tions )elonge# in se%ret to a physi%ian 1jokingly %alle# Doktor #er -inke/ O /#o%tor o$ the le$t/P2, " /le$t-han#e# marriage/, too, has a #e$inite meaning, 47 " tri$ling slip, a tiny %ut on the ring $inger, %an Cell %on#ense an entire %hain o$ arti%ulate# reasoning a)out the su)je%t<s most intimate $ateE it )ears Citness to the knoCle#ge that her marriage is a $ailure, to the regret $or not %hoosing the true love, the /#o%tor o$ the le$t,/ (his tiny )loo# stain marks ->7-

the pla%e Chere her un%ons%ious thought #Cells, an# Chat she is una)le to #o is to re%ogniFe hersel$ in it, to say /+ am there,/ Chere this thought is arti%ulate#, +nstea#, the stain has to remain a )lot Chi%h means nothing to her, i$ she is to retain the %onsisten%y o$ her sel$i#entity, 8r, as -a%an Coul# put it, there is no + Cithout the stainE /+ am/ only inso$ar as + am not Chere + think, that is to say, only inso$ar as the pi%ture + am looking at %ontains a stain Chi%h %on#enses the #e%entere# thought-- only inso$ar as this stain remains a stain, i,e,, inso$ar as + #o not re%ogniFe mysel$ in it, inso$ar as + am not there, in it, For this reason, -a%an returns again an# again to the notion o$ anamorphosisE + per%eive /normal/ reality only inso$ar as the point at Chi%h the /it thinks/ remains a $ormless stain, 4> (he theoreti%al temptation to avoi# here, o$ %ourse, is that o$ i#enti$ying this stain too hastily Cith ob(et petit aE a is not the stain itsel$ )ut rather the gaFe in the pre%ise sense o$ the point o$ vieC $rom Chi%h the stain %an )e per%eive# in its /true meaning,/ the point $rom Chi%h, instea# o$ the anamorphi% #istortion, it Coul# )e possi)le to #is%ern the true %ontours o$ Chat the su)je%t per%eives as a $ormless stain, For that reason, the analyst o%%upies the pla%e o$ ob(et aE he is suppose# to knoC-- to knoC ChatK (he true meaning o$ the stain, pre%isely, .onseDuently, -a%an is Duite justi$ie# in %laiming that in paranoia ob(et a /)e%omes visi)le/E in the person o$ the perse%utor, the o)je%t Dua gaFe assumes the palpa)le, empiri%al e5isten%e o$ an agen%y Chi%h /sees into me,/ is a)le to rea# my thoughts, +n this sense, ob(et petit a stan#s $or the point o$ sel$-%ons%iousnessE i$ + Cere a)le to o%%upy this point, it Coul# )e possi)le $or me to a)olish the stain, to say that /+ am Chere + think,/ +t is here that the su)versive potential o$ the -a%anian %ritiDue o$ sel$-%ons%iousness Dua sel$transparen%y )e%omes visi)leE self7consciousness as such is literally decentered- the slip-- the stain-- )ears Citness to the e5-sisten%e o$ a %ertain #e%entere#, e5ternal pla%e Chere + do arrive at sel$-%ons%iousness 1 Freu#<s patient arti%ulates the truth o$ hersel$, o$ her $aile# marriage, at a pla%e that remains e5ternal to her sense o$ sel$-i#entity2, 0erein lies the s%an#al o$ psy%hoanalysis, un)eara)le $or philosophyE Chat is at stake in the -a%anian %ritiDue o$ sel$%ons%iousness is not the %ommonpla%e a%%or#ing to Chi%h the su)je%t is never $ully transparent to itsel$, or %an never arrive at $ull aCareness o$ Chat is going on in its psy%he' -a%an<s point is not that $ull sel$-%ons%iousness is impossi)le sin%e something alCays elu#es the grasp o$ my %ons%ious ego, +nstea#, it is the $ar more para#o5i%al thesis that this decentered hard kernel which eludes my grasp is ultimately self7consciousness itself' as to its status, sel$->>%ons%iousness is an e5ternal o)je%t out o$ my rea%h, 4B ;ore pre%isely, sel$%ons%iousness is the o)je%t Dua ob(et petit a, Dua the gaFe a)le to per%eive the true meaning o$ the stain Chi%h gives )o#y to the un)eara)le truth a)out mysel$, 4 3e %an noC see Chy sel$-%ons%iousness is the very opposite o$ sel$transparen%yE + am aCare o$ mysel$ only inso$ar as outsi#e o$ me a pla%e e5ists Chere the truth a)out me is arti%ulate#, 3hat is not possi)le is $or these tCo pla%es 1mine an# the stain<s2 to %oin%i#eE the stain is not an unre$le%te# remain#er, something one %oul# a)olish via sel$-re$le%tion, via a #eeper insight into one<s psy%hi% li$e, sin%e it is the very pro#u%t o$ my sel$aCareness, its o)je%tive %orrelative, (his is Chat -a%an has in min# Chen he Crites /symptom/ as /sinthome/E the symptom Dua %iphere# message Caits to )e #issolve# )y Cay o$ its interpretation, Chereas the /sinthome/ is a stain %orrelative to the very 1non2)eing o$ the su)je%t,

+n or#er to e5empli$y this #istin%tion, let us re%all the tCo versions o$ &ape "ear, H, -ee (hompson original $rom the early si5ties an# ;artin S%or%ese<s remake $rom 1991, "lthough repelle# )y S%or%ese<s patroniFing sel$-%ons%ious attitu#e toCar# the original $ilm, revieCers nonetheless approvingly note# hoC S%or%ese a%%omplishe# a %ru%ial shi$t, +n the original version, the e5-%onvi%t 1 9o)ert ;it%hum2 is a $igure o$ :vil Cho simply inva#es $rom outsi#e the i#ylli% all-"meri%an $amily an# #erails its #aily routine' Chereas in S%or%ese<s remake, the e5-%onvi%t 1 9o)ert #e ?iro2 materialiFes, gives )o#y, to traumas an# antagonisti% tensions that alrea#y gloC in the very heart o$ the $amilyE the Ci$e<s se5ual #issatis$a%tion, the #aughter<s aCakene# $emininity an# sense o$ in#epen#en%e, +n short, S%or%ese<s version in%orporates an interpretation homologous to the rea#ing o$ 0it%h%o%k Birds that %on%eives o$ the $ero%ious )ir#s< atta%ks as the materialiFation o$ the maternal superego, o$ the #istur)an%e that alrea#y #Cells in $amily li$e, "lthough su%h a rea#ing may appear /#eeper/ than the allege#ly /super$i%ial/ re#u%tion o$ the $or%e o$ :vil to an e5ternal threat, Chat gets lost Cith su%h a rea#ing is pre%isely the remain#er o$ an 8utsi#e that %annot )e re#u%e# to a se%on#ary e$$e%t o$ inherent intersu)je%tive tensions, sin%e its e5%lusion is %onstitutive o$ the su)je%tE su%h a remain#er or o)je%t alCays a##s itsel$ to the intersu)je%tive netCork, as a kin# o$ /$elloC traveler/ o$ every intersu)je%tive %ommunity, .onsi#er the )ir#s in 0it%h%o%k The Birds, "re they not, notCithstan#ing their intersu)je%tive status, at their most ra#i%al su%h an over)loCn stain on a $ingerK 3hen, upon %rossing the )ay $or the $irst time, ;elanie 1(ippi 0e#ren2 is atta%ke# ->B)y a gull Chi%h strikes her hea#, she $eels her hea# Cith a glove# han# an# per%eives on the tip o$ her $ore$inger a small re# )loo#-stain' all the )ir#s Cho later atta%k the toCn %oul# )e sai# to arise out o$ this tiny stain, the same as in .orth7by7.orthwest, Chere the plane atta%king .ary Irant on the empty %orn$iel# is $irst per%eive# as a tiny, )arely visi)le spot on the horiFon, (his original #ou)ling o$ sel$-%ons%iousness provi#es the $oun#ation o$ /intersu)je%tivity /E i$, as the 0egelian %ommonpla%e goes, sel$-%ons%iousness is sel$-%ons%iousness only through the me#iation o$ another sel$-%ons%iousness, then my sel$-aCareness-- pre%isely inso$ar as this sel$aCareness is not the same as sel$-transparen%y-- %auses the emergen%e o$ a #e%entere# /it thinks,/ 3hen the split )etCeen /+ am/ an# /it thinks/ is translate# into the stan#ar# moti$ o$ intersu)je%tivity, Chat gets lost is the ra#i%al asymmetry o$ the tCo terms, (he /other/ is originally an ob(ect, an opaDue stain Chi%h hin#ers my sel$-transparen%y )y giving a )o#y to Chat has to )e e5%lu#e# i$ + am to emerge, +n other Cor#s, the ultimate para#o5 o$ the #iale%ti%s o$ sel$-%ons%iousness is that it inverts the stan#ar# #o5a a%%or#ing to Chi%h /%ons%iousness/ relates to a heterogeneous, e5ternal o)je%t, Chile /sel$-%ons%iousness/ a)olishes this #e%entere#nessE instea#, the ob(ect is stri%to sensu the correlate of self7 consciousness, ?o o)je%t e5ists prior to sel$-%ons%iousness, sin%e the ob(ect originally emerges as that opa6ue kernel which has to be e8cluded if I am to gain awareness of myself, 8r, to put it in -a%anian terms, the original intersu)je%tive %orrelate o$ the su)je%t-- o$ the )arre# L-- is not another L, )ut S, the opaDue, $ull 8ther possessing Chat the su)je%t %onstitutively la%ks 1)eing, knoCle#ge2, +n this pre%ise sense the 8ther-- the other human )eing-- is originally the impenetra)le, su)stantial (hing, " ra#i%al %on%lusion thus %an )e #raCnE the reproa%h a%%or#ing to Chi%h the .artesian*antian cogito is /monologi%al/ an# as su%h /represses/ an original intersu)je%tivity totally misses the point, +t is the e5a%t opposite Chi%h is trueE the pre-.artesian in#ivi#ual

imme#iately, inherently )elongs to a %ommunity, )ut intersu)je%tivity an# 1)elonging to a2 %ommunity are to )e stri%tly oppose#, i,e,, intersub(ectivity senso strictu becomes possible, thinkable, only with 1ant, with the notion of sub(ect 6ua @, the empty form of apperception which needs S as correlative to its nonbeing, +n other Cor#s, intersu)je%tivity stricto sensu involves the su)je%t<s ra#i%al #e%entere#nessE only Chen my sel$-%ons%iousness is e5ternaliFe# in an o)je%t #o + )egin to look $or it in another su)je%t, 3hat Ce have prior to the *antian su)je%t is -> not the intersu)je%tivity proper )ut a %ommunity o$ in#ivi#uals Cho share a %ommon universal-su)stantial groun# an# parti%ipate in it, +t is only Cith *ant, Cith his notion o$ the su)je%t as L, as the empty $orm o$ sel$apper%eption, as an entity Chi%h %onstitutively /#oes not knoC Chat it is,/ that the 8ther Su)je%t is nee#e# in or#er $or me to #e$ine my oCn i#entityE Chat the 8ther thinks + am is ins%ri)e# into the very heart o$ my oCn most intimate sel$-i#entity, (he am)iguity that sti%ks to the -a%anian notion o$ the )ig 8ther-- another su)je%t in its impenetra)le opa%ity, yet at the same time the very sym)oli% stru%ture, the neutral $iel# in Chi%h + en%ounter other su)je%ts-- is there$ore $ar $rom )eing the result o$ a simple %on$usionE it gives e5pression to a #eep stru%tural ne%essity, Pre%isely inso$ar as + am L, + %annot %on%eive o$ mysel$ as parti%ipating at some %ommon su)stan%e, i,e,, this su)stan%e ne%essarily opposes itsel$ to me in the guise o$ the 8ther Su)je%t,

8I $ou/t, Therefore I A68

-a%an<s a%hievement Cith regar# to cogito an# #ou)t %oul# )e summe# up in the elementary, )ut nonetheless $ar-rea%hing operation o$ per%eiving 1an# then #raCing theoreti%al %onseDuen%es $rom2 the a$$inity )etCeen .artesian #ou)t an# the #ou)t that #Cells at the very heart o$ %ompulsive 1o)sessive2 neurosis, (his step in no Cay amounts to a /psy%hiatriFation o$ philosophy/-- the re#u%tion o$ philosophi%al attitu#es to an e5pression o$ pathologi%al states o$ min#-- )ut rather to its e5a%t %ontrary, the /philosophiFation/ o$ %lini%al %ategoriesE Cith -a%an, %ompulsive neurosis, perversion, hysteria, et%,, %ease to $un%tion as simple %lini%al #esignations an# )e%ome names $or e5istential-ontologi%al positions, $or Chat 0egel, in the +ntro#u%tion to his 9ncyclopaedia of $hilosophical Sciences, %alle# Stellungen des edankens 4ur +b(ektivitaet, /attitu#es o$ thought toCar# o)je%tivity,/ +n short, -a%an as it Cere supplements Des%artes< I doubt, therefore I am-- the a)solute %ertainty provi#e# )y the $a%t that my most ra#i%al #ou)t implies my e5isten%e Dua thinking su)je%t-- Cith another turn o$ the s%reC, reversing its logi%E I am only insofar as I doubt, (his Cay, Ce o)tain the elementary $ormula o$ the %ompulsive neuroti%<s attitu#eE the neuroti% %lings to his #ou)t, to his in#eterminate status, as the only $irm support o$ his )eing, an# is e5tremely apprehensive o$ the prospe%t o$ )eing %ompelle# to make a #e%ision Chi%h Coul# %ut short his os%illation, his neither-nor status, Far $rom un#ermining the su)je%t<s %omposure or even threatening to #isinte->9grate his sel$-i#entity, this un%ertainty provi#es his minimal ontologi%al %onsisten%y, Su$$i%e it to re%all -ina, the heroine o$ 0it%h%o%k Suspicion, (ormente# )y suspi%ions that her hus)an# is a)out to kill her, she persists in her in#e%ision, putting o$$ in#e$initely the a%t Chi%h Coul# instantly ena)le her to #issolve the un)eara)le tension, +n the $amous $inal s%ene, her gaFe

)e%omes trans$i5e# upon the Chite glass o$ milk %ontaining the ansCer to the #ou)ts an# suspi%ions that are tormenting her, yet she is totally immo)iliFe#, una)le to a%t-- ChyK Ge%ause )y $in#ing an ansCer to her suspi%ions she Coul# there)y lose her status as a su)je%t, 49 +t is this inherent #iale%ti%al inversion that %hara%teriFes the su)je%t o$ #ou)t an# suspi%ionE /o$$i%ially,/ he strives #esperately $or %ertainty, $or an unam)iguous ansCer that Coul# provi#e the reme#y against the Corm o$ #ou)t that is %onsuming him' a%tually, the true %atastrophe he is trying to eva#e at any pri%e is this very solution, the emergen%e o$ a $inal, unam)iguous ansCer, Chi%h is Chy he en#lessly sti%ks to his un%ertain, in#eterminate, os%illating status, (here is a kin# o$ re$le%tive reversal at Cork hereE the su)je%t persists in his in#e%ision an# puts o$$ the %hoi%e not )e%ause he is a$rai# that, )y %hoosing one pole o$ the alternative, he Coul# lose the other pole 1that, in the %ase o$ -ina, )y opting $or inno%en%e, she Coul# have to a%%ept the $a%t that her hus)an# is a mere small-time %rook, #evoi# o$ any inner strength, even in the #ire%tion o$ :vil2, 3hat he truly $ears to lose is #ou)t as su%h, the un%ertainty, the open state Chere everything is still possi)le, Chere none o$ the options are pre%lu#e#, +t is $or that reason that -a%an %on$ers on the status o$ ob(ectE $ar $rom #esignating the very #imension o$ su)je%tivity 1 /su)je%ts a%t, o)je%ts are a%te# upon/2, the a%t %uts short the in#etermina%y Chi%h provi#es the #istan%e that separates the su)je%t $rom the Corl# o$ o)je%ts, (hese %onsi#erations ena)le us to approa%h $rom a neC perspe%tive the moti$ o$ /1ant avec Sade,/ (o#ay, it is a %ommonpla%e to Duali$y *ant as a %ompulsive neuroti%E the un%ertain status o$ the su)je%t is ins%ri)e# into the very heart o$ the *antian ethi%s, i,e,, the *antian su)je%t is )y #e$inition never /at the height o$ his task/' he is $orever torture# )y the possi)ility that his ethi%al a%t, although in accordance with #uty, Cas not a%%omplishe# for the sake o$ #uty itsel$, )ut Cas motivate# )y some hi##en /pathologi%al/ %onsi#erations 1that, )y a%%omplishing my #uty, + Cill arouse respe%t an# veneration in others, $or e5ample2, 3hat remains hi##en to *ant, Chat he ren#ers invisi)le )y Cay o$ his logi% o$ the 8ught 1 Sollen2, i,e,, o$ the in$inite, asymptoti% pro%ess o$ realiFing the moral +#eal, is that it is this very -BAstain o$ un%ertainty Chi%h sustains the #imension o$ ethi%al universalityE the *antian su)je%t #esperately %lings to his #ou)t, to his un%ertainty, in or#er to retain his ethi%al status, 3hat Ce have in min# here is not the %ommonpla%e a%%or#ing to Chi%h, on%e the +#eal is realiFe#, all li$e-tension is lost an# there is nothing )ut lethargi% )ore#om in store $or us, Something $ar more pre%ise is at stakeE once the %pathological% stain is missing, the universal collapses into the particular, (his, pre%isely, is Chat o%%urs in Sa#eian perversion, Chi%h, $or that very reason, reverses the *antian %ompulsive un%ertainty into a)solute %ertaintyE a pervert knoCs per$e%tly Chat he is #oing, Chat the 8ther Cants $rom him, sin%e he %on%eives o$ himsel$ as an instrument-o)je%t o$ the 8ther<s 3ill-to-:njoy, +n this pre%ise sense Sa#e stages the truth o$ *antE you Cant an ethi%al a%t $ree o$ any %ompulsive #ou)tK 0ere you have the Sa#eian perversion@ 3A 8$ Chat, more e5a%tly, #oes this ontologi%al un%ertainty o$ the su)je%t %onsistK (he key to it is provi#e# )y the link )etCeen an5iety an# the #esire o$ the 8therE an5iety is arouse# )y the #esire o$ the 8ther in the sense that /+ #o not knoC Chat ob(ect a + am $or the #esire o$ the 8ther,/ 3hat #oes the 8ther Cant $rom me, Chat is there /in me more than mysel$/ on a%%ount o$ Chi%h + am an o)je%t o$ the 8ther<s #esire-- or, in philosophi%al terms, Chi%h is my pla%e in the su)stan%e, in the /great %hain o$ )eing/K (he %ore o$ an5iety is this a)solute un%ertainty as to Chat + amE /+ #o not knoC Chat + am 1$or the 8ther, sin%e + am Chat + am

only $or the 8ther2,/ (his un%ertainty defines the su)je%tE the su)je%t /is/ only as a /%ra%k in the su)stan%e,/ only inso$ar as his status in the 8ther os%illates, "n# the position o$ the maso%hist pervert is ultimately an attempt to elu#e this un%ertainty, Chi%h is Chy it involves the loss o$ the status o$ the su)je%t, i,e,, a ra#i%al sel$-o)je%tiviFationE the pervert knows what he is for the +ther, sin%e he posits himsel$ as the o)je%t-instrument o$ the 8ther<s (ouissance,
31

+n this regar#, the position o$ the pervert is un%annily %lose to that o$ the analystE they are separate# only )y a thin, almost invisi)le line, +t is )y no a%%i#ent that the upper level o$ -a%an<s mathem o$ the #is%ourse o$ the analyst repro#u%es the $ormula o$ perversi1a L2, 8n a%%ount o$ his or her passivity, the analyst $un%tions as ob(et a $or the analysan#, as the latter<s $antasy-$rame, as a kin# o$ )lank s%reen onto Chi%h the analysan# proje%ts his or her $antasies, (his is also Chy the $ormula o$ perversion inverts that o$ the $antasy 1L a2E the pervert<s ultimate $antasy is to )e a per$e%t servant o$ his other<s 1partner<s2 $antasies, to o$$er himsel$ as an instrument o$ the other<s 3ill-to-:njoy 1like Don Iiovanni, $or e5ample, Cho se#u%es -B1Comen )y ena%ting one )y one the spe%i$i% $antasy o$ ea%h o$ themE -a%an Cas Duite right in pointing out that Don Iiovanni is a $eminine myth2, (he entire #i$$eren%e )etCeen the pervert an# the analyst hinges on a %ertain invisi)le limit, on a %ertain /nothing/ that separates themE the pervert %on$irms the su)je%t<s $antasy, Chereas the analyst in#u%es him or her to /traverse/ it, to gain a minimal #istan%e toCar# it, )y Cay o$ ren#ering visi)le the voi# 1the la%k in the 8ther2 %overe# up )y the $antasy-s%enario, For that reason, it is Duite legitimate to asso%iate perversion, in its $un#amental #imension, Cith the /maso%hism/ o$ theanal phase, +n his Seminar on trans$eren%e, 34 -a%an ma#e it %lear hoC the passage $rom the oral into the anal phase has nothing Chatsoever to #o Cith the pro%ess o$ )iologi%al maturation, )ut is entirely $oun#e# in a %ertain #iale%ti%al shi$t in the intersu)je%tive sym)oli% e%onomy, (he anal phase is #e$ine# )y the a#aptation o$ the su)je%t<s #esire to the #eman# o$ the 8ther, i,e,, the o)je%t-%ause o$ the su)je%t<s #esire 1a2 %oin%i#es Cith the 8ther<s #eman#, Chi%h is Chy -a%an<s mathem $or the /anal/ %ompulsive neurosis is that o$ #rive L D, (rue, the oral phase #oes imply an attitu#e o$ Canting to /#evour it all/ an# there)y satis$y all nee#s' hoCever, #ue to the %hil#<s #epen#en%y, %ause# )y the premature )irth o$ the human animal, satis$ying its nee#s, $rom the very )eginning, is /me#iate#/ )y, hinges upon, the demand addressed to the +ther 1primarily mother2 to provi#e the o)je%ts Chi%h meet the %hil#<s nee#s, 3hat then o%%urs in the anal phase is a #iale%ti%al reversal in this relationship )etCeen nee# an# #eman#E the satisfaction of a need is subordinated to the demand of the +ther, i,e,, the su)je%t 1%hil#2 %an only satis$y his nee# on %on#ition that he there)y %omplies Cith the 8ther<s #eman#, -et us re%all the notorious %ase o$ #e$e%ationE the %hil# enters the /anal phase/ Chen he strives to satis$y his nee# to #e$e%ate in a Cay that %omplies Cith the mother<s #eman# to #o it regularly, into the %ham)er-pot an# not into his pants, et%, (he same hol#s $or $oo#E the %hil# eats in or#er to #emonstrate hoC Cell-)ehave# he is, rea#y to $ul$ill his mother<s #eman# to $inish the plate an# to #o it properly, Cithout #irtying his han#s an# the ta)le, +n short, Ce satis$y our nee#s in or#er to earn our pla%e in the so%ial or#er, (herein lies the $un#amental impe#iment o$ the anal phaseE pleasure is /)arre#,/ prohi)ite#, in its imme#ia%y, i,e,, inso$ar as it involves taking a #ire%t satis$a%tion in the o)je%t' pleasure is permitte# only in the $un%tion o$ %omplying Cith the

8ther<s #eman#, +n this pre%ise sense, the anal phase provi#es the )asi% matri5 $or the o)sessional, %ompulsive attitu#e, +t Coul# )e easy to Duote here $urther e5amples $rom a#ult -B4li$e' su$$i%e it to re%all Chat is perhaps its %learest %ase in /postmo#ern/ theory, namely the o)session Cith 0it%h%o%k, the en#less $loC o$ )ooks an# %on$eren%es Chi%h en#eavor to #is%ern theoreti%al $inesses even in his minor $ilms 1the /save-the-$ailures/ movement2, .an<t Ce a%%ount, at least partially, $or this o)session )y Cay o$ a %ompulsive /)a# %ons%ien%e/ on the part o$ intelle%tuals Cho, prevente# $rom simply yiel#ing to the pleasures o$ 0it%h%o%k<s $ilms, $eel o)lige# to prove that they a%tually Cat%h 0it%h%o%k in or#er to #emonstrate some theoreti%al point 1the me%hanism o$ the spe%tator<s i#enti$i%ation, the vi%issitu#es o$ male voyeurism, et%,2K + am alloCe# to enjoy something only inso$ar as it serves (heory Dua my )ig 8ther, 33 (he 0egelian %hara%ter o$ this reversal o$ oral into anal e%onomy %annot )ut strike the eyeE the satis$a%tion o$ our nee# )y means o$ the 8ther Cho ansCers our #eman# /attains its truth/ Chen %omplying Cith the 8ther<s #eman# is #ire%tly posite# as the sine Dua non, the /trans%en#ental $rame,/ the %on#ition o$ possi)ility, o$ satis$ying our nee#s, "n# the $un%tion o$ the thir# /phalli%,/ phase, o$ %ourse, is pre%isely to #isengage the su)je%t $rom this enslavement to the #eman# o$ the 8ther,

The ,re i<itous Identifi ation

(he "lthusserian /i#eologi%al interpellation/ 36 #esignates the retroa%tive illusion o$ /alCaysalrea#y/E the reverse o$ the i#eologi%al re%ognition is the misre%ognition o$ the per$ormative #imension, (hat is to say, Chen the su)je%t re%ogniFes himsel$ in an i#eologi%al %all, he automati%ally overlooks the $a%t that this very $ormal a%t o$ re%ognition %reates the %ontent one re%ogniFes onesel$ in, 1Su$$i%e it to evoke the %lassi%al %ase o$ the Stalinist .ommunistE Chen he re%ogniFes himsel$ as the instrument o$ the /o)je%tive ne%essity o$ the histori%al progress toCar# %ommunism,/ he misre%ogniFes the $a%t that this /o)je%tive ne%essity/ e5ists only inso$ar as it is %reate# )y the .ommunist #is%ourse, only inso$ar as .ommunists invoke it as the legitimiFation o$ their a%tivity,2 3hat is missing $rom the "lthusserian a%%ount o$ this gesture o$ sym)oli% i#enti$i%ation, o$ re%ogniFing onesel$ in a sym)oli% man#ate, is that it is a move aime# at resolving the #ea#lo%k o$ the su)je%t<s ra#i%al un%ertainty as to its status 1Chat am + Dua o)je%t $or the 8therK2, (he $irst thing to #o apropos o$ interpellation in a -a%anian approa%h is there$ore to reverse "lthusser<s $ormula o$ i#eology Chi%h /interpellates in#ivi#uals into su)je%ts/E it is never the in#ivi#ual Chi%h is interpellate# as su)je%t, into su)je%t' it is on the %ontrary the -B3su)je%t itsel$ Cho is interpellate# as 5 1some spe%i$i% su)je%t-position, sym)oli% i#entity or man#ate2, there)y elu#ing the a)yss o$ L, +n %lassi%al li)eral i#eology, the su)je%t is interpellate# pre%isely as /in#ivi#ual,/ (he o$ten Duote# ;ar5-)rothers joke on 9avelli 1 /=ou look like 9avelli,-- Gut + am 9avelli@-- ?o Con#er, then, that you look like him@/2 en#s Cith 9avelli ju)ilantly %on%lu#ing /So + #o look alike@/ (his joy$ul assumption o$ a man#ate, this triumphant as%ertaining that + am like my oCn sym)oli% $igure, gives e5pression to the relie$ that + su%%ee#e# in avoi#ing the un%ertainty o$ /&he vuoiK/, 37

For that reason, the su)je%t<s sym)oli% i#enti$i%ation alCays has an anticipatory, hastening %hara%ter 1similar to, yet not to )e %on$use# Cith, the anti%ipatory re%ognition o$ /mysel$/ in the mirror image2, "s pointe# out )y -a%an alrea#y in the $orties, in his $amous paper on logi%al time, 3> the $un#amental $orm o$ sym)oli% i#enti$i%ation, i,e,, o$ assuming a sym)oli% man#ate, is $or me to /re%ogniFe mysel$ as M,/ to pro%laim, to promulgate mysel$ as M, in or#er to overtake others Cho might e5pel me $rom the %ommunity o$ those Cho /)elong to M,/ 0ere is the someChat simpli$ie# an# a))reviate# version o$ the logi%al puFFle o$ three prisoners apropos o$ Chi%h -a%an #evelops the three mo#alities o$ the logi%al timeE (he hea# o$ a prison %an, on the )asis o$ amnesty, release one o$ the three prisoners, +n or#er to #e%i#e Chi%h one, he makes them pass a logi%al test, (he prisoners knoC that there are $ive hats, three o$ them Chite an# tCo )la%k, (hree o$ these hats are #istri)ute# to the prisoners Cho then sit #oCn in a triangle, so that ea%h o$ them %an see the %olor o$ the hats o$ the tCo others, )ut not the %olor o$ the hat on his oCn hea#, (he Cinner is the one Cho $irst guesses the %olor o$ his oCn hat, Chi%h he signi$ies )y stan#ing up an# leaving the room, 3e have three possi)le situationsE -- +$ one prisoner has a Chite hat an# the other tCo )la%k hats, the one Cith the Chite hat %an imme#iately /see/ that his is Chite )y Cay o$ a simple reasoningE /(here are only tCo )la%k hats' + see them on the others< hea#s, so mine is Chite,/ So there is no time involve# here, only an /instant o$ the gaFe,/ -- (he se%on# possi)ility is that there are tCo Chite an# one )la%k hat, +$ mine is Chite, + Cill reason this CayE /+ see one )la%k an# one Chite hat, so mine is either Chite or )la%k, 0oCever, i$ mine is )la%k, then the prisoner Cith the Chite hat Coul# see tCo )la%k hats an# imme#iately %on%lu#e that his is Chite' sin%e he #oes not #o it, mine is also Chite,/ 0ere, some time ha# to elapse, i,e,, Ce alrea#y nee# a %ertain /time $or un#erstan#ing/E -B6+ as it Cere /transpose/ mysel$ into the reasoning o$ the other' + arrive at my %on%lusion on the )asis o$ the $a%t that the other #oes not a%t, -- (he thir# possi)ility-- three Chite hats-- is the most %omple5, (he reasoning goes here like thisE /+ see tCo Chite hats, so mine is either Chite or )la%k, +$ mine is )la%k, then any o$ the tCo remaining prisoners Coul# reason the $olloCing CayE <+ see a )la%k an# a Chite hat, So i$ mine is )la%k, the prisoner Cith the Chite hat Coul# see tCo )la%k hats an# Coul# stan# up an# leave imme#iately 0oCever, he #oes not #o it, So mine is Chite, + shall stan# up an# leave,< Gut sin%e none o$ the other tCo prisoners stan#s up, mine is also Chite,/ 0ere, hoCever, -a%an points out hoC this solution reDuires a #ou)le #elay an# a hin#ere#, interrupte# gesture, (hat is to say, i$ all three prisoners are o$ eDual intelligen%e, then, a$ter the $irst #elay, i,e,, upon noti%ing that none o$ the others is making any move, they Cill all rise at the same moment-- an# then sti$$en, e5%hanging perple5e# glan%esE the pro)lem is that they Cill not knoC the meaning o$ the other<s gesture 1ea%h o$ them Cill ask himsel$E /Di# the others rise $or the same reason as me, or #i# they #o it )e%ause they saC on my hea# a black hatK/2, 8nly noC, upon noti%ing that they all share the same hesitation, they Cill )e a)le to jump to the $inal %on%lusionE the very $a%t o$ the share# hesitation is a proo$ that they are all in the same situation, i,e,, that they all have Chite hats on their hea#s, "t this pre%ise moment, #elay shi$ts into haste, Cith ea%h o$ the prisoners saying to himsel$ /-et me rush to the #oor )e$ore the others overtake me@/ 3B

+t is easy to re%ogniFe hoC a spe%i$i% mo#e o$ su)je%tivity %orrespon#s to ea%h o$ the three moments o$ the logi%al timeE the /instant o$ gaFe/ implies the impersonal /one/ 1 /one sees/2, the neutral su)je%t o$ logi%al reasoning Cithout any intersu)je%tive #iale%ti%' the /time $or un#erstan#ing/ alrea#y involves intersu)je%tivity, i,e,, in or#er $or me to arrive at the %on%lusion that my hat is Chite, + have to /transpose/ mysel$ into the other<s reasoning 1i$ the other Cith the Chite hat Cere to see on my hea# a )la%k hat, he Coul# imme#iately knoC that his must )e )la%k an# stan# up' sin%e he #oes not #o it, mine is also Chite2, 0oCever, this intersu)je%tivity remains that o$ the /in#e$inite re%ipro%al su)je%t,/ as -a%an puts itE a simple re%ipro%al %apa)ility o$ taking into a%%ount the other<s reasoning, +t is only the thir# moment, the /moment o$ %on%lusion,/ Chi%h provi#es the true /genesis o$ the +/E Chat takes pla%e in it is the shi$t $rom L to S 1 , $rom the voi# o$ the su)je%t epitomiFe# )y the ra#i%al un%ertainty as to Chat + am, -B7i,e,, )y the utter un#e%i#a)ility o$ my status, to the %on%lusion that + am Chite, to the assumption o$ the sym)oli% i#entity-- /(hat<s me@/ 3e must )ear in min# here the anti--Jvi-Straussian thrust o$ these -a%an<s ruminations, .lau#e -Jvi-Strauss %on%eive# the sym)oli% or#er as an asu)je%tive stru%ture, an o)je%tive $iel# in Chi%h every in#ivi#ual o%%upies, $ills in, his or her preor#aine# pla%e' Chat -a%an invokes is the /genesis/ o$ this o)je%tive so%io-sym)oli% i#entityE i$ Ce simply Cait $or a sym)oli% pla%e to )e allotte# to us, Ce Cill never live to see it, (hat is, in the %ase o$ a sym)oli% man#ate, Ce never simply as%ertain Chat Ce are' Ce /)e%ome Chat Ce are/ )y means o$ a pre%ipitous su)je%tive gesture, (his pre%ipitous i#enti$i%ation involves the shi$t $rom o)je%t to signi$ierE the 1Chite or )la%k2 hat is the o)je%t + am, an# its invisi)ility to me ren#ers the $a%t that + %an never get an insight into /Chat + am as an o)je%t/ 1i,e,, N an# a are topologi%ally in%ompati)le2, 3hen + say /+ am Chite,/ + assume a sym)oli% i#entity Chi%h $ills out the voi# o$ the un%ertainty as to my )eing, 3hat a%%ounts $or this anti%ipatory overtaking is the inconclusive %hara%ter o$ the %ausal %hainE the sym)oli% or#er is rule# )y the /prin%iple o$ insu$$i%ient reason/E Cithin the spa%e o$ sym)oli% intersu)je%tivity, + %an never simply as%ertain Chat + am, Chi%h is Chy my /o)je%tive/ so%ial i#entity is esta)lishe# )y means o$ /su)je%tive/ anti%ipation, (he signi$i%ant #etail usually passe# over in silen%e is that -a%an, in his te5t on logi%al time, Duotes as the e5emplary politi%al %ase o$ su%h %olle%tive i#enti$i%ation the Stalinist .ommunist<s a$$irmation o$ ortho#o5yE + hasten to promulgate my true .ommunist %re#entials out o$ $ear that others Cill e5pel me as a revisionist traitor, 3 (herein resi#es the am)iguous link )etCeen the Sym)oli% an# #eathE )y assuming a sym)oli% i#entity, i,e,, )y i#enti$ying mysel$ Cith a sym)ol Chi%h is potentially my epitaph, + as it Cere /outpass mysel$ into #eath,/ 0oCever, this pre%ipitation toCar# #eath at the same time $un%tions as its opposite' it is #esigne# to $orestall #eath, to assure my posthumous li$e in the sym)oli% tra#ition Chi%h Cill outlive my #eath-- an o)sessive strategy, i$ there ever Cas oneE in an a%t o$ pre%ipitous i#enti$i%ation I hasten to assume death in order to avoid it, "nti%ipatory i#enti$i%ation is there$ore a kin# o$ preemptive strike, an attempt to provi#e in a#van%e an ansCer to /Chat + am $or the 8ther/ an# thus to assuage the an5iety that pertains to the #esire o$ the 8therE the signifier Chi%h represents me in the 8ther resolves the impasse o$ what ob(ect I am for the +ther, 3hat + a%tually overtake )y Cay o$ sym)oli% i#enti$i%ation is there$ore ob(et a in mysel$' as to its $ormal stru%ture,

-B>sym)oli% i#enti$i%ation is alCays a /$light $orCar#/ $rom the o)je%t that + am, Gy Cay o$ saying /=ou are my Ci$e,/ $or e5ample, + elu#e an# o)literate my ra#i%al un%ertainty as to Chat you are in the very kernel o$ our )eing, Dua (hing, 39 (his is Chat is missing $rom "lthusser<s a%%ount o$ interpellationE it #oes justi%e to the moment o$ retroa%tivity, to the illusion o$ the /alCays-alrea#y,/ yet it leaves out o$ %onsi#eration the anti%ipatory overtaking Dua inherent reverse o$ this retroa%tivity, 8ne o$ the Cays to make this %ru%ial point %lear is via a #etour, a $oray into one o$ the $inest a%hievements o$ analyti%al philosophy, Iri%e<s ela)oration o$ the stru%ture o$ 1intentional2 meaning, 6A "%%or#ing to Iri%e, Chen Ce mean to say something in the $ull sense o$ the term, this involves an intri%ate $our-level stru%tureE 112 Ce say M' 142 the a##ressee must per%eive that Ce intentionally sai# M, i,e,, that the enun%iation o$ M Cas an intentional a%t on our part' 132 Ce must inten# that the a##ressee must per%eive not only our saying M, )ut that Ce Cant him to per%eive that Ce intentionally Cante# to say M' 162 the a##ressee must per%eive 1must )e aCare o$2 132, i,e,, our intention that Ce Cant him to per%eive our saying M, as an intentional a%t, +n short, our saying /(his room is )right/ is a %ase o$ su%%ess$ul %ommuni%ation only i$ the a##ressee is aCare that, )y saying /(his room is )right,/ Ce not only Cante# to say that the room is )right, )ut also Cante# him to )e aCare that Ce Cante# him to per%eive our saying /(his room is )right/ as an intentional a%t, +$ this seems a hairsplitting, %ontrive#, useless analysis, su$$i%e it to re%all a situation Chen, lost in a $oreign %ity, Ce listen to one o$ its inha)itants #esperately trying to make us un#erstan# something in his native languageE Chat Ce en%ounter here is level 6 in its pure, as it Cere #istille# $orm, (hat is to say, although Ce #o not knoC Chat, pre%isely, the inha)itant Cants to tell us, Ce are Cell aCare not only o$ the $a%t that he Cants to tell us something, )ut also o$ the $a%t that he wants us to notice his very endeavor to tell us something, 8ur point is that the stru%ture o$ a hysteri%al symptom is e5a%tly homologous to Iri%e<s level 6E Chat is at stake in a symptom is not only the hysteri%<s attempt to #eliver a message 1the meaning o$ the symptom that Caits to )e #e%iphere#2, )ut, at a more $un#amental level, his #esperate en#eavor to a$$irm himsel$, to )e a%%epte# as a partner in %ommuni%ation, 3hat he ultimately Cants to tell us is that his symptom is not a meaningless physiologi%al #istur)an%e, i,e,, that Ce have to len# him an ear sin%e he has something to tell us, +n short, the ultimate meaning o$ the symptom is that the 8ther shoul# take noti%e o$ the $a%t that it has a meaning, Perhaps it is Cith regar# to this $eature that a %omputer message #i$$ers -BB$rom human intersu)je%tivityE Chat the %omputer la%ks is pre%isely this sel$-re$erentiality 1in 0egeleseE re$le%tivity2 o$ meaning, "n#, again, it is not #i$$i%ult to #is%ern in this sel$re$erentiality the %ontours o$ a logi%al temporalityE )y means o$ the signi$ier o$ this re$le%tive meaning, i,e,, o$ the signi$ier Chi%h /means/ only the presen%e o$ meaning, Ce are a)le as it Cere to /overtake/ ourselves an#, in an anti%ipatory move, esta)lish our i#entity not in some positive %ontent )ut in a pure sel$-re$erential signi$ying $orm allu#ing to a meaning-to-%ome, 61 Su%h is, in the last resort, the logi% o$ every i#eologi%al ;aster-Signi$ier in the name o$ Chi%h Ce $ight our )attlesE $atherlan#, "meri%a, so%ialism, et%,-- #o they not all #esignate an i#enti$i%ation not Cith a %learly #e$ine# positive %ontent )ut Cith the very gesture o$ i#enti$i%ationK 3hen Ce say /+ )elieve in 5 1 "meri%a, so%ialism,,,2,/ the ultimate meaning o$ it is pure intersu)je%tivityE it means that + )elieve that + am not alone, that + )elieve that there

are also others Cho )elieve in 5, (he i#eologi%al .ause is stricto sensu an e$$e%t o$ the )elie$ poure# into it $rom the si#e o$ its su)je%ts , 64 (his para#o5 o$ the /pre%ipitate#/ i#enti$i%ation Cith the unknoCn is Chat -a%an has in min# Chen he #etermines the phalli% 1paternal2 signi$ier as the signi$ier o$ the la%k o$ the signi$ier, +$ this re$le%tive reversal o$ the la%k o$ the signi$ier into the signi$ier o$ the la%k seems %ontrive#, su$$i%e it to re%all the story o$ ;al%olm M, the legen#ary "$ri%an-"meri%an lea#er, 0ere are some e5%erpts $rom a .ew Aork Times arti%le apropos o$ Spike -ee $ilm ;al%olm M-- an# the .ew Aork Times $or sure %annot )e a%%use# o$ a -a%anian )iasE M stan#s $or the unknoCn, (he unknoCn language, religion, an%estors an# %ultures o$ the "$ri%an "meri%an, M is a repla%ement $or the last name given to the slaves )y the slave master, , , , /M/ %an #enote e5perimentation, #anger, poison, o)s%enity an# the #rug e%stasy, +t is also the signature o$ a person Cho %annot Crite his or her name, , , , (he irony is that ;al%olm M, like many o$ the ?ation o$ +slam an# other )la%ks in the >o<s, assume# the letter-noC hel# to represent his i#entity-- as an e5pression o$ a la%k o$ i#entity, 63 (he gesture o$ ;al%olm M, his a%t o$ repla%ing the impose# $amily name, the ?ame-o$-theFather, Cith the sym)ol o$ the unknoCn, is $ar more %omple5 than it may seem, 3hat Ce must avoi# is getting lure# into the /sear%h $or the lost origins/E Ce totally miss the point i$ Ce re#u%e the gesture o$ ;al%olm M to a simple %ase o$ longing $or the lost 8rigins 1$or -B the /true/ "$ri%an ethni% i#entity, lost Chen )la%ks Cere torn out o$ their original environs )y slave tra#ers2, (he point is rather that this re$eren%e to the lost 8rigins ena)les the su)je%t to elu#e the grasp o$ the impose# sym)oli% i#entity an# to /%hoose $ree#om,/ the la%k o$ $i5e# i#entity, M Dua voi# e5%ee#s every positive sym)oli% i#entityE the moment its gap emerges, Ce $in# ourselves in the $antasy #omain o$ /e5perimentation, #anger, poison, o)s%enity an# the #rug e%stasy/ that no neC sym)oli% i#entity %an $ill out, (he $urther point to )e ma#e, hoCever, is that this i#enti$i%ation Cith the unknoCn, $ar $rom )eing an e5%eption, brings to light thefeature constitutive of symbolic identification as suchE every sym)oli% i#enti$i%ation is ultimately i#enti$i%ation Cith an M, Cith an /empty/ signi$ier Chi%h stan#s $or the unknoCn %ontent, i,e,, it makes us i#enti$y Cith the very sym)ol o$ a la%k o$ i#entity, (he ?ame-o$-the-Father, the signi$ier o$ sym)oli% i#entity par e5%ellen%e, is, as -a%an emphasiFes again an# again, the /signi$ier Cithout a signi$ie#,/ 3hat this means Cith regar# to ;al%olm M is that although M is meant to stan# $or the lost "$ri%an 8rigins, at the same time it stan#s $or their irrevo%a)le lossE )y Cay o$ i#enti$ying ourselves Cith M, Ce /%onsummate/ the loss o$ 8rigins, (he irony there$ore is that in the very a%t o$ returning to /maternal/ 8rigins, o$ marking our %ommitment to them, Ce irrevo%a)ly renoun%e them, 8r, to put it in -a%anian terms, ;al%olm M<s gesture is the 8e#ipal gesture at its purestE the gesture o$ su)stituting ?ame-o$-the-Father $or the #esire o$ the motherE 66

3hat is %ru%ial here is the virtual %hara%ter o$ the ?ame-o$-the-FatherE the paternal metaphor is an /M/ in the sense that it opens up the spa%e o$ virtual meaning' it stan#s $or all possi)le $uture meanings, "s to this virtual %hara%ter that pertains to the sym)oli% or#er, the parallel to

the %apitalist $inan%ial system is most instru%tive, "s Ce knoC $rom *eynes onCar#s, the %apitalist e%onomy is /virtual/ in a very pre%ise senseE *eynes<s $avorite ma5im Cas that in the long term Ce are all #ea#' the para#o5 o$ the %apitalist e%onomi%s is that our )orroCing $rom the 1virtual2 $uture, i,e,, our printing o$ money /un%overe#/ in /real/ values, %an )ring a)out real e$$e%ts 1groCth2, 0erein lies the %ru%ial #i$$eren%e )etCeen *eynes an# e%onomi% /$un#amentalists/ Cho $avor the a%tual /settling o$ a%%ounts/ 1reim)ursing the %re#its, a)olishing the /)orroCing $rom the $uture/2, -B9*eynes<s point is not simply that /unnatural/ %re#iting )y Cay o$ /un%overe#/ money, in$lation, or state spen#ing %an provi#e the impulse Chi%h results in a%tual e%onomi% groCth an# thus ena)les us eventually to a%hieve a )alan%e Chere)y Ce settle a%%ounts at a mu%h higher level o$ e%onomi% prosperity, *eynes %on%e#es that the moment o$ some $inal /settling o$ a%%ounts/ Coul# )e a %atastrophe, that the entire system Coul# %ollapse, =et the art o$ e%onomi% politi%s is pre%isely to prolong the virtual game an# thus to postpone a# in$initum the moment o$ $inal settlement, +n this pre%ise sense %apitalism is a /virtual/ systemE it is sustaine# )y a purely virtual keeping o$ a%%ounts' #e)ts are in%urre# Chi%h Cill never )e %leare#, 0oCever, although purely $i%titious, this /)alan%ing/ must )e preserve# as a kin# o$ *antian /regulative +#ea/ i$ the system is to survive, 3hat ;ar5 as Cell as stri%t monetarists %ommonly hol# against *eynes is the %onvi%tion that sometimes, sooner or later, the moment Cill arrive Chen Ce a%tually shall have to /settle a%%ounts,/ reim)urse #e)ts an# thus pla%e the system on its proper, /natural/ $oun#ations, 67 -a%an<s notion o$ the #e)t that pertains to the very notion o$ the sym)oli% or#er is stri%tly homologous to this %apitalist #e)tE sense as su%h is never /proper/' it is alCays a#van%e#, /)orroCe# $rom the $uture/' it lives on the a%%ount o$ the virtual $uture sense, (he Stalinist .ommunist Cho gets %aught in a vi%ious %ir%le )y justi$ying his present a%ts, in%lu#ing the sa%ri$i%e o$ millions o$ lives, Cith re$eren%e to a $uture .ommunist para#ise )rought a)out )y these a%ts, i,e,, Cho %ites )ene$i%ent $uture %onseDuen%es as Chat Cill retroa%tively re#eem present atro%ities, simply ren#ers visi)le the un#erlying temporal stru%ture o$ sense as su%h, - A-

,ART II
ERG" The $iale ti al Nonsequitur
- 1-

= "n Radi al E7il and Related +atters

Kant with (entha6
(o#ay, Chen *ant<s antinomies o$ pure reason enjoy the status o$ a philosophi%al %ommonpla%e Chi%h long ago %ease# to )e per%eive# as a threat to the entire philosophi%al e#i$i%e, it reDuires a %onsi#era)le e$$ort to imagine them /in their )e%oming,/ as *ierkegaar# Coul# put it, an# to resus%itate their original s%an#alous impa%t, 8ne Cay to a%hieve this goal is to %on%entrate on hoC the antinomies #i$$er $rom the logi% o$ )ig %osmi% oppositionsE yin R yang, mas%uline R $eminine, light R #arkness, repulsion R attra%tion, et%, (here is nothing su)versive a)out su%h a notion o$ the universe as an organism Chose li$e $or%e hinges on the tension o$ tCo polar prin%iples' Chat *ant ha# in min#, hoCever, Cas something Duite #i$$erent an# in%ompara)ly more unsettlingE there is no Cay $or us to imagine in a %onsistent Cay the universe as a 3hole' that is, as soon as Ce #o it, Ce o)tain tCo antinomi%al, mutually e5%lusive versions o$ the universe as a 3hole, "n#-as + shall try to #emonstrate-- it is here, in this antinomy, that se5ual #i$$eren%e is at CorkE the antagonisti% tension Chi%h #e$ines se5uality is not the polar opposition o$ tCo %osmi% $or%es 1yin R yang, et%,2, )ut a %ertain %ra%k Chi%h prevents us $rom even %onsistently imagining the universe as a 3hole, Se5uality points toCar# the supreme ontologi%al s%an#al o$ the none5isten%e o$ the universe, (o get a %lear i#ea o$ the s%an#alous impa%t o$ *antian antinomies, let us re%all Philip Di%k<s Time+utof=oint, a s%ien%e $i%tion novel Chose a%tion seems to take pla%e in a prover)ial "meri%an small toCn toCar# the en# o$ - 3the $i$ties 1Chen the novel Cas a%tually Critten2, " series o$ strange e5perien%es 1$or e5ample, Chen he une5pe%te#ly returns to the )a%kyar# o$ his house, he $in#s there, instea# o$ the o)je%t Chi%h Cas there a minute ago-a gar#en )en%h-- a sheet Cith the ins%ription on it /)en%h,/ as in the CellknoCn painting )y ;agritte2 ena)le the hero to arrive, step )y step, at Chat is a%tually going onE he lives in the seventies' some mysterious government agen%y )rainCashe# him an# resettle# him in an arti$i%ially re-%reate# toCn o$ the $i$ties in or#er to test a s%ienti$i% hypothesis, 18ne o$ the myths a)out the *IG is that they a%tually )uilt su%h an e5a%t repli%a o$ a typi%al "meri%an small toCn someChere in the Ukrainian plain, so that $uture agents %oul# get use# to every#ay "meri%an li$e,2 Psy%hoanalyti%al theory has an e5a%t term $or su%h a sheet Chi%h $ills in the gap in reality, stan#ing in $or the missing o)je%tE /orstellungs70epraesentan4, the signi$ying representative o$ the missing representation, 1

"n# *ant<s theory o$ trans%en#ental %onstitution amounts to something Duite similar, (hat is to say, Chat is the $un#amental $eature o$ our /sense o$ reality,/ o$ Chat Ce usually re$er to as our /%ommon-sense realism/K 3e automati%ally assume a %ontinuity )etCeen our $iel# o$ vision an# its invisi)le )eyon#E Chen + see the $ront o$ an a%tual house, + automati%ally assume that-- even i$ + #o not per%eive it at this moment-- the same house has its reverse, that )ehin# it there is another house or some kin# o$ lan#s%ape, et%, +n short, it is an inherent part o$ our /%ommon-sense realism/ that Ce humans are part o$ the Corl# Chi%h e5ists in itsel$ as a 1$inite or in$inite2 3hole, 8n the %ontrary, *ant<s )asi% premise is that the /universe/ as the totality o$ )eings, Chi%h in%lu#es us as its part, #oes not e5ist' therein lies the ultimate sense o$ his thesis that any use o$ %ategories 1a priori $orms o$ thought %onstitutive o$ Chat Ce e5perien%e as /reality/2 )eyon# the limits o$ our possi)le phenomenal e5perien%e is illegitimateE as soon as Ce try to imagine the /universe/ as the totality o$ things-inthemselves, our reason gets entangle# in irre%on%ila)le antinomies, 3hat Ce must espe%ially )ear in min# here is the #i$$eren%e )etCeen *ant an# tra#itional skepti%ism, *ant<s point is not a simple #ou)t %on%erning things-in-themselves, i,e,, the $a%t that, sin%e our e5perien%e is limite# to phenomena, Ce %an never )e sure i$ things-in-themselves are o$ the same or#er as phenomena, (he Chole point o$ *ant<s antinomies is that Ce %an positively #emonstrate that things-in-themselves cannot )e o$ the same nature as phenomenaE phenomena are %onstitute#, their te5ture is stru%ture#, )y trans%en#ental %ategories' as soon as Ce apply these %ategories to - 6things-in-themselves, to something that %an never )e%ome an o)je%t o$ possi)le e5perien%e, antinornies emerge, (he %ru%ial point, hoCever, is that this illusion o$ the universe is not something Ce %an /realisti%ally/ renoun%e, )ut is ne%essary, unavoi#a)le, i$ our e5perien%e is to retain its %onsisten%yE i$ + #o not represent to mysel$ o)je%ts in the Corl# as entities that e5ist in themselves, i$ + #o not %on%eive Chat + per%eive as a partial aspe%t o$ some reality-initsel$-- i$, say, + #o not assume that the house + see noC has its )a%k si#e Chi%h %orrespon#s to its $ront-- then my per%eptual $iel# #isintegrates into an in%onsistent, meaningless mess, 4 3ithout the sheet o$ paper Chi%h pat%hes up its gaps 1as in Di%k<s Time+utof=oint2, reality itsel$ $alls apart' the *antian name $or this pie%e o$ paper is /trans%en#ental +#ea,/ So, )y Cay o$ the *antian trans%en#ental turn, reality itsel$ is virtualiFe#, )e%omes an arti$a%t, )e%omes /virtual reality/ in the pre%ise sense this term has a%Duire# in to#ay<s %omputer s%ien%es' an# the -a%anian 9eal #esignates pre%isely the har# kernel Chi%h #oes not yiel# to this /virtualiFation,/ Chi%h is not a trans%en#ental arti$a%t, (he s%an#alous nature o$ su%h a virtualiFation o$ reality )e%omes %lear i$ Ce rea# *ant /Cith Gentham,/ i,e,, against the )a%kgroun# o$ Gentham<s theory o$ $i%tions, "s the title o$ one o$ his /J%rits/-- /*ant ave% Sa#e/-- in#i%ates, -a%an proposes to %on%eive o$ Sa#e as the truth o$ the *antian ethi%sE in or#er to grasp the kernel o$ the *antian ethi%al revolution, invisi)le to *ant himsel$, Ce must rea# him /Cith Sa#e,/ (here is a homologous link )etCeen *ant<s theory o$ the ne%essary trans%en#ental S%hein an# Heremy Gentham<s theory o$ $i%tions, also one o$ the re%urrent points o$ re$eren%e o$ -a%an, 3 +n a $irst approa%h, /*ant Cith Gentham/ seems no less a)sur# than /*ant Cith Sa#e/E on the one han# /vulgar/ utilitarianism, on the other the su)lime ethi% o$ $ul$illing #uty $or the sake o$ #uty Perhaps, hoCever, *ant Q Gentham is to )e un#erstoo#, together Cith the eDuation *ant Q Sa#e, as an e5ample o$ the 0egelian /in$inite ju#gment/ as%ertaining the %oin%i#en%e o$ the most su)lime Cith the loCest 1/the spirit is a )one/2, 3ithin the #omain o$ ethi%s, o$ /pra%ti%al reason,/ Gentham prepare# the groun# $or the *antian revolution )y Cay o$ a%%omplishing the same

/puri$i%ation/ that 0ume realiFe# in the #omain o$ theoreti%al reason, (hat is to say, Chat %onstitutes the $un#amental proposition o$ Gentham<s utilitarianismK (he instrumental #e$inition o$ the Ioo#E to say that something is /goo#/ means to as%ertain that it is use$ul, that it serves some purpose' a%%or#ing to Gentham, the notion o$ /Ioo#-in-itsel$/ is nonsensi%al an# sel$-%ontra#i%- 7tory, Gy emptying the $iel# o$ the Ioo# o$ all su)stantial content, Gentham thus %ut the roots o$ every ethi%s $oun#e# upon a su)stantial, positive notion o$ the Supreme Ioo# as an :n#-initsel$, (he #oor Cas thus opene# $or the *antian revolution Chose starting point is pre%isely the impossi)ility o$ #etermining the Ioo#-in-itsel$ Cithin the $iel# o$ possi)le e5perien%e, "ll that remains possi)le is there$ore to %on%eive o$ the Ioo# at the level o$ form, as the universal $orm o$ our Cill, +t is theoreti%ally even more pro#u%tive to rea# *ant through Gentham<s theory o$ $i%tions, Gentham arrive# at the notion o$ $i%tions )y analyFing legal #is%ourse, Chi%h, in or#er to $un%tion, has to presuppose a Chole series o$ entities Chose status is o)viously $i%titiousE the notion o$ a legal person 1Chi%h ena)les us to treat an organiFation as a living person, attri)uting to it properties Chi%h a%tually appertain only to $lesh-an#-)loo# in#ivi#ualsE the state is responsi)le $or Car, the ministry promise# us $inan%ial support,,,2, the notion o$ an original /so%ial %ontra%t/ 1Chi%h ena)les us to treat in#ivi#uals su)je%te# to laC as i$ they Cere )oun# )y %ontra%t, although they never a%tually ma#e this %ontra%t2, et%,, up to the $un#amental premise a%%or#ing to Chi%h ignoran%e o$ laC #oes not a)solve us $rom guilt 1Chen + )reak the laC, + %annot o$$er as an e5%use the $a%t that + #i# not knoC Chat is prohi)ite#E Ce must impute to every su)je%t the knoCle#ge o$ the %orpus o$ laCs in its entirety-- Cithout this $i%tion, the Chole e#i$i%e o$ laC #isintegrates2, Gentham<s $irst rea%tion to these pe%uliarities o$ the legal #is%ourse Cas, o$ %ourse, that o$ an enlightene# empiri%istE $i%tions are $a)ri%ate# )y laCyers in or#er to o)$us%ate the a%tual state o$ things an# thus impose upon people their oCn unavoi#a)le interme#iary role 1homologous to the early:nlightenment /vulgar/ theory o$ religion as a $i%tion $a)ri%ate# )y the priests Cith the purpose o$ maintaining their poCer an#Ror the poCer o$ those Chom they serve2, 6 (his is hoC Gentham arrive# at the task o$ re#u%ing $i%tions to their real ingre#ients, i,e,, o$ #emonstrating hoC $i%tions emerge $rom the Crong %om)inations o$ the elements o$ our real e5perien%eE /:very $i%titious entity )ears some relation to some real entity, an# %an not otherCise )e un#erstoo# than in so $ar as that relation is per%eive#-- a %on%eption o$ that relation is o)taine#,/ 7 Gentham $urther #istinguishes $i%titious entities /o$ the $irst remove,/ /o$ the se%on# remove,/ et%,' in short, he Cas among the $irst to #elineate the %ontours o$ the operation Chose most ra#i%al version is to )e $oun# later in analyti%al philosophy<s early heroi% perio# 1the /Uiennese %ir%le/2E to a%%ept as meaning$ul only those propositions Chi%h Cere #e#u%e# in a legiti- >mate Cay $rom some elementary $orm Chi%h guarantees %onta%t Cith a%tual e5perien%e 1the /proto%ollary propositions/ reporting on /sense#ata,/ et%,2, 0oCever, %ompli%ations soon arose an# their most interesting aspe%t is pre%isely hoC things got so entangle#, (he key moment %ame Chen Gentham Cas %ompelle# to #i$$erentiate )etCeen tCo kin#s o$ $i%tionsEfictitious entitiesandimaginary:fabulous;nonentities, +t is

o)vious that /%ontra%t/ an# /gol#en mountain/ are not entities o$ the same or#er, "lthough the $irst entity is $i%titious 1Chat /really e5ists/ are only a%ts pres%ri)e# or %omprise# )y this $i%tion2, there is nothing imaginary a)out it' it is not an imaginary representation /$a)ri%ate#/ )y my min#, an#, $urthermore, it serves, in its very %apa%ity o$ a $i%tion, as a tool $or )ringing a)out a series o$ /real/ e$$e%ts 1/%ontra%t/ o)liges me to a%%omplish real a%ts %omprise# )y the $i%titious term /o)ligation,/ or another kin# o$ real e$$e%ts %omprise# )y the $i%titious term /#amages/ )e$all me2, /Iol#en mountain,/ hoCever, is $ar %loser to sensi)le reality' there is no #i$$i%ulty in #isplaying its genesis 1it unites tCo real representations, the representation o$ a mountain an# the representation o$ gol#2, an# yet it is in a sense /less real/ than /%ontra%t,/ sin%e it %learly #es%ri)es something Chi%h #oes not e5ist, i,e,, something Chi%h is the pro#u%t o$ our imagination, +n or#er not to mi5 up these tCo kin#s o$ entities, Gentham intro#u%e# the #i$$eren%e )etCeen $i%titious entities 1%ontra%t, #uty, legal person2 an# imaginary nonentities 1uni%orn, gol#en mountain2, (his Cay, he producedavantlalettretheLacaniandistinctionbetweentheSymbolicandtheImaginaryE $i%titious entities make up the realm o$ the Sym)oli%, Chereas /uni%orns,/ et%, are imaginary $a)ri%ations, > "lthough Gentham %lung to his program o$ re#u%ing $i%tions to their real ingre#ients, he ha# to %on%e#e that in the %ase o$ $i%tions stri%to sensu, i,e,, $i%tions as oppose# to imaginary nonentities, this re#u%tion %oul# not )e %arrie# out' Ce must pro%ee# #i$$erently an# re$ormulate, in the $orm o$ a #es%ription o$ real a%ts, the Chole situation #esignate# )y the Cor# /%ontra%t,/ $or e5ample, (hese an# other similar impasses le# Gentham to %on%lu#e that $i%tions are inherent to language 1/#is%ourse/2 as su%h, +t is not possi)le to speak Cithout making use o$ $i%titious entitiesE /(o language, then-- to language alone-- it is, that $i%titious entities oCe their e5isten%e-- their impossi)le, yet in#ispensa)le, e5isten%e,/ B 3hat Gentham has in min# here are not only legal-normative notions su%h as /%ontra%t,/ )ut $irst o$ all the innate propensity o$ language to su)stantiate something Chi%h, as to its original - Ban# real status, is a mere property o$ a thing or a pro%ess Chi%h involves itE /Cater is $loCing/ )e%omes /the $loC o$ Cater/ 1although /$loC/ possesses no su)stantial reality2' /this ta)le is heavy/ )e%omes /the ta)le<s Ceight,/ et%, +n short, $i%tions are /those sorts o$ o)je%ts, Chi%h in every language must, $or the purpose o$ #is%ourse, )e spoken o$ as e5isting,/ Gentham Cas sharp enough to steer %lear o$ the #elusion that Ce %an #ispense Cith this $etishisti% split 1/+ knoC that $i%tions are unreal, )ut + nonetheless speak o$ them as i$ they are real o)je%ts/2, +$ Ce are to speak a)out reality in a %onsistent an# sensi)le Cay, Ce have to have re%ourse to $i%tionsE /8$ nothing, there$ore, that has pla%e, or passes in our min#, %an Ce speak, or so mu%h as think, otherCise than in the Cay o$ fiction,/ 9 +n other Cor#s, -a%an Cas $ully justi$ie# in maintaining that Gentham Cas the $irst Cho realiFe# that truth has the stru%ture o$ a $i%tionE the #imension o$ truth is opene# up )y the or#er o$ #is%ourse Chi%h loses its %onsisten%y Cithout the support o$ $i%tions, Gentham Cas thus %ompelle# to maneuver a Chole series o$ steps, retreats, an# %ompromises Chi%h o$$er i#eal sta$$ $or a Derri#ean analysisE in or#er to save the %oheren%y o$ his theoreti%al e#i$i%e, he ha# to intro#u%e neC supplementary #istin%tions 1)etCeen $i%titious entities an# imaginary nonentities, et%,2' the very notion o$ $i%tion got marke# )y an irre#u%i)le am)iguity 1it os%illates in%essantly )etCeen neutral an# pejorative %onnotationE $i%tions are treate# sometimes as the sour%e o$ all evil, a %on$usion to )e suppresse#, an# sometimes as an in#ispensa)le tool2, 1A Un#erlying these trou)les is the #ea#lo%k %ommon to

Gentham an# *antE it is possi)le to tell reality $rom $i%tions 1in Gentham, the names o$ real entities $rom the names o$ $i%tions' in *ant, the legitimate use o$ trans%en#ental %ategories in the %onstitution o$ reality $rom their illegitimate use Chi%h )rings a)out /trans%en#ental illusion/2' hoCever, as soon as Ce renoun%e $i%tion an# illusion, Ce lose reality itsel$, themomentwesubtractfictionsfromreality, realityitselflosesitsdiscursive7logicalconsistency, *ant<s name $or these $i%tions, o$ %ourse, is /trans%en#ental +#eas,/ Chose status is merely regulative an# not %onstitutiveE +#eas #o not simply a## themselves to reality, they literally supplement it' our knoCle#ge o$ o)je%tive reality %an )e ma#e %onsistent an# meaning$ul only )y Cay o$ re$eren%e to +#eas, +n short, +#eas are in#ispensa)le to the e$$e%tive $un%tioning o$ our reason' they are /a natural an# inevita)le illusion/ 1&$0, " 49 2E the illusion that +#eas re$er to e5isting things )eyon# possi)le e5perien%e is /insepara)le $rom human reason/' as su%h, it %ontinues /even a$ter its #e%eptiveness has )een e5-

pose#/ 1as Cith ;ar5<s $amous Carning that the /%ommo#ity-$etishism/ persists in a%tual li$e even a$ter its logi% is theoreti%ally reveale#2, 11

-antasy and Reality

3hen -a%an speaks a)out the /pre%arious/ status o$ reality, he has in min# pre%isely this /trans%en#ental illusion/ Dua $antasy-$rame o$ reality, -a%an<s rea#ing o$ Freu# is here very nuan%e#, so one has to )e %are$ul not to miss its a%%ent, (rue, /reality/ $orms itsel$ through /reality-testing,/ )y Cay o$ Chi%h the su)je%t #i$$erentiates )etCeen the hallu%inatory o)je%t o$ #esire an# the per%eive# a%tual o)je%t' )ut the su)je%t %an never o%%upy the neutral pla%e Chi%h Coul# alloC him or her to e5%lu#e %ompletely the hallu%inatory $antasmati% reality, +n other Cor#s, although /reality/ is #etermine# )y /reality-testing,/ reality2sframeisstructuredbythe left7oversofhallucinatoryfantasyE the ultimate guarantee o$ our /sense o$ reality/ turns on hoC Chat Ce e5perien%e as /reality/ %on$orms to the $antasy$rame, 1(he ultimate proo$ o$ it is the e5perien%e o$ the /loss o$ reality/E /our Corl# $alls apart/ Chen Ce en%ounter something Chi%h, #ue to its traumati% %hara%ter, %annot )e integrate# into our sym)oli% universe,2 14 +n this sense the status o$ reality is pre%ariousE it #epen#s on a #eli%ate )alan%e )etCeen reality-testing an# the $antasy-$rame, *ant<s %riti%ism took shape )y re$uting SCe#en)org<s phantasmagoria a)out seeing ghosts, %ommuni%ating Cith the #ea#, an# otherCise having imme#iate 1that is to sayE intuitive2 %onta%t Cith the suprasensi)le realm o$ spirits, *ant<s /original insight/ %on%erning the parallel )etCeen su%h $anati%al /ghost-seeing/ an# the -ei)niFean rationalist metaphysi%s is more than a matter o$ the %ontingent histori%al origins o$ his philosophyE as pointe# out )y perspi%uous interpreters, the #elusion o$ the $anati%al ghostseer remaine# $or *ant to the very en# the mo#el $or the +#eas o$ 9eason, "t $irst, one is thus tempte# to say that *ant<s %riti%ism persists in the para#o5i%al interme#iate positionE Ce knoC an# Ce %an prove that the phenomenal universe is not reality in itsel$, that there is /something )eyon#/' )ut neither 9eason 1metaphysi%s2 nor +ntuition 1ghost-seeing2 %an provi#e a%%ess to this Geyon#, "ll Ce %an #o is #elineate its empty pla%e, %onstraining the #omain o$ the phenomena Cithout in any Cay e5ten#ing our knoCle#ge to the noumenal #omain, 0oCever, here lurks a %ru%ial misun#erstan#ingE Ce totally miss the point i$ Ce impute to *ant the attitu#e o$ /proper mea-

- 9sure,/ o$ avoi#ing )oth naive realism Chi%h a%%epts noumenal reality o$ the phenomena, an# /ghost-seeing,/ Chi%h posits imme#iate %onta%t Cith suprasensi)le spirits, (he pro)lem is that our most %ommon e5perien%e o$ reality reDuires $or its %onsisten%y a minimal share o$ regulative +#eas, o$ prin%iples Chi%h rea%h )eyon# possi)le e5perien%e, +n other Cor#s, the real %hoi%e is not the %hoi%e )etCeen naive realism an# #elirious ghost-seeing, sin%e, at a %ertain point, theyarebothonthesamesideE or, as -a%an Coul# put it, there is no reality Cithout its $antasmati% support, +n his +pus $osthumum, *ant Duite e5pli%itly argues that +#eas 1pre%isely in the sense o$ /#elirious %reations,/ remain#ers o$ hallu%inatory $ormations2 %ompose the $antasmati% $rame o$ our a%%ess to realityE +#eas are prime images 1intuitions2 %reate# )y reason Chi%h, as purely su)je%tive things o$ thought, pre%e#e our knoCle#ge o$ things an# the elements o$ the latterE they are the prototypes a%%or#ing to Chi%h SpinoFa thought that all things must )e seen in Io#,,,, +#eas, sel$%reate# a priori things o$ thought 1entia rationis2,,,in%lu#e prin%iples o$ the systemati% unity o$ the thought o$ o)je%ts, 3e see all o)je%ts 1a%%or#ing to SpinoFa2 in Io#E Ce %an just as Cell say that, as regar#s their reality, they must )e en%ountere# in the Corl#, 13 (he last senten%e is %ru%ial hereE the /sel$-%reate#/ $antasmati% $rame o$ the +#eas is the ultimate guarantee o$ the very reality o$ o)je%ts, (his Cay, the am)iguous status o$ +#eas 1at the same time noumenal (hings an# su)je%tive regulative prin%iples2 appears in a neC lightE the point is not to #ismiss this am)iguity as *ant<s %ontra#i%tion or in%onsisten%y 1the %ritiDue usually, al)eit Crongly, attri)ute# to 0egel2, )ut rather to rea# the tCo #eterminations together, as an in#e5 o$ the e5-timate 1intimately e5ternal2 status o$ the +#ea, /+#ea/ #esignates the point o$ the para#o5i%al imme#iate %oin%i#en%e o$ the noumenal (hing Cith Schein, Cith the illusion Chi%h has no pla%e in the %onstitute# phenomenal reality, 0oC %an Ce $ail to re%all here the parallel am)iguity Chi%h $rom the very )eginning sti%ks to the Freu#ian notion o$ das *ingE the (hing is /Chat hurts,/ the e5ternal traumati% M Chi%h #erails the %lose# %ir%ulation o$ the -ust-+%h aroun# hallu%inatory o)je%ts, $or%ing the Lust7Ich to give up the pleasure-prin%iple an# to /%on$ront reality/' yet the (hing is simultaneously the su)je%t<s innermost kernel o$ his )eing, Chat he must sa%ri$i%e in or#er to gain a%%ess to /e5ternal reality,/ "n# is it ne%essary to a## that the same ra#i%al am)iguity #e$ines the -a%anian 9ealK -9A-

A Hair ofthe $og That (it You

(he $un#amental para#o5 o$ sym)oli% $i%tions is there$ore that, in one an# the same move, they )ring a)out the /loss o$ reality/ and provi#e the only possi)le a%%ess to realityE true, $i%tions are a sem)lan%e Chi%h o%%lu#es reality, )ut i$ Ce renoun%e $i%tions, reality itsel$ #issolves, (his para#o5 #esignates the elementary #iale%ti%al stru%ture o$ the sym)oli% or#er, the $a%t that, as -a%an put it in his 9crits, /spee%h is a)le to re%over the #e)t that it engen#ers/ 16 -- a thesis in Chi%h one must re%ogniFe all its 0egelian %onnotation, (he #e)t, the /Coun#,/ opene# up )y the sym)oli% or#er is a philosophi%al %ommonpla%e, at least $rom 0egel onCar#sE Cith entry into the sym)oli% or#er, our immersion in the imme#ia%y o$ the real is $orever lost' Ce are $or%e# to assume an irre#u%i)le loss' the Cor# entails the 1sym)oli%2 mur#er o$ the thing, et%, +n short, Chat Ce are #ealing Cith here is the negative-a)stra%tive

poCer that pertains to Chat 0egel %alle# /erstand 1the analyti%al morti$i%ation-#ismem)ering o$ Chat organi%ally )elongs together2, 17 0oCever, Cith regar# to this Coun# o$ language, one shoul# )e %are$ul not to miss its %ru%ial #imension, (hat is to say, in his interpretation o$ the $amous Freu#ian e5ample o$ the %hil#<s play Cith the spool, a%%ompanie# )y the soun#s "ort7 *a-- a play Chi%h stages the pro%ess o$ sym)oliFation, the su)je%t<s entry into the universe o$ language, at its elementary, Fero level-- -a%an says something Duite #i$$erent $rom Chat may appear at $irst glan%e, 0oC, pre%isely, #o things appear at $irst glan%eK (he %hil# is traumatiFe# )y his mother<s un$oreseea)le #epartures Chi%h leave him helpless' as a %ompensation $or it, he plays the game o$ repeate#ly throCing a spool out o$ his $iel# o$ vision an# pulling it )a%k, a%%ompanying his movements Cith the signi$ying #ya# "ort7*a 1/aCay-here/2, Gy Cay o$ sym)oliFation, an5iety #isappears, the %hil# masters the situation, )ut the pri%e $or it is the /su)stitution o$ things )y Cor#s,/ i,e,, o$ the mother )y its signi$ying representative 1the spool2, more pre%isely, o$ the mother<s #epartures an# returns )y the spool<s #isappearan%es $rom an# returns into the $iel# o$ vision, (he entry into the universe o$ sym)ols is there$ore pai# $or )y the loss o$ the in%estuous o)je%t, o$ mother Dua (hing, -a%an, hoCever, says something Duite #i$$erent an# $ar more ra#i%alE rather than a%ting as a stan#-in $or the mother, the #isappearing an# reemerging spool is the sa%ri$i%e# part o$ the su)je%t itsel$' the pri%e to )e pai# $or entry into the sym)oli% universe is the su)je%t<s renun%iation o$ his /poun# o$ $lesh,/ +n other Cor#s, the true sa%ri$i%e #oes not take pla%e /out -91there,/ in the relationship o$ the sym)ol to the o)je%t 1the spool instea# o$ the mother2, )ut /here,/ in mysel$, theob(ectwhichcompensatesforthelossof themother7Thingispartofmyself' Chat it truly stan#s $or is the loss o$ my oCn su)stantial $ullness o$ )eing, sin%e sym)oliFation means not only that mother %eases to )e an imme#iate o)je%t $or me, )ut that, bythesametoken, Imyselfceasetobeanob(ectforher, (he moment + enter the game o$ Fort-Da, an imper%epti)le #istan%e separates $orever the su)stantial %ontent o$ my person $rom the empty point o$ /sel$-%ons%iousness,/ i,e,, + am not anymore imme#iately i#enti%al Cith /Chat + am,/ Cith the Cealth o$ parti%ular $eatures in meE the a5is o$ my sel$-i#entity shi$ts $rom S 1the $ull, su)stantial, /pathologi%al/ su)je%t2 to N 1the /)arre#,/ empty su)je%t2, 1> 0oC, then, pre%isely, are Ce to %omprehen# the thesis that logos is a)le to re%over its oCn %onstitutive #e)t, or, even more pointe#ly, that it is only spee%h itsel$, the very tool o$ #isintegration, that %an heal the Coun# it makes in the real-- /only the spear that smote you R %an heal your Coun#/ 1as 3agner puts it in $arsifal2K +t Coul# )e easy, here, to %ite e5emplary ansCers a# in$initum, sin%e this logi% %an )e sai# to %ontain the Duintessen%e o$ post-*antian thoughtE $rom ;ar5, Chere %apitalism itsel$ )rings a)out the $or%e that Cill )ury it 1namely, the proletariat Cho Cill heal its Coun# )y Cay o$ esta)lishing a %lassless so%iety2' to Freu#, Chere trans$eren%e, the main hin#ran%e to the su%%ess$ul remem)ran%e o$ the traumati% past, )e%omes the lever o$ the psy%hoanalyti% %ure<s progress' up to to#ay<s e%ologi%al %risisE i$ there is one thing that is %lear to#ay, it is that a return to any kin# o$ natural )alan%e is $orever pre%lu#e#' only te%hnology an# s%ien%e themselves %an get us out o$ the #ea#lo%k into Chi%h they )rought us, 1B -et us, hoCever, remain at the level o$ the notion, "%%or#ing to the postmo#ern do8a, the very i#ea that the sym)oli% or#er is a)le to sDuare its #e)t in $ull epitomiFes the illusion o$ the 0egelian ,ufhebung 1/su)lation/E negation%onservation-elevation2, -anguage %ompensates us $or the loss o$ imme#iate reality 1$or the repla%ement o$ /things/ Cith /Cor#s/2 Cith sense Chi%h ren#ers present the essen%e o$ things, i,e,, in Chi%h reality is preserve# in its notion, 0oCever- so the do8a goes on-- the pro)lem

%onsists in the $a%t that the sym)oli% #e)t is %onstitutive an# as su%h unre#eema)leE the emergen%e o$ the sym)oli% or#er opens up a )Jan%e Chi%h %an never )e Cholly $ille# up )y sense' $or that reason, sense is never /all/' it is alCays trun%ate#, marke# )y a stain o$ nonsense, =et %ontrary to the %ommon opinion, -a%an #oes not $olloC this path' the most appropriate Cay to tra%k #oCn his orientation is to re%all one o$ -94the %ommonpla%es o$ anti)ureau%rati% populismE )ig-government )ureau%rats arti$i%ially %reate pro)lems in or#er to o$$er themselves as saviors, (he Cay out o$ the #ea#lo%k is there$ore to as%ertain hoC Chat appears as a solution is a%tually part o$ the pro)lem, For e5ample, Cithin the neoli)eral anti-Cel$are-state vision, the state )ureau%ra%y Chi%h %laims to /solve/ the pro)lems o$ unemployment, so%ial se%urity, %rime, et%,, a%tually %auses these pro)lems, #ue to its ta5-an#-spen# attitu#e Chi%h #istur)s the /normal/ $un%tioning o$ the market me%hanism, (he only true solution is there$oreE leave us alone Cith your /solutions/ an# the pro)lem itsel$ Cill #isappear@ "lthough there is a kin# o$ elementary #iale%ti%s at Cork here 1the solution retroa%tively %reates the pro)lem it en#eavors to resolvehoC not to re%ogniFe in it the o)sessive attitu#e o$ provi#ing neC an# neCer solutions inordertokeeptheproblemalive)2, Chat -a%an 1as Cell as 0egel2 has in min# is rather the e5a%t oppositeE Chat, to an a)stra%t approa%h, appears as a /pro)lem/ is a%tually a ne%essary %onstituent o$ the very /unpro)lemati%,/ /normal/ state o$ things Ce are striving $or, ?o /unpro)lemati%,/ inno%ent state o$ things e5ists prior to /pro)lems/' the moment Ce get ri# o$ the /pro)lem,/ Ce lose pre%isely Chat Ce Cante# to save, Chat Ce $elt Cas threatene# )y the /pro)lem,/ -et us return to neoli)eralismE Chat it ten#s to overlook is the #egree to Chi%h, in to#ay<s %omple5 e%onomies, the very /normal/ $un%tioning o$ the market %an )e se%ure# only )y Cay o$ the state a%tively intervening in so%ial se%urity' e%ology, laC en$or%ement, et%,' le$t to itsel$, the market me%hanism is )oun# to #estroy itsel$, (he #iale%ti%al para#o5 is there$ore not only that the propose# solution %an )e part o$ the pro)lem, repro#u%ing its true %ause, )ut also its reverse, i,e,, that Chat, $rom our a)stra%t, limite# perspe%tive, appears as a pro)lem is a%tually its oCn solution, :5amples a)oun# here, up to the /a)solute e5ample/ 1 0egel2, .hrist, Chose /pro)lem,/ impasse, $ailure-- #eath on the %ross-- a%tually is his triumph, the a%hievement o$ his true goal, the re%on%iliation o$ man an# Io#, (hat is to say, hoC, a%%or#ing to 0egel, are Ce to %on%eive the #eath o$ .hristK .hrist himsel$, in his person, alrea#y a%tualiFe# the re%on%iliation o$ man an# Io#, )ut in its /imme#ia%y/E as a uniDue spatio-temporal, histori%al event, (here, $ar aCay, tCo thousan# years ago, /Io# )e%ame man,/ so that his #eath %annot )ut appear as a reneCe# split, %ausing sa#ness an# lamentation among )elievers, +t is here that Ce have to a%%omplish the para#igmati% #iale%ti%al shi$t o$ re%ogniFing the realiFe# aim in Chat appears to )e a mere striving toCar# it, a mere 1religious2 servi%eE in the very lamentation over -93.hrist<s #eath per$orme# )y the %ommunity o$ )elievers, Io# is here Dua Spirit' re%on%iliation is realiFe# in its /me#iate#,/ true $orm, 1 +t is against this )a%kgroun# that one has to %on%eive the relationship )etCeen /empty spee%h 1parole vide2/ an# /$ull spee%h 1parole pleine2,/ 0ere, Ce imme#iately en%ounter one o$ the stan#ar# misapprehensions o$ the -a%anian theoryE as a rule, empty spee%h is %on%eive# as

empty' nonauthenti% prattle in Chi%h the speaker<s su)je%tive position o$ enun%iation is not #is%lose#, Chereas in $ull spee%h, the su)je%t is suppose# to e5press his or her authenti% e5istential position o$ enun%iation' the relationship )etCeen empty an# $ull spee%h is thus %on%eive# as homologous to the #uality o$ /su)je%t o$ the enun%iate#/ an# /su)je%t o$ the enun%iation,/ :ven i$ it #oes not #evalue a)solutely empty spee%h )ut regar#s it as /$ree asso%iations/ in the psy%hoanalyti%al pro%ess, i,e,, as a spee%h emptie# o$ imaginary i#enti$i%ations, su%h a rea#ing misses entirely -a%an<s point, Chi%h )e%omes mani$est the moment Ce take into a%%ount the %ru%ial $a%t that $or -a%an the e5emplary %ase o$ empty spee%h is the passCor# 1mot7depassage2, 0oC #oes a passCor# $un%tionK "s a pure gesture o$ re%ognition, o$ a#mission into a %ertain sym)oli% spa%e, Chose enun%iate# %ontent is totally in#i$$erentE i$, say, + arrange Cith my gangster-%olleague that the passCor# Chi%h gives me a%%ess to his hi#eout is /"unt has )ake# the apple pie,/ it %an easily )e %hange# into /-ong live %omra#e Stalin@/ or Chatever else, (herein %onsists the /emptiness/ o$ empty spee%hE in this ultimate nullity o$ its enun%iate# %ontent, "n# -a%an<s point is that human spee%h in its most ra#i%al, $un#amental #imension $un%tions as a passCor#E prior to its )eing a means o$ %ommuni%ation, o$ transmitting the signi$ie# %ontent, spee%h is the me#ium o$ the mutual re%ognition o$ the speakers, 19 +n other Cor#s, it is pre%isely the passCor# Dua empty spee%h Chi%h re#u%es the su)je%t to the pun%tuality o$ the /su)je%t o$ the enun%iation/E in it, he is present Dua a pure sym)oli% point $ree# o$ all enun%iate# %ontent, For that reason, $ull spee%h is never to )e %on%eive# o$ as a simple an# imme#iate $illing-out o$ the voi# Chi%h %hara%teriFes the empty spee%h 1as in the usual opposition o$ /authenti%/ an# /nonauthenti%/ spee%h2, Tuite the %ontrary, one must say that it is only empty spee%h )y Cay o$ its very emptiness 1o$ its #istan%e toCar# the enun%iate# %ontent Chi%h is posite# in it as totally in#i$$erent2 Chi%h %reates the spa%e $or /$ull spee%h,/ $or spee%h in Chi%h the su)je%t %an arti%ulate his or her position o$ enun%iation, (his is hoC /only the spear that smote you %an heal your Coun#/E only i$ you $ully assume the voi# o$ the /empty spee%h/ %an you hope to arti%ulate your -96truth in the /$ull spee%h,/ 8r, in 0egeleseE it is only the su)je%t<s ra#i%al estrangement $rom imme#iate su)stantial Cealth Chi%h opens up the spa%e $or the arti%ulation o$ his or her su)je%tive %ontent, (o posit the su)stantial %ontent as /my oCn,/ + must $irst esta)lish mysel$ as pure, empty $orm o$ su)je%tivity #evoi# o$ all positive %ontent,

The Radi al E7il

+nso$ar as the sym)oli% Coun# is the ultimate para#igm o$ :vil, the same hol#s also $or the relationship )etCeen :vil an# Ioo#E ra#i%al :vil opens up the spa%e $or Ioo# pre%isely the same Cay as empty spee%h opens up the spa%e $or $ull spee%h, 3hat Ce %ome a%ross here, o$ %ourse, is the pro)lem o$ /ra#i%al :vil/ $irst arti%ulate# )y *ant in his 0eligionwithintheLimits of0eason,lone, 4A "%%or#ing to *ant, the ultimate proo$ o$ the presen%e, in man, o$ a positive %ounter$or%e to his ten#en%y toCar# Ioo# is the $a%t that the su)je%t e5perien%es moral -aC in himsel$ as an un)eara)le traumati% pressure Chi%h humiliates his sel$-esteem an# sel$-love-- so something in the very nature o$ the Sel$ must resist the moral -aC, i,e,, something e5ists Chi%h gives pre$eren%e to egotisti%al, /pathologi%al/ leanings over the ten#en%y to $olloC the moral -aC, *ant emphasiFes the a priori %hara%ter o$ this propensity toCar# :vil 1the moment Chi%h Cas later #evelope# )y S%helling2E inso$ar as + am a $ree )eing, + %annot simply o)je%ti$y that Chi%h in me resists the Ioo# 1)y saying, $or e5ample, that it is a part o$ my nature $or Chi%h + am not responsi)le2,

(he very $a%t that + $eel morally responsi)le $or my evil )ears Citness to hoC, in a timeless trans%en#ental a%t, + must have %hosen $reely my eternal %hara%ter )y giving pre$eren%e to :vil over Ioo#, (his is hoC *ant %on%eives o$ /ra#i%al :vil/E as an a priori, not just an empiri%al-%ontingent propensity o$ human nature toCar# :vil, 0oCever, )y reje%ting the hypothesis o$ /#ia)oli%al :vil,/ *ant retreats $rom the ultimate para#o5 o$ ra#i%al :vil, $rom the un%anny #omain o$ those a%ts Chi%h, although /evil/ as to their %ontent, thoroughly $ul$ill the $ormal %riteria o$ an ethi%al a%t, Su%h a%ts are not motivate# )y any pathologi%al %onsi#erations, i,e,, their sole motivating groun# is :vil as a prin%iple, Chi%h is Chy they %an involve the ra#i%al a)rogation o$ one<s pathologi%al interests, up to the sa%ri$i%e o$ one<s li$e, -et us re%all ;oFart<s *on iovanniE Chen, in the $inal %on$rontation Cith the statue o$ the &ommendatore, Don Iiovanni re$uses to repent, to renoun%e his sin$ul past, he a%%omplishes something that %an )e properly -97#esignate# only as a ra#i%al ethi%al stan%e, +t is as i$ his tena%ity mo%kingly reverses *ant<s oCn e5ample $rom the &riti6ueof$ractical0eason Chere the li)ertine is Dui%kly prepare# to renoun%e the satis$a%tion o$ his passion as soon as he learns that the pri%e to )e pai# $or it is the galloCsE 41 Don Iiovanni persists in his li)ertine attitu#e at the very moment Chen he knoCs very Cell that Chat aCaits him is only the galloCs an# none o$ the satis$a%tions, (hat is to say, $rom the stan#point o$ pathologi%al interests, the thing to #o Coul# )e to a%%omplish the $ormal gesture o$ peniten%eE Don Iiovanni knoCs that #eath is %lose, so that )y atoning $or his #ee#s he stan#s to lose nothing, only to gain 1i,e,, to save himsel$ $rom posthumous torments2, an# yet /on prin%iple/ he %hooses to persist in his #e$iant stan%e o$ the li)ertine, 0oC %an one avoi# e5perien%ing Don Iiovanni<s unyiel#ing /?o@/ to the statue, to this living #ea#, as the mo#el o$ an intransigent ethical attitu#e, notCithstan#ing its /evil/ %ontentK 44 +$ Ce a%%ept the possi)ility o$ su%h an /evil/ ethi%al a%t, then it is not su$$i%ient to %on%eive o$ ra#i%al :vil as something that pertains to the very notion o$ su)je%tivity on a par Cith a #isposition toCar# Ioo#' one is %ompelle# to take one step $urther an# to %on%eive o$ ra#i%al :vil as something that ontologi%ally pre%e#es Ioo# )y Cay o$ opening up the spa%e $or it, (hat is to say, Chat, pre%isely, is :vilK :vil is another name $or the /#eath-#rive,/ $or the $i5ation on some (hing Chi%h #erails our %ustomary li$e-%ir%uit, Gy Cay o$ :vil, man Crests himsel$ $rom animal instin%tual rhythm, i,e,, :vil intro#u%es the ra#i%al reversal o$ the /natural/ relationship, 43 0ere, there$ore, *ant<s an# S%helling<s stan#ar# $ormula reveals its insu$$i%ien%y, (hat $ormula hol#s that the possi)ility o$ :vil is $oun#e# in man<s $ree#om o$ %hoi%e on a%%ount o$ Chi%h he %an invert the /normal/ relationship )etCeen universal prin%iples o$ 9eason an# his pathologi%al nature )y Cay o$ su)or#inating his suprasensi)le nature to his egotisti%al in%linations, 3hen #egel, in his Lecturesonthe$hilosophyof 0eligion, %on%eives o$ the very a%t o$ )e%oming-human, o$ passage o$ animal into man, as the Fall into sin, he is more penetratingE the possi)le spa%e $or Ioo# is opene# up )y the original %hoi%e o$ ra#i%al :vil Chi%h #isrupts the pattern o$ the organi% su)stantial 3hole, 46 (he %hoi%e )etCeen Ioo# an# :vil is thus in a sense not the true, original %hoi%eE the truly $irst %hoi%e is the %hoi%e )etCeen 1Chat Cill later )e per%eive# as2 yiel#ing to one<s pathologi%al leanings an# %hoosing ra#i%al :vil, i,e,, an a%t o$ sui%i#al egoism Chi%h /makes pla%e/ $or the Ioo#, i,e,, Chi%h over%omes the #omination o$ pathologi%al natural impulses, )y Cay o$ a purely negative -9>-

gesture o$ suspen#ing the li$e-%ir%uit, 8r, to re$er to *ierkegaar#<s terms, :vil is Ioo# itsel$ /in the mo#e o$ )e%oming/E it /)e%omes/ as a ra#i%al #isruption o$ the li$e-%ir%uit' the #i$$eren%e )etCeen Ioo# an# :vil %on%erns a purely $ormal %onversion $rom the mo#e o$ /)e%oming/ into the mo#e o$ /)eing,/ 47 (his is hoC /only the spear that smote you %an heal the Coun#/E the Coun# is heale# Chen the pla%e o$ :vil is $ille# out )y a /goo#/ %ontent, Ioo# Dua /the mask o$ the (hing 1i,e,, o$ ra#i%al :vil2/ 1 -a%an2 is thus an ontologi%ally se%on#ary, supplementary attempt to reesta)lish the lost )alan%e' its ultimate para#igm in the so%ial sphere is the %orporatist en#eavor to 1re2%onstru%t so%iety as a harmonious, organi%, nonantagonisti% e#i$i%e, Su$$i%e it to re%all (homas ;ore, the .atholi% saint Cho resiste# the pressure o$ 0enry U+++ to approve o$ his #ivor%e, +t is easy $or us to#ay to eulogiFe him as a /man $or all seasons,/ to a#mire his ine5ora)le sense o$ re%titu#e, his perseveran%e in his %onvi%tions although the pri%e to )e pai# $or it Cas his li$e, 3hat is $ar more #i$$i%ult to imagine is the Cay his stu))orn perseveran%e must have stru%k the majority o$ his %ontemporariesE $rom a /%ommunitarian/ point o$ vieC, his re%titu#e Cas an /irrational/ sel$-#estru%tive gesture Chi%h Cas /evil/ in the sense that it %ut into the te5ture o$ the so%ial )o#y, threatening the sta)ility o$ the %roCn an# there)y o$ the entire so%ial or#er, So, although the motivations o$ (homas ;ore Cere un#ou)te#ly /goo#,/ theveryformalstructureofhis a%twas /radicallyevil/E his Cas an a%t o$ ra#i%al #e$ian%e Chi%h #isregar#e# the Ioo# o$ %ommunity, "n# Cas it not the same Cith .hrist himsel$, Chose a%tivity Cas e5perien%e# )y the tra#itional 0e)reC %ommunity as #estru%tive o$ the very $oun#ations o$ their li$eK Di# he not %ome /to #ivi#e, not to unite,/ to set son against $ather, )rother against )rotherK 3e %an see, noC, hoC /su)stan%e )e%omes su)je%t/ )y Cay o$ passing into its pre#i%ates, -et us take the %ase o$ %apitalismE $rom the stan#point o$ the pre%apitalist %orporate so%iety, %apitalism is :vil, #isruptive, it unsettles the #eli%ate )alan%e o$ the %lose# pre%apitalist e%onomy-- Chy, pre%iselyK Ge%ause it presents a %ase o$ a /pre#i%ate/-- a se%on#ary, su)or#inate# moment o$ the so%ial totality 1money2-- Chi%h, in a kin# o$ hubris, /runs amok/ an# elevates itsel$ into an :n#-in-itsel$, 0oCever, on%e %apitalism a%hieves a neC )alan%e o$ its sel$-repro#u%tive %ir%uit an# )e%omes its oCn me#iating totality, i,e,, on%e it esta)lishes itsel$ as a system Chi%h /posits its oCn presuppositions,/ the site o$ /:vil/ is ra#i%ally #ispla%e#E Chat now %ounts as /evil/ are pre%isely the le$t-avers o$ the previous /Ioo#/-islan#s -9Bo$ resistan%e o$ pre%apitalism Chi%h #istur) the untrou)le# %ir%ulation o$ .apital, the neC $orm o$ Ioo#, (he stan#ar# image o$ the /#iale%ti%al pro%ess/ Chere the su)stan%e, the inner essen%e, alienates-e5ternaliFes itsel$ an# then internaliFes its /otherness/ )y Cay o$ sel$me#iation is thus #eeply mislea#ingE the su)stan%e Chi%h at the en# again /totaliFes/ the #eraile# pro%ess is not /the same/ as the su)stan%e #isintegrate# )y the initial #erailment, (he neC )alan%e is a%hieve# Chen Chat Cas originally a su)or#inate# moment o$ the organi% totality esta)lishes itsel$ as the neC me#ium o$ universality, the neC me#iating totality, 3hat Cas at the outset the nonalienate# su)stantial unity #oes not /return to itself/ in /#esalination/' instea#, it %hanges into a su)or#inate# moment o$ a neC totality that greC out o$ a partial aspe%t o$ the initial unity, (he thesis that the possi)ility o$ %hoosing :vil pertains to the very notion o$ su)je%tivity must there$ore )e radicali4ed )y a kin# o$ sel$re$le%tive inversionE the

statusofthesub(ectassuchisevil, i,e,, inso$ar as Ce are /human,/ in a sense Ce always7 alreadyhavechosen9vil, Far more than #ire%t re$eren%es to 0egel, the 0egelian stan%e o$ the early -a%an is %on$irme# )y the rhetori%al $igures Chi%h give )o#y to this logi% o$ the /negation o$ negation,/ -a%an<s ansCer to the ego-psy%hology<s notion o$ the ego<s /maturity/ as the a)ility to en#ure $rustrations, $or e5ample, is that /the ego as su%h is $rustration in its essen%e/E 4> inso$ar as the ego emerges in the pro%ess o$ imaginary i#enti$i%ation Cith its mirror-#ou)le Cho is at the same time its rival an# its potential paranoi# perse%utor, the $rustration generate# $rom the si#e o$ the mirror-#ou)le is %onstitutive o$ the ego, (he logi% o$ this reversal is stri%tly 0egelianE Chat $irst appears as an e5ternal hin#ran%e $rustrating the ego<s striving $or satis$a%tion is thereupon e5perien%e# as the ultimate support o$ its )eing, 4B Hohn For#<s #ow reen!as3y/alley, usually #ismisse# as nostalgi% kits%h, lo%ates :vil Dua ethi%al attitu#e in the very gaFe o$ nostalgia, +n a $lash)a%k narrative intro#u%e# )y a voi%eover, the hero, 0eC ;organ, Cho is a)out to leave a 3ales mining toCn $or "rgentina, re%alls his i#ylli% %hil#hoo# in the sa$e haven o$ a large patriar%hal $amily, 0is gaFe is o)sesse# )y this vision o$ the happy past ruine# )y /progress,/ o$ the li$e in a %lose# %ommunity Chere even every#ay o%%upations a%Duire# the status o$ a ritual 1%oming home $rom the Cork in the sha$t' Satur#ay $amily lun%h2, "t this very point, hoCever, the $ilm lays a trap $or the spe%tatorE )y Cay o$ narrating the story $rom the perspe%tive o$ 0eC, it ren#ers all too visi)le an# )y the same token %on%eals the %ru%ial $a%t that the true %ause o$ the -9 /green valley<s/ #e%line is not the ine5ora)le logi% o$ the larger e%onomi% universe )ut the very in$atuation o$ the miners< %ommunity Cith their tra#itional Cay o$ $i$e, Chi%h prevente# them $rom a#justing to the #eman#s o$ the neC era, +n other Cor#s, the responsi)ility $or the #e%line, the true sour%e o$ :vil, #Cells in the very point o$ vieC $rom Chi%h the story is tol#, the nostalgi% vieC Chi%h is a)le to per%eive as the sour%e o$ :vil only the %ruel impa%t o$ the e5ternal Fate, 3hat Ce have here is there$ore the uniDue %ase o$ afilmwhichproblemati4es, /e8traneates/ theveryperspective fromwhichthestoryisnarrated, 4 3hy, then, #oes *ant hol# )a%k $rom )ringing out all the %onseDuen%es o$ his thesis on ra#i%al :vilK (he ansCer is %lear, al)eit para#o5i%alE Chat prevents this move is the very logi% Chi%h %ompelle# him to arti%ulate the thesis on ra#i%al :vil in the $irst pla%e, namely the logi% o$ /real opposition/ Chi%h, as suggeste# )y ;oniDue Davi#-;enar#, %onstitutes a kin# o$ ultimate $antasy-$rame o$ *ant<s thought, 49 Gy %on%eiving Ioo# an# :vil as %ontraries, as tCo oppose# positive $or%es, *ant aims to un#ermine the tra#itional notion o$ :vil as something that la%ks positive ontologi%al %onsisten%y, i,e,, as a mere a)sen%e o$ Ioo# 1the last great proponent o$ this notion Cas -ei)niF2, +$ Ioo# an# :vil are %ontraries, then Chat opposes Ioo# must )e some positive %ounter$or%e, not just our ignoran%e, our la%k o$ insight into the true nature o$ Ioo#' the proo$ o$ the e5isten%e o$ this %ounter$or%e lies in the $a%t that + e5perien%e the moral -aC in mysel$ as a traumati% agen%y Chi%h e5erts an un)eara)le pressure on the very kernel o$ my sel$-i#entity an# thus utterly humiliates my sel$-esteem-- so there must )e in the very nature o$ the /+/ something Chi%h resists moral -aCE the %on%eit Chi%h gives pre$eren%e to /pathologi%al/ interests over the moral -aC, (his is hoC *ant %on%eives o$ the /ra#i%al :vil/E as an a priori, not just empiri%al-%ontingent, propensity o$ human nature' it e5presses itsel$ in three $orms, #egrees, Chi%h all hinge on a kin# o$ sel$#e%eit o$ the su)je%t,

(he $irst, the mil#est, $orm o$ :vil e5presses itsel$ through an appeal to the /Ceakness o$ the human nature/E + knoC Chat my #uty is, + $ully a%knoCle#ge it, )ut + %annot gather enough strength to $olloC its %all an# not to su%%um) to /pathologi%al/ temptations, (he $alsity o$ this position, o$ %ourse, resi#es in the un#erlying gesture o$ sel$-o)je%tiviFationE the $ee)leness o$ my %hara%ter is not part o$ my given nature' + have no right to assume the position, o$ metalanguage, o$ an o)je%tive o)server o$ mysel$, in or#er to as%ertain Chat my nature alloCs, ;y /natural #ispositions/ #eter-99mine my )ehavior only inso$ar as + Dua $ree, autonomous )eing a%knoCle#ge them, so + am $ully responsi)le $or them, +t is this responsi)ility that the $irst $orm o$ :vil eva#es, (he se%on# $orm, in%ompara)ly more #angerous, inverts the $irst oneE in the $irst $orm o$ :vil, the su)je%t, Chile retaining the a#eDuate notion o$ Chat his #uty is, pro$esses his ina)ility to a%t a%%or#ingly' here, the su)je%t %laims to a%t $or the sake o$ #uty, to )e motivate# solely )y ethi%al %on%erns, Chereas he is truly le# )y pathologi%al motivations, "n e5emplary %ase is a severe tea%her Cho )elieves that he torments the %hil#ren on )ehal$ o$ their oCn moral up)ringing, Chereas he is a%tually satis$ying his sa#isti% impulses, (he sel$-#e%eption is here #eeper than in the $irst %ase, sin%e the su)je%t misper%eives the very %ontours o$ #uty, (he thir# $orm, the Corst, is $or the su)je%t to totally lose the inner sense, the inner relationship toCar# #uty Dua spe%i$i% moral agen%y, an# to per%eive morality as a simple e5ternal set o$ rules, o$ o)sta%les that so%iety puts up in or#er to restrain the pursuit o$ egotisti%al /pathologi%al/ interests, (his Cay, the very notions o$ /right/ an# /Crong/ lose their meaningE i$ the su)je%t #oes $olloC moral rules, it is simply in or#er to avoi# pain$ul %onseDuen%es, )ut i$ he %an /)en# the laC/ Cithout getting %aught, all the )etter $or him, (he stan#ar# e5%use o$ the su)je%t Cith this attitu#e, Chen he is reproa%he# $or #oing something %ruel or immoral, is /+ #i#n<t )reak any laCs, so get o$$ my )a%k@/ (here is, hoCever, a $ourth possi)ility, e5%lu#e# )y *ant, the possi)ility o$ Chat he re$ers to as /#ia)oli%al :vil/E the moment o$ the 0egelian %ontra#i%tion Chen :vil assumes the $orm o$ its opposite, i,e,, Chen it is not anymore e5ternally oppose# to Ioo# )ut )e%omes the %ontent o$ the latter<s $orm, 3e must )e %are$ul here not to %on$use this /#ia)oli%al :vil/ Cith the se%on# *antian $ormE there, also, :vil assumes the $orm o$ Ioo#' hoCever, Chat Ce are %on%erne# Cith here is a simple %ase o$ a pathologi%al motivation Chi%h, )y Cay o$ sel$#e%eit, misper%eives itsel$ as $ul$illing one<s #uty, Chereas in the %ase o$ /#ia)oli%al :vil,/ the impetus o$ my a%tivity a%tually is /nonpathologi%al/ an# runs against my egotisti%al interests, (he e5ample that %omes to min# here is the #i$$eren%e )etCeen rightCing %orrupte# authoritarian regimes an# le$t-Cing totalitarian regimesE in the %ase o$ right-Cing authoritarian regimes, no)o#y is #upe#, every)o#y knoCs that )ehin# all the patrioti% rhetori%s hi#es a simple gree# $or poCer an# Cealth' Chereas le$t-Cing totalitarians shoul# not )e #ismisse# as %ases o$ #isguising sel$ish interests un#er virtue<s %lothes, )e%ause they really a%t -1AA V $or the sake o$ Chat they per%eive as virtue an# they are prepare# to stake everything, in%lu#ing their lives, on this virtue, (he irony, o$ %ourse, is that the e5emplary %ase is the Ha%o)ini%al /#i%tature o$ virtue/' although *ant oppose# the Ha%o)ins in politi%s, he lai# the

$oun#ations $or them in his moral philosophy 1it Cas 0egel Cho $irst #ete%te# this terrorist potential o$ *antian ethi%s2, *ant ha# there$ore goo# reasons $or e5%lu#ing /#ia)oli%al :vil/E Cithin the parameters o$ his philosophy, it is in#istinguisha)le $rom the Ioo#@ 3A So, to resume our argumentE i$ moral struggle is %on%eive# as the %on$li%t o$ tCo opposing positive $or%es striving $or mutual annihilation, it )e%omes unthinka)le that one o$ the $or%es-:vil-- not only opposes the other, en#eavoring to annihilate it, )ut also underminesitfromwithin, bywayof assumingtheveryformofitsopposite, 3henever *ant approa%hes this possi)ility 1apropos o$ /#ia)oli%al :vil/ in pra%ti%al philosophy' apropos o$ the trial against the monar%h in the #o%trine o$ laC2, he Dui%kly #ismisses it as unthinka)le, as an o)je%t o$ ultimate a)horren%e, +t is only Cith 0egel<s logi% o$ negative sel$-relating that this step %an )e a%%omplishe#, 31 (he proo$ that Chat *ant %alls /#ia)oli%al :vil/ 1evil as an ethi%al prin%iple2 is a ne%essary %onseDuen%e o$ *ant<s notion o$ /ra#i%al :vil,/ i,e,, the proo$ that *ant, Chen he reje%ts the hypothesis o$ /#ia)oli%al :vil,/ shirks the %onseDuen%es o$ his oCn #is%overy, is provi#e# )y *ant himsel$, +n his 0eligionwithintheLimitsof0eason,lone, *ant points out hoC, apropos o$ some really evil person, Ce %an see that :vil pertains to his very eternal %hara%terE this person #i# not yiel# to evil un#er the in$luen%e o$ )a# %ir%umstan%es' :vil lies in his very /nature,/ "t the same time, o$ %ourse, he is-- like every human )eing-- ra#i%ally responsible $or his %hara%ter, (he ne%essary impli%ation o$ it is that, in an /eternal,/ timeless, trans%en#ental a%t, he must have %hosen :vil as the )asi% $eature o$ his )eing, (he trans%en#ental, a priori %hara%ter o$ this a%t means that it %oul# not have )een motivate# )y pathologi%al %ir%umstan%es' the original %hoi%e o$ :vil ha# to )e a purely ethi%al a%t, the a%t o$ elevating :vil into an ethi%al prin%iple,

There Are ,i<es and ,i<es

(his #ia)oli%al :vil, the /unthought/ o$ *ant, is stricto sensu unrepresenta)leE it entails the )reak#oCn o$ the logi% o$ representation, i,e,, the ra#i%al in%ommensura)ility )etCeen the $iel# o$ representation an# the unrepresenta)le (hing, Flau)ert<s #es%ription o$ the $irst en%ounter o$ ;a#ame -1A1Govary an# her lover 34 %on#enses the entire pro)lemati% Chi%h, a%%or#ing to Fou%ault, #etermines the post-*antian episteme o$ the nineteenth %enturyE the neC %on$iguration o$ the a5is poCer-knoCle#ge %ause# )y the in%ommensura)ility )etCeen the $iel# o$ representation an# the (hing, as Cell as the elevation o$ se5uality to the #ignity o$ the unrepresenta)le (hing, "$ter the tCo lovers enter the %oa%h an# tell the #river just to %ir%ulate aroun# the %ity, Ce hear nothing a)out Chat goes on )ehin# the %oa%h<s sa$ely %lose# %urtainsE Cith an attention to #etail reminis%ent o$ the later nouveau roman, Flau)ert limits himsel$ to lengthy #es%riptions o$ the %ity environment through Chi%h the %oa%h aimlessly Can#ers, the stonepave# streets, the %hur%h ar%hes, et%,-- only in one short senten%e mentioning that, $or a )rie$ moment, a nake# han# pier%e# through the %urtain, (his s%ene is ma#e as i$ to illustrate Fou%ault<s thesis, $rom the $irst volume o$ his #istory of Se8uality, that the very spee%h Chose /o$$i%ial/ $un%tion is to %on%eal se5uality a%tually engen#ers the appearan%e o$ its se%ret, i,e,, that, to make use o$ the very terms o$ psy%hoanalysis against Chi%h Fou%ault<s thesis is aime#, the /represse#/ %ontent is an e$$e%t o$ repressionE the more the Criter<s gaFe is restri%te# to

irrelevant an# )oring ar%hite%tural #etails, the more Ce, the rea#ers, are tormente#, gree#y to learn Chat goes on in the spa%e )ehin# the %lose# %urtains o$ the %oa%h, (he pu)li% prose%utor Calke# into this trap in the trial against ;a#ame Govary Chen he Duote# pre%isely this passage as one instan%e o$ the o)s%ene %hara%ter o$ the )ookE it Cas easy $or Flau)ert<s #e$ense laCyer to point out that there is nothing o)s%ene in the neutral #es%riptions o$ pave# streets an# ol# houses, "ny o)s%enity is entirely %onstraine# to the rea#er<s 1in this %aseE prose%utor<s2 imagination o)sesse# )y the /real thing/ )ehin# the %urtain, +t is perhaps no mere a%%i#ent that to#ay this pro%e#ure o$ Flau)ert<s strikes us as eminently cinematicE it is as i$ it plays upon Chat %inema theory #esignates as hors7champ, the e5ternality o$ the $iel# o$ vision Chi%h, in its very a)sen%e, organiFes the e%onomy o$ Chat %an )e seenE i$ 1as Cas long ago proven )y the %lassi%al analyses o$ :isenstein2 Di%kens intro#u%e# into the literary #is%ourse the %orrelatives o$ Chat later )e%ame the elementary %inemati% pro%e#ures-- the tria# o$ esta)lishing shots, /"meri%an/ pans an# %lose-ups, the parallel montage, et%,-Flau)ert took a step $urther toCar# an e5ternality Chi%h elu#es the stan#ar# e5%hange o$ $iel# an# %ounter-$iel#, i,e,, an e5ternality Chi%h has to remain e5%lu#e# i$ the $iel# o$ Chat %an )e represente# is to retain its %onsisten%y, 33 (he %ru%ial point, hoCever, is not to mistake this in%ommensura)ility -1A4)etCeen the $iel# o$ representation an# se5uality $or the %ensorship o$ the #es%ription o$ se5uality alrea#y at Cork in the pre%e#ing epo%hs, +$ ;a#ame Govary Cere to have )een Critten a %entury earlier, the #etails o$ se5ual a%tivity Coul# also have remaine# unmentione#, $or sure, yet Chat Ce Coul# have rea# a$ter the tCo lovers< entry into the se%lu#e# spa%e o$ the %oa%h Coul# have )een a simple short statement likeE /Finally alone an# hi##en )ehin# the %urtains o$ the %oa%h, the lovers yiel#e# to passion,/ (here, the lengthy #es%riptions o$ streets an# )uil#ings Coul# have )een totally out o$ pla%e' they Coul# have )een per%eive# as la%king any $un%tion, sin%e, in this pre-*antian universe o$ representations, no ra#i%al tension %oul# arise )etCeen the represente# %ontent an# the traumati% (hing )ehin# the %urtain, "gainst this )a%kgroun#, one is tempte# to propose one o$ the possi)le #e$initions o$ /realism/E a naive )elie$ that, )ehin# the %urtain o$ representations, some $ull, su)stantial reality a%tually e5ists 1in the %ase o$ ;a#ame Govary, the reality o$ se5ual super$luity2, /Postrealism/ )egins Cith a #ou)t as to the e5isten%e o$ this reality /)ehin# the %urtain,/ i,e,, Cith the $ore)o#ing that the very gesture o$ %on%ealment %reates Chat it preten#s to %on%eal, "n e5emplary %ase o$ su%h /postrealist/ play$ulness, o$ %ourse, are the paintings o$ 9enJ ;agritte, (o#ay, Chen one says /;agritte,/ the $irst asso%iation, o$ %ourse, is the notorious #raCing o$ a pipe Cith an ins%ription )eloC itE /.e%i n<est pas une pipe/ 1/(his is not a pipe/2, (aking as a starting point the para#o5es implie# )y this painting, ;i%hel Fou%ault Crote a perspi%a%ious little )ook o$ the same title, 36 =et, perhaps another o$ ;agritte<s paintings %an serve even more appropriately to esta)lish the elementary matri5 that generates the un%anny e$$e%ts pertaining to his CorkE La lunette d2apprache $rom 19>3, the painting o$ a hal$-open Cin#oC Chere, through the Cin#oCpane, Ce see the e5ternal reality 1)lue sky Cith some #isperse# Chite %lou#s2, yet Chat Ce see in the narroC opening Chi%h gives #ire%t a%%ess to the reality )eyon# the pane is nothing, just a non#es%ript )la%k mass, +n -a%anese, the painting Coul# translate thusE the $rame o$ the Cin#oCpane is the $antasy-$rame Chi%h %onstitutes reality, Chereas through the %ra%k Ce get an insight into the /impossi)le/ 9eal, the (hing-in-itsel$, 37

(his painting ren#ers the elementary matri5 o$ the ;agrittean para#o5es )y Cay o$ staging the /*antian/ split )etCeen 1sym)oliFe#, %ategoriFe#, trans%en#entally %onstitute#2 reality an# the voi# o$ the (hing-initsel$, o$ the 9eal, Chi%h gapes open in the mi#st o$ reality an# %on$ers upon -1A3it a $antasmati% %hara%ter, (he $irst variation that %an )e generate# $rom this matri5 is the presen%e o$ some strange, in%onsistent element Chi%h is /e5traneous/ to the #epi%te# reality, i,e,, Chi%h, un%annily, has its pla%e in it, although it #oes not /$it/ in itE the giganti% ro%k Chi%h $loats in the air %lose to a %lou# as its heavy %ounterpart, its #ou)le, in La Bataille de l2,rgonne 1 19792' the unnaturally large )loom Chi%h $ills out the entire room in Tombeau des lutteurs 1 19>A2, (his strange element /out o$ joint/ is pre%isely the $antasy-o)je%t $illing out the )la%kness o$ the real that Ce per%eive# in the %ra%k o$ the hal$-open Cin#oC in La lunette d2approche, (he e$$e%t o$ un%anniness is even stronger Chen the /same/ o)je%t is re#ou)le#, as in Les deu8 myst5res, a later variation 1$rom 19>>2 on the $amous &eci n2est pas une pipeE the pipe an# the ins%ription un#erneath it /&eci n2est pas une pipe/ are )oth #epi%te# as #raCings on a )la%k)oar#' yet on the le$t o$ the )la%k)oar#, the apparition o$ another giganti% an# massive pipe $loats $reely in a nonspe%i$ie# spa%e, (he title o$ this painting %oul# also have )een /" pipe is a pipe,/ $or Chat is it i$ not a per$e%t illustration o$ the 0egelian thesis on tautology as the ultimate %ontra#i%tionE the %oin%i#en%e )etCeen the pipe lo%ate# in a %learly #e$ine# sym)oli% reality, an# its phantomati%, un%anny #ou)le, strangely a$loat near)y, (he ins%ription un#er the pipe on the )la%k)oar# )ears Citness to the split )etCeen the tCo pipesE the pipe Chi%h $orms part o$ reality an# the pipe as real, i,e,, as a $antasy-apparition, are #istinguishe# )y the intervention o$ the sym)oli% or#erE it is the emergen%e o$ the sym)oli% or#er Chi%h splits reality into itsel$ an# the enigmati% surplus o$ the real, ea%h one /#erealiFing/ its %ounterpart, (he -a%anian point to )e ma#e here, o$ %ourse, is that su%h a split %an o%%ur only in an e%onomy o$ #esireE it #esignates the gap )etCeen the ina%%essi)le o)je%t-%ause o$ #esire, the /metonymy o$ nothingness/-- the pipe $loating $reely in the air-- an# the /empiri%al/ pipe Chi%h, although Ce %an smoke it, is never /that,/ 1(he ;ar5 Grothers version o$ this painting Coul# )e something like /(his looks like a pipe an# Corks like a pipe, )ut this shoul# not #e%eive you-- this is a pipe@/2 3> (he massive presen%e o$ the $ree-$loating pipe, o$ %ourse, turns the #epi%te# pipe into a /mere painting,/ yet, simultaneously, the $ree-$loating pipe is oppose# to the /#omesti%ate#/ sym)oli% reality o$ the pipe on the )la%k)oar# an# as su%h a%Duires a phantomlike, /surreal/ presen%e-- like the emergen%e o$ the /real/ -aura in 8tto Preminger<s Laura, (he poli%e #ete%tive 1 Dana "n#reCs2 $alls asleep staring at the portrait o$ the allege#ly #ea# -aura' upon aCakening, he $in#s at the si#e o$ the portrait the /real/ -aura, Cell an# alive, (his -1A6presen%e o$ the /real/ -aura a%%entuates the $a%t that the portrait is a mere /imitation/' on the other han#, the very /real/ -aura emerges as a nonsym)oliFe# $antasmati% surplus, a ghostlike apparition' )eneath the portrait, one %an easily imagine the ins%ription /(his is not -aura,/ " someChat homologous e$$e%t o$ the real o%%urs at the )eginning o$ Sergio -eone<s +nce Upon a Time in ,merica, a phone goes on ringing en#lessly' Chen, $inally, a han# pi%ks up the re%eiver, the phone continues to ring, (he $irst soun# )elongs to /reality,/ Chereas the

ringing Chi%h goes on even a$ter the re%eiver is pi%ke# up %omes out o$ the nonspe%i$ie# voi# o$ the 9eal, 3B Gut this splitting )etCeen sym)oliFe# reality an# the surplus o$ the 9eal ren#ers only the most elementary matri5 o$ the Cay the Sym)oli% an# the 9eal are intertCine#' a $urther #iale%ti%al /turn o$ the s%reC/ is intro#u%e# )y Chat Freu# %alle# /orstellungs70epraesentan4, the sym)oli% representative o$ an originally missing, e5%lu#e# 1/primor#ially represse#/2 representation, 3 (his para#o5 o$ the /orstellungs70epraesentan4 is per$e%tly stage# )y ;agritte<s $ersonnage marchant vers l2hori4on 1 194 -492E the portrait o$ an unremarka)le el#erly gentleman in a )oCler-hat, seen $rom )ehin#, situate# near $ive thi%k, $ormless )lo)s Chi%h )ear the itali%iFe# Cor#s /nuage,/ /%heval,/ /$usil,/ et%, 0ere Cor#s are the signi$ier<s representatives Chi%h stan# in $or the a)sent representation o$ the things, Fou%ault is Duite right in remarking that this painting $un%tions as a kin# o$ inverte# re)usE in a re)us, pi%torial representations o$ things stan# $or the Cor#s Chi%h #esignate these things, Chereas here Cor#s themselves $ill out the voi# o$ the a)sent things, +t Coul# )e possi)le $or us to %ontinue Cith the variations generate# )y this elementary matri5 1The "all of the 9vening, $or e5ample, Chere the evening literally $alls through the Cin#oC an# )reaks the pane-- a %ase o$ realiFe# metaphor, i,e,, o$ the intrusion o$ the Sym)oli% into the 9eal2' yet it su$$i%es to as%ertain hoC )ehin# all these para#o5es the same matri5 emerges, the same )asi% $issure Chose nature is ultimately *antianE /reality/ is never given in its totality' there is alCays a voi# gaping in its mi#st, $ille# out )y monstrous apparitions,

The Non:intersu/0e ti7e "ther

(he impenetra)le )la%kness that %an )e glimpse# through the %ra%k o$ the hal$-opene# Cin#oC thus opens up the spa%e $or the un%anny apparitions o$ an 8ther Cho pre%e#es the 8ther o$ /normal/ intersu)je%tivity, -et us re%all here a #etail $rom 0it%h%o%k<s "ren4y Chi%h )ears Citness to his -1A7geniusE in a s%ene that lea#s to the se%on# mur#er, Ga)s, the soon-to-)e vi%tim, a young girl Cho Corks in a .ovent Iar#en pu), a$ter a Duarrel Cith the oCner leaves her Corking pla%e an# steps out onto the )usy market street' the street noise Chi%h $or a )rie$ moment hits us is Dui%kly suspen#e# 1in a totally /nonrealisti%/ Cay2 Chen the %amera approa%hes Ga)s $or a %lose-up, an# the mysterious silen%e is then )roken )y an un%anny voi%e %oming $rom an in#e$inite point o$ a)solute pro5imity, as i$ $rom )ehin# her an# at the same time $rom Cithin her, a man<s voi%e so$tly saying /?ee# a pla%e to stayK/ Ga)s moves o$$ an# looks )a%k' stan#ing )ehin# her is an ol# a%Duaintan%e Cho, un)eknoCnst to her, is the /ne%ktiemur#erer,/ "$ter a %ouple o$ se%on#s, the magi% evaporates an# Ce hear again the soun# tapestry o$ /reality,/ o$ the market street )ustling Cith li$e, (his voi%e Chi%h emerges in the suspension o$ reality is none other than the ob(et petit a, an# the $igure Chi%h appears )ehin# Ga)s is e5perien%e# )y the spe%tator as supplementary Cith regar# to this voi%eE it gives )o#y to it, an#, simultaneously, it is strangely intertCine# Cith Ga)s<s )o#y, as her )o#y<s sha#oCy protu)eran%e 1not unlike the strange #ou)le )o#y o$ -eonar#o<s ;a#onna, analyFe# )y Freu#' or, in (otal 9e%all, the )o#y o$ the lea#er o$ the un#ergroun# resistan%e movement on ;ars, a kin# o$ parasiti% protu)eran%e on another person<s )elly2, +t is easy to o$$er a long list o$ similar e$$e%ts' thus, in one o$ the key s%enes o$ Silence of the Lambs, .lari%e an# -e%ter o%%upy the same positions Chen engage# in a %onversation in -e%ter<s prisonE in the $oregroun#, the %lose-up o$ .lari%e staring into the %amera, an# on the glass partition-Call

)ehin# her, the re$le%tion o$ -e%ter<s hea# germinating )ehin#-- out o$ her-- as her sha#oCy #ou)le, simultaneously less an# more real than her, (he supreme %ase o$ this e$$e%t, hoCever, is $oun# in one o$ the most mysterious shots o$ 0it%h%o%k<s /ertigo, Chen S%ottie peers at ;a#eleine through the %ra%k in the hal$-opene# )a%k#oor o$ the $lorist<s shop, For a )rie$ moment, ;a#eleine Cat%hes hersel$ in a mirror %lose to this #oor, so that the s%reen is verti%ally splitE the le$t hal$ is o%%upie# )y the mirror in Chi%h Ce see ;a#eleine<s re$le%tion, Chile the right hal$ is sli%e# )y a series o$ verti%al lines 1the #oors2' in the verti%al #ark )an# 1the %ra%k o$ the hal$-opene# #oor2 Ce see a $ragment o$ S%ottie, his gaFe trans$i5e# on the /original/ Chose mirror re$le%tion Ce see in the le$t hal$, " truly /;agrittean/ Duality %lings to this uniDue shotE although, as to the #isposition o$ the #iegeti% spa%e, S%ottie is here /in reality,/ Chereas Chat Ce see o$ ;a#eleine is only her mirror image, the e$$e%t o$ the shot is e5a%tly the reverseE ;a#eleine is per%eive# as -1A>part o$ reality an# S%ottie as a phantomlike protu)eran%e Cho 1like the legen#ary #Car$ in Irimm<s Snow7white2 lurks )ehin# the mirror, (his shot is ;agrittean in a very pre%ise senseE the #Car$like mirage o$ S%ottie peeps out o$ the very impenetra)le #arkness Chi%h gapes in the %ra%k o$ the hal$open Cin#oC in La lunette d2approche 1the mirror in /ertigo, o$ %ourse, %orrespon#s to the Cin#oCpane in ;agritte<s painting2, +n )oth %ases, the $rame# spa%e o$ the mirrore# reality is traverse# )y a verti%al )la%k ri$t, 39 "s *ant puts it, there is no positive knoCle#ge o$ the (hing-in-itsel$, one %an only #esignate its pla%e, /make room/ $or it, (his is Chat ;agritte a%%omplishes on a Duite literal levelE the %ra%k o$ the hal$-open #oor, its impenetra)le )la%kness, makes room $or the (hing, "n# )y lo%ating in this %ra%k a gaFe, 0it%h%o%k supplements ;agritte in a 0egehan--a%anian CayE /i$ )eyon# appearan%e there is no thing in itsel$, there is the gaFe,/ 6A +n his Gayreuth pro#u%tion o$ Tristan und Isolde, Hean-Pierre Ponelle %hange# 3agner<s original plot, interpreting all that $olloCs (ristan<s #eath-- the arrival o$ +sol#e an# *ing ;arke, +sol#e<s #eath-- as (ristan<s mortal #eliriumE the $inal appearan%e o$ +sol#e is stage# so that the #aFFlingly illuminate# +sol#e groCs lu5uriantly behind him, Chile (ristan stares at us, the spe%tators, Cho are a)le to per%eive his su)lime #ou)le, the protu)eran%e o$ his lethal, enjoyment, (his is also hoC Gergman, in his version o$ The 3agic "lute, o$ten shot Pamina an# ;onostatosE a %lose-up o$ Pamina, Cho stares intensely into the %amera, Cith ;onostatos appearing )ehin# her as her sha#oCy #ou)le, as i$ )elonging to a #i$$erent level o$ reality 1illuminate# Cith pointe#ly /unnatural/ #ark-violet %olors2, Cith his gaFe also #ire%te# into the %amera, (his #isposition, in Chi%h the su)je%t an# his or her sha#oCy, e5-timate #ou)le stare into a %ommon thir# point 1materialiFe# in us, the spe%tators2, epitomiFes the relationship o$ the su)je%t to an 8therness Chi%h is prior to intersu)je%tivity, (he $iel# o$ intersu)je%tivity Chere su)je%ts, Cithin their share# reality, /look into ea%h other<s eyes,/ is sustaine# )y the paternal metaphor, Chereas the re$eren%e to the a)sent third point Chi%h attra%ts the tCo gaFes %hanges the status o$ one o$ the tCo partners-- the one in the )a%kgroun#-- into the su)lime em)o#iment o$ the real o$ enjoyment, 61 3hat all these s%enes have in %ommon on the level o$ purely %inemati% pro%e#ure is a kin# o$ $ormal %orrelative o$ the reversal o$ $a%e-to-$a%e intersu)je%tivity into the relationship o$ the su)je%t to his sha#oCy #ou)le Chi%h emerges )ehin# him or her as a kin# o$ su)lime protu)eran%eE the condensation of the field and counter7field within the same shot, 3hat Ce have

-1ABhere is a para#o5i%al kin# o$ %ommuni%ationE not a /#ire%t/ %ommuni%ation o$ the su)je%t Cith his $elloC %reature in front of him, )ut a %ommuni%ation Cith the e5%res%en%e behind him, me#iate# )y a thir# gaFe, as i$ the %ounter-$iel# Cere to )e mirrore# )a%k into the $iel# itsel$, +t is this thir# gaFe Chi%h %on$ers upon the s%ene its hypnoti% #imensionE the su)je%t is enthralle# )y the gaFe Chi%h sees /Chat is in himsel$ more than himsel$,/ "n# the analyti%al situation itsel$-- the relationship )etCeen analyst an# analysan#-- #oes it not ultimately also #esignate a kin# o$ return to this preintersu)je%tive relationship o$ the su)je%t 1analysan#2 to his sha#oCy other, to the e5ternaliFe# o)je%t in himsel$K +s not this the Chole point o$ the spatial #isposition o$ analysisE a$ter the so-%alle# preliminary intervieCs, the analysis proper )egins Chen the analyst an# the analysan# no longer %on$ront ea%h other $a%e to $a%e, )ut the analyst sits behind the analysan#, Cho, stret%he# on the #ivan, stares into the voi# in $ront o$ himK Does not this very #isposition lo%ate the analyst as the analysan#<s ob(ect small a, not his #ialogi%al partner, not another su)je%tK 64

The "/0e t of the Indefinite )udg6ent

"t this point, Ce shoul# return to *antE in his philosophy, this %ra%k, this spa%e Chere su%h monstrous apparitions %an emerge, is opene# up )y the #istin%tion )etCeen negative an# in#e$inite ju#gment, (he very e5ample use# )y *ant to illustrate this #istin%tion is telltaleE the positive ju#gment )y means o$ Chi%h a pre#i%ate is as%ri)e# to the 1logi%al2 su)je%t-- /(he soul is mortal/' the negative ju#gment )y means o$ Chi%h a pre#i%ate is #enie# to the su)je%t-/(he soul is not mortal/' the in#e$inite ju#gment )y means o$ Chi%h, instea# o$ negating a pre#i%ate 1i,e,, the %opula Chi%h as%ri)es it to the su)je%t2, Ce a$$irm a %ertain non-pre#i%ate-/(he soul is not-mortal,/ 1+n Ierman also, the #i$$eren%e is solely a matter o$ pun%tuationE /Die Seele ist ni%ht ster)li%he/-- /Die Seele ist ni%htster)li%he/' *ant enigmati%ally #oes not use the stan#ar# /unster)li%he,/ See &$0, " B4-B3,2 (his #istin%tion, as hair-splitting as it may appear, nevertheless plays a %ru%ial role in *ant<s en#eavor to #istinguish #i$$erent mo#alities o$ opposition an# R or negationE -First, the real oppositionE the %on$li%t )etCeen tCo positive $or%es, a $or%e an# its %omplementary %ounter$or%e, Chi%h %an%el ea%h other out, (his opposition is real in the pre%ise sense o$ #esignating the $eature %onstitutive o$ the very notion o$ /reality/E Chat Ce e5perien%e as /reality/ -1A is stru%ture# )y the all-present antagonism o$ a $or%e an# its %ounter$or%e 1attra%tion an# repulsion, positive an# negative poles in magnetism, et%,2, (he opposite o$ a positive $or%e is not nothing, the a)sen%e, the la%k o$ this positive $or%e, )ut another $or%e Chi%h possesses its oCn positive ontologi%al a%tualityE the result o$ the %on$li%t is o Chen opposite $or%es o$ eDual strength %an%el ea%h other, like a rope Chi%h remains at a stan#still Chen tCo groups o$ )oys o$ eDual strength pull it in opposite #ire%tions, *ant )aptiFe# this /Fero/ o$ real opposition nihilprivativumE it is the out%ome o$ the mutual /privation/ o$ the tCo opposite $or%es, (he %ru%ial $eature Chi%h #istinguishes real opposition is the presuppose# %ommon groun#E the opposition o$ positive an# negative poles o%%urs only Cithin a magneti% $iel#, For that reason, the $a%t that an o)je%t is not magneti%ally positive #oes not automati%ally entail that it is magneti%ally negative-- it %an simply lie outsi#e the sphere o$ magnetism,

-9eal opposition is not to )e %on$use# Cith logical contradiction, Chose out%ome is a #i$$erent type o$ /Fero,/ nihil negativumE it o%%urs Chen the very notion o$ the o)je%t un#er %onsi#eration %ontra#i%ts itsel$ an# there)y %an%els itsel$, 3hat *ant has in min# here are notions like /sDuare %ir%le,/ /Coo#en iron,/ et%, 3e %annot arrive at an intuition o$ su%h o)je%ts 1Ce %annot imagine Chat a /sDuare %ir%le/ looks like2, sin%e they are %ases o$ Chat *ant re$ers to as UndingE a /non-thing,/ an empty ob(ect devoid of its notion an# as su%h, #ue to its sel$-%ontra#i%tory %hara%ter, logi%ally impossi)le, -(here is, hoCever, a thir# type o$ negation, irre#u%i)le to either real opposition or logi%al %ontra#i%tionE antinomy, *ant praise# himsel$ $or )eing the $irst to arti%ulate its spe%i$i% %hara%ter, (here are namely o)je%ts Chi%h, although not logi%ally sel$-%ontra#i%tory, nevertheless a priori %annot )e intuite#, i,e,, imagine# as o)je%ts o$ our e5perien%e, as parts o$ Chat Ce e5perien%e as reality, (hese o)je%ts are %learly not logi%ally impossi)le, yet $or all that, Ce %annot %onsi#er them as /possi)le/ inso$ar as the #omain o$ Chat %ounts as /possi)le/ is #elineate# )y the horiFon o$ our e5perien%e, (hey are not empty o)je%ts #evoi# o$ their notions, )ut Duite on the %ontrary empty notions devoid of their :intuited; ob(ects, "s su%h, they %annot )e su)sume# un#er the notion o$ Unding, sin%e it is easy to imagine them Cithout any %ontra#i%tion, (he pro)lem is pre%isely that Chile it is easy to imagine them, Ce %an never $ill out their notion Cith positive, intuite# %ontent, For that reason, *ant )aptiFe# su%h an o)je%t edankending, an o)je%t-o$-thought 1ens rationis2, :5emplary %ases involve notions Chi%h -1A9a)oun# in tra#itional metaphysi%s an# Chi%h involve us in trans%en#ental antinomiesE the universe in its totality, the soul, Io#, "ll these notions %an )e rationally imagine# or %onstru%te#, )ut Ce %an never e5perien%e them as part o$ reality 1in our spatio-temporal reality, Ce never a%tually stum)le upon /Io#/ or /soul/2, 63 (his #i$$eren%e )etCeen %ontra#i%tion an# antinomy, i,e,, the spe%i$i% status o$ antinomy as irre#u%i)le to %ontra#i%tion, )rings into play the transcendental #imensionE the /Fero/ o$ %ontra#i%tion is logi%al 1the very notion o$ the o)je%t %an%els itsel$2, Chereas the /Fero/ o$ antinomy is trans%en#ental, that is to say, Ce have to $o%us here on the notion o$ an o)je%t Chi%h remains $orever /empty/ sin%e it %an never )e%ome an o)je%t o$ our sensi)le intuition, o$ our possi)le e5perien%e, "n#, a%%or#ing to *ant, the Cay to resolve the /s%an#al/ o$ trans%en#ental antinomies is pre%isely to %on%eive o$ them as antinomies, not as %ontra#i%tions, +n the %ase o$ logi%al %ontra#i%tion, one o$ its poles is ne%essarily trueE yester#ay + #i# rea# 0egel<s Logic or + #i# not #o it' tertium non datur, the $alsity o$ one pole automati%ally entails the truth o$ its opposite, (his, hoCever, is the very trap Ce must avoi# apropos o$ antinomiesE the moment Ce %on%eive o$ a trans%en#ental antinomy as %ontra#i%tion, Ce are %ompelle# to %on%lu#e that one o$ its poles must )e true-- the universe is either $inite or in$inite' the linear %ausal %hain #etermines an# englo)es everything or there is $ree#om, i,e,, the possi)ility o$ an autonomous a%tivity Chi%h %annot )e re#u%e# to its %on#itions, 3hat es%apes us there)y is a thir# possi)ilityE Chat i$ the very pro)lem, the apparently e5haustive alternative, is $alse, sin%e the %ommon groun# o$ the #ispute 1universe as a totality o$ phenomena, soul2 #oes not e5ist as an o)je%t o$ our possi)le e5perien%eK +n this %ase, either )oth poles o$ the antinomy are $alse 1universe as a totality is a pure edankending Chi%h, #ue to our $initu#e, %an never )e $ille# out Cith intuite# %ontent-- *ant<s solution o$ mathemati%al antinomies2, or )oth poles are true sin%e ea%h o$ them %on%erns a #i$$erent ontologi%al level 1universal %ausality is limite# to the $iel# o$ phenomena, Chereas $ree#om

#e$ines our noumenal soul2, *ant<s solution o$ mathemati%al antinon-- ties is there$ore very au#a%iousE he )reaks Cith the entire tra#ition o$ !eltanschauung, o$ the /Corl#vieC/ 1or, more a%%urately, Corl# intuition2E the Corl# 1universe, %osmos2 is something Chi%h is never given in an intuition, i,e,, stricto sensu it #oes not e5ist, (he notion o$ edankending %on%erns o)je%ts a)out Chi%h Ce %an possess no knoCle#ge sin%e they trans%en# the limits o$ our e5perien%e, ?one-11Atheless, Ce are %ompelle# to re$er to su%h o)je%ts on a%%ount o$ the irre#u%i)le $initu#e o$ our e5perien%e, 3e %annot know them, )ut Ce must think themE /"s sensi)le intuition #oes not e5ten# to all things Cithout #istin%tion, a pla%e remains open $or other an# #i$$erent o)je%ts/ 1&$0, " 4 2, +n other Cor#s, all our 1$inite2 thought %an #o is to #raC a %ertain limit, restri%t the $iel# o$ our knoCle#ge, Cithout making any positive statements a)out its Geyon#' the /(hing-in-itsel$/ is given only as pure a)sen%e, in the guise o$ a %ertain pla%e Chi%h, on a%%ount o$ the $initu#e o$ our e5perien%e, must $orever remain empty, "n# it is here that Ce en%ounter the #i$$eren%e )etCeen negative an# in#e$inite R limiting ju#gmentE noumena are o)je%ts o$ in#e$inite-limiting ju#gment, Gy saying /the (hing is non-phenomenal,/ Ce #o not say the same as /the (hing is not phenomenal/' Ce #o not make any positive %laim a)out it, Ce only #raC a %ertain limit an# lo%ate the (hing in the Cholly nonspe%i$ie# voi# )eyon# it, 66 "long this line o$ thought, *ant intro#u%es in the se%on# e#ition o$ the &riti6ue of $ure 0eason the #istin%tion )etCeen positive an# negative meanings o$ /noumenon/E in the positive meaning o$ the term, noumenon is /an o)je%t o$ a nonsensi)le intuition,/ Chereas in the negative meaning, it is /a thing inso$ar as it is not an o)je%t o$ our sensi)le intuition/ 1&$0, G 3AB2, (he grammati%al $orm shoul# not mislea# us hereE the positive meaning is e5presse# )y the negative ju#gment an# the negative meaning )y the in#e$inite ju#gment, +n other Cor#s, Chen one #etermines the (hing as /an o)je%t o$ a nonsensi)le intuition,/ one imme#iately negates the positive ju#gment Chi%h #etermines the (hing as /an o)je%t o$ a sensi)le intuition/E one a%%epts intuition as the unDuestione# )ase or genus' against this )a%kgroun#, one opposes its tCo spe%ies, sensi)le an# nonsensi)le intuition, ?egative ju#gment is thus not only limiting, it also #elineates a #omain )eyon# phenomena Chere it lo%ates the (hing-- the #omain o$ the nonsensi)le intuition-- Chereas in the %ase o$ the negative #etermination, the (hing is e5%lu#e# $rom the #omain o$ our sensi)le intuition, Cithout )eing posite# in an impli%it Cay as the o)je%t o$ a nonsensi)le intuition' )y leaving in suspense the positive status o$ the (hing, negative #etermination saps the very genus %ommon to a$$irmation an# negation o$ the pre#i%ate, 0erein lies also the #i$$eren%e )etCeen /is not mortal/ an# /is notmortal/E Chat Ce have in the $irst %ase is a simple negation, Chereas in the se%on# %ase, a non7predicate is affirmed, (he only /legitimate/ #e$inition o$ the nournenon is that it is /not an o)je%t o$ our sensi)le intuition,/ i,e,, a Cholly negative #e$inition Chi%h e5%lu#es it $rom the phenomenal #omain' -111this ju#gment is /in$inite/ sin%e it #oes not imply any %on%lusions as to Chere, in the in$inite spa%e o$ Chat remains outsi#e the phenomenal #omain, the noumenon is lo%ate#, 3hat *ant %alls /trans%en#ental illusion/ ultimately %onsists in the very 1mis2rea#ing o$ in$inite ju#gment as negative ju#gmentE Chen Ce %on%eive the nournenon as an /o)je%t o$ a nonsensi)le

intuition,/ the su)je%t o$ the ju#gment remains the same 1the /o)je%t o$ an intuition/2' Chat %hanges is only the %hara%ter 1nonsensi)le instea# o$ sensi)le2 o$ this intuition, so that a minimal /%ommensura)ility/ )etCeen the su)je%t an# the pre#i%ate 1i,e,, in this %ase, )etCeen the noumenon an# its phenomenal #eterminations2 is still maintaine#, " 0egelian %orollary to *ant is that limitation is to )e %on%eive# o$ as prior to Chat lies /)eyon#/ it, so that ultimately *ant<s oCn notion o$ the (hing-in-itsel$ remains too /rei$ie#,/ 0egel<s position on this point is su)tleE Chat he %laims )y stating that the Suprasensi)le is /appearan%e Dua appearan%e/ is pre%isely that the (hing-in-itsel$ is the limitation of the phenomena as such, /Suprasensi)le o)je%ts 1o)je%ts o$ suprasensi)le intuition2/ )elong to the %himeri%al /topsy-turvy Corl#/' they are nothing )ut an inverte# presentation, proje%tion, o$ the very %ontent o$ sensi)le intuition in the $orm o$ another, nonsensi)le intuition-- or, to re%all ;ar5<s ironi% %ritiDue o$ Prou#hon in The $overty of $hilosophyE /+nstea# o$ the or#inary in#ivi#ual Cith his or#inary manner o$ speaking an# thinking, Ce have nothing )ut this or#inary manner purely an# simply-- Cithout the in#ivi#ual,/ 67 1(he #ou)le irony o$ it, o$ %ourse, is that ;ar5 inten#e# these lines as a mo%king reje%tion o$ Prou#hon<s 0egelianism, i,e,, o$ his e$$ort to supply e%onomi% theory Cith the $orm o$ spe%ulative #iale%ti%s@2 (his is Chat the %himera o$ /nonsensi)le intuition/ is a)outE instea# o$ or#inary o)je%ts o$ sensi)le intuition, Ce get the same or#inary o)je%ts o$ intuition, Cithout their sensi)le %hara%ter, (his su)tle #i$$eren%e )etCeen negative an# in#e$inite ju#gment $igures in a %ertain type o$ Citti%ism Chere the se%on# part #oes not imme#iately invert the $irst part )y negating its pre#i%ate )ut repeats it Cith the negation #ispla%e# onto the su)je%t, (he ju#gment /0e is an in#ivi#ual $ull o$ i#ioti% $eatures,/ $or e5ample, %an )e negate# in a stan#ar# mirror Cay, i,e,, repla%e# )y its %ontrary /0e is an in#ivi#ual Cith no i#ioti% $eatures/' yet its negation %an also )e given the $orm o$ /0e is $ull o$ i#ioti% $eatures Cithout )eing an in#ivi#ual,/ (his #ispla%ement o$ the negation $rom the pre#i%ate onto the su)je%t provi#es the logi%al matri5 o$ Chat is o$ten the un$oreseen result o$ our e#u%ational e$$orts to li)erate the pupil $rom the %onstraint o$ -114preju#i%es an# %h%hJs the result is not a person %apa)le o$ e5pressing himsel$ or hersel$ in a rela5e#, un%onstraine# Cay, )ut an automatiFe# )un#le o$ 1neC2 %li%hJs )ehin# Chi%h Ce no longer sense the presen%e o$ a /real person,/ -et us just re%all the usual out%ome o$ psy%hologi%al training inten#e# to #eliver the in#ivi#ual $rom the %onstraints o$ his or her every#ay $rame o$ min# an# to set $ree his or her /true sel$,/ Cith all its authenti% %reative potentials 1trans%en#ental me#itation, et%,2E on%e the in#ivi#ual gets ri# o$ the ol# %li%hJs Chi%h Cere still a)le to sustain the #iale%ti%al tension )etCeen themselves an# the /personality/ )ehin# them, Chat take their pla%e are neC %li%hJs Chi%h a)rogate the very /#epth/ o$ personality )ehin# them, +n short, the in#ivi#ual )e%omes a true monster, a kin# o$ /living #ea#,/ Samuel Iol#Cyn, the ol# 0ollyCoo# mogul, Cas rightE Chat Ce nee# are in#ee# some neC, original %li%hJs, +nvoking the /living #ea#/ is no a%%i#ent hereE in our or#inary language, Ce resort to in#e$inite ju#gments pre%isely Chen Ce en#eavor to %omprehen# those )or#erline phenomena Chi%h un#ermine esta)lishe# #i$$eren%es, su%h as those )etCeen living an# )eing #ea#, +n the te5ts o$ popular %ulture, the un%anny %reatures Chi%h are neither alive nor #ea#, the /living #ea#/ 1vampires, et%,2, are re$erre# to as /the un#ea#/' although they are not #ea#, they are %learly not alive like us, or#inary mortals, (he ju#gment /he is un#ea#/ is there$ore an

in#e$inite-limiting ju#gment in the pre%ise sense o$ a purely negative gesture o$ e5%lu#ing vampires $rom the #omain o$ the #ea#, Cithout $or that reason lo%ating them in the #omain o$ the living 1as in the %ase o$ the simple negation /he is not #ea#/2, (he $a%t that vampires an# other /living #ea#/ are usually re$erre# to as /things/ has to )e ren#ere# Cith its $ull *antian meaningE a vampire is a (hing Chi%h looks an# a%ts like us, yet it is not one o$ us, +n short, the #i$$eren%e )etCeen the vampire an# the living person is the #i$$eren%e )etCeen in#e$inite an# negative ju#gmentE a #ea# person loses the pre#i%ates o$ a living )eing, yet he or she remains the same person' an un#ea#, on the %ontrary, retains all the pre#i%ates o$ a living )eing Cithout )eing one, "s in the a)ove-Duote# ;ar5ian joke, Chat Ce get Cith the vampire is /the or#inary manner o$ speaking an# thinking purely an# simply-- Cithout the in#ivi#ual,/ 8ne is tempte# to a$$irm that this logi% o$ in$inite ju#gment %ontains in nuce *ant<s entire philosophi%al revolutionE it #elineates trans%en#entally %onstitute# reality $rom the un%anny, prohi)ite# R impossi)le, real #omain o$ the (hing Chi%h ha# to remain unthought sin%e in it Ioo# overlaps Cith ra#i%al :vil, +n short, *ant repla%e# the tra#itional philosophi%al opposi-113tion o$ appearan%e an# essen%e Cith the opposition o$ phenomenal reality an# the nournenal (hing Chi%h $olloCs a ra#i%ally #i$$erent logi%E Chat appears as /essential/ 1moral laC in ourselves2 is possi)le an# thinka)le only Cithin the horiFon o$ our $initu#e, o$ our limitation to the #omain o$ phenomenal reality' i$ it Cere possi)le $or us to trespass this limitation an# to gain a #ire%t insight into nournenal (hing, Ce Coul# lose the very %apa%ity Chi%h ena)les us to trans%en# the limits o$ sensi)le e5perien%e 1moral #ignity an# $ree#om2,

Ate and Its (eyond

For a %loser #etermination o$ this un%anny #omain opene# up )y the in#e$inite ju#gment, let us turn again to 0ollyCoo#, FritF -ang<s noir Cestern 0ancho .otorious 1 197A2 )egins Chere a 0ollyCoo# story usually en#sE Cith the passionate kiss o$ a %ouple aCaiting their marriage, +mme#iately thereupon, )rutal )an#its rape an# kill the )ri#e, an# the #esperate )ri#egroom 1playe# )y "rthur *enne#y2 %ommits himsel$ to ine5ora)le revenge, 0is only %lue as to the i#entity o$ the )an#its is /%hu%k-a-lu%k,/ a meaningless signi$ying $ragment, "$ter a long sear%h, he unearths its se%retE /.hu%k-a-lu%k/ #esignates a mysterious pla%e Chose very name it is #angerous to pronoun%e in pu)li%, a ran%h in a hi##en valley )eyon# a narroC mountain pass, Chere ;arlene Dietri%h, an age# saloon singer, e5-$atal )eauty, reigns, o$$ering re$uge to ro))ers $or a per%entage o$ their loot, 3hat a%%ounts $or the irresisti)le %harm o$ this $ilmK Un#ou)te#ly the $a%t that, )eneath the usual Cestern plot, 0ancho .otorious stages another mythi%al narrative, the one arti%ulate# in its pure $orm in a series o$ a#venture novels an# $ilms Chose a%tion is usually set in "$ri%a 11ing Solomon2s 3ines, She, Tar4an2E the story o$ an e5pe#ition into the very heart o$ the )la%k %ontinent Chere Chite man ha# never set $oot 1the voyagers are lure# into this risky trip )y some in%omprehensi)le or am)iguous signi$ying $ragmentE a message in a )ottle, a $ragment o$ )urne# paper, or the %on$use# )a))ling o$ some ma#man hinting that )eyon# a %ertain $rontier Con#er$ul an#Ror horri)le things are taking pla%e2, 8n the Cay, the e5pe#ition %on$ronts #iverse #angers' it is mena%e# )y a)origines Cho at the same time strive #esperately to make the $oreigners un#erstan# that they shoul# not trespass a %ertain $rontier 1river, mountain pass, a)yss2, sin%e )eyon# it lies a #amne# pla%e $rom Chi%h no)o#y has yet returne#, "$ter a series o$ a#ventures, the e5pe#ition goes )eyon# this $rontier an# $in#s itsel$ in the

-1168ther Pla%e, in the spa%e o$ pure $antasyE a mighty )la%k king#om 11ing Solomon2s 3ines2, the realm o$ a )eauti$ul an# mysterious Dueen 1She2, the #omain Chere man lives in $ull harmony Cith nature an# speaks Cith animals 1Tar4an2, "nother mythi%al lan#s%ape o$ this kin# Cas o$ %ourse (i)etE the (i)etan theo%ra%y serve# as a mo#el $or the most $amous image o$ the i#ylli% Corl# o$ Cis#om an# )alan%e, Shangri7La 1in Lost #ori4on2, Chi%h %an )e rea%he# only through a narroC mountain passage' no)o#y is alloCe# to return $rom it, an# the one person Cho #oes es%ape pays $or his su%%ess )y ma#ness, so that no)o#y )elieves him Chen he prattles a)out the pea%e$ul %ountry rule# )y Cise monks, 6> (he mysterious /.hu%kalu%k/ $rom 0ancho .otorious is the same $or)i##en pla%eE it is )y no means a%%i#ental that all the %ru%ial %on$rontations in the $ilm take pla%e at the narroC mountain pass Chi%h marks the $rontier separating the every#ay reality $rom the valley Chere /She/ reigns-- in other Cor#s, at the very pla%e o$ passage )etCeen reality an# the $antasy<s /other pla%e,/ 6B 3hat is %ru%ial here is the stri%t $ormal homology )etCeen all these storiesE in all %ases, the stru%ture is that o$ a ;W)ius )an#-- i$ Ce progress $ar enough on the si#e o$ reality, Ce su##enly $in# ourselves on its reverse, in the #omain o$ pure $antasy, 6 -et us, hoCever, pursue our line o$ asso%iationsE #o Ce not en%ounter the same inversion in the #evelopment o$ a great num)er o$ artists, $rom Shakespeare to ;oFart, Chere the gra#ual #es%ent into #espair, Chen it rea%hes its na#ir, su##enly %hanges into a kin# o$ heavenly )lissK "$ter a series o$ trage#ies Chi%h mark the loCest point o$ #espair 1#amlet, 1ing Lear, et%,2, the tone o$ Shakespeare<s plays une5pe%te#ly %hanges an# Ce enter the realm o$ a $airy-tale harmony Chere li$e is governe# )y a )enevolent Fate Chi%h )rings to a happy %on%lusion all %on$li%ts 1The Tempest, &ymbeli7ne, et%,2, "$ter *on iovanni, this ultimate monument to the impossibility o$ the se5ual relationship, to the antagonism o$ the relation )etCeen se5es, ;oFart %ompose# The 3agic "lute, a hymn to the harmonious %ouple o$ ;an an# 3oman 1note the para#o5 o$ hoC the %riti%ism precedes the panegyri%@2, 69 (he horri$ying, lethal, an# at the same time $as%inating )or#erline that Ce approa%h Chen the reversal into )liss is imminent is Chat -a%an, apropos o$ Sopho%les<s "ntigone, en#eavors to in#i%ate )y means o$ the Ireek Cor# ate, 7A (here is a $un#amental am)iguity to this termE ate simultaneously #enotes a horri$ying limit Chi%h %annot ever )e rea%he#, i,e,, Chose tou%h means #eath, an# the space beyond it, (he %ru%ial point here is the prima%y o$ the limit over the spa%eE Ce #o not have tCo spheres -1171that o$ reality an# that o$pure $antasy2 Chi%h are #ivi#e# )y a %ertain limit' Chat Ce have is just reality an# its limit, the a)yss, the voi# aroun# Chi%h it is stru%ture#, (he $antasy-spa%e is there$ore stri%tly se%on#ary' it /gives )o#y,/ it materialiFes a %ertain limit, or, more pre%isely, it %hanges the impossible into the prohibited, (he limit marks a %ertain $un#amental impossi)ility 1it %annot )e trespasse#, i$ Ce %ome too %lose to it, Ce #ie2, Chile its Geyon# is prohi)ite# 1Choever enters it %annot return, et%,2, 71 (here)y Ce have alrea#y pro#u%e# the $ormula o$ the mysterious reversal o$ horror into )lissE )y means o$ it, the impossible limit %hanges into the $or)i##en pla%e, in other Cor#s, the logi% o$ this reversal is that o$ the transmutation o$ 9eal into Sym)oli%E the impossi)le-real %hanges into an o)je%t o$ sym)oli% prohi)ition, (he para#o5 1an# perhaps the very $un%tion o$ the prohi)ition as su%h2 %onsists o$ %ourse in the $a%t that, as soon as it is %on%eive# as prohi)ite#, the real-impossi)le %hanges into something possible, i,e,, into something that %annot )e rea%he#, not )e%ause o$ its

inherent impossi)ility )ut simply )e%ause a%%ess to it is hin#ere# )y the e5ternal )arrier o$ a prohi)ition, (herein lies, a$ter all, the logi% o$ the most $un#amental o$ all prohi)itions, that o$ in%estE in%est is inherently impossi)le 1even i$ a man /really/ sleeps Cith his mother, /this is not that/' the in%estuous o)je%t is )y #e$inition la%king2, an# the sym)oli% prohi)ition is nothing )ut an attempt to resolve this #ea#lo%k )y a transmutation o$ impossi)ility into prohi)ition, There is +ne Chi%h is the prohi)ite# o)je%t o$ in%est 1mother2, an# its prohi)ition ren#ers a%%essi)le all other o)je%ts, 74 (he trespassing o$ the Frontier in the a)ove-mentione# series o$ a#venture $ilms $olloCs the same logi%E the $or)i##en spa%e )eyon# ate is again %onstitute# )y the transmutation o$ impossi)ility into prohi)ition, 8n another level, the same para#o5i%al reversal %hara%teriFes the /national revival/ un#er %on#itions o$ %olonial repressionE it is only the %olonial repression 1/prohi)ition/2 that stirs up resistan%e an# thus ren#ers possi)le the /national revival,/ (he /spontaneous/ i#ea that Ce are salvaging the remains o$ a previous tra#ition $rom un#er the yoke o$ %olonial repression %orrespon#s pre%isely to Chat #egel %alls /the illusion o$ 1e5ternal2 re$le%tion/E Chat Ce overlook inso$ar as Ce are vi%tims o$ this illusion is that nation, national i#entity, comes to be through the e5perien%e o$ the threat to its e5isten%e-previous to this e5perien%e, it #i# not e5ist at all, (his goes not only $or the %lassi%al anti%olonial struggle )ut also $or the %urrent ethni% tensions in the e5-Soviet UnionE although the people e5perien%e themselves as a return to the pre-.ommunist tra#ition, it Cas the very .ommu-11>nist /repression/ Chi%h, )y means o$ prohi)ition, opened up their space, i,e,, posite# them as possible, Gy means o$ the reversal o$ 1impossi)le2 limit into 1prohi)ite#2 spa%e, o$ *on iovanni into 3agic "lute, Ce thus elu#e the real Dua impossi)leE on%e Ce enter the #omain o$ $antasy, the trauma o$ the inherent impossi)ility is repla%e# )y a $airy )eatitu#e, ;oFart<s 3agic "lute, its image o$ the amorous %ouple $orming a harmonious 3hole, e5empli$ies per$e%tly the -a%anian thesis that $antasy is ultimately alCays the $antasy o$ a su%%ess$ul se5ual relationshipE a$ter the %ouple o$ (amino an# Pamina su%%ess$ully un#ergoes the or#eal o$ $ire an# Cater, i,e,, trespasses the limit, the tCo o$ them enter sym)oli% )liss, "n# it is re$eren%e to the anti%olonial national revival Chi%h ena)les us to lo%ate more pre%isely the #reamlike %hara%ter o$ this )eatitu#eE the agents o$ the anti%olonialist national-li)eration struggle ne%essarily $all prey to the illusion that, )y means o$ their struggle, they /realiFe the an%ient #reams o$ their oppresse# an%estors,/ (herein %onsists one o$ the $un#amental me%hanisms o$ i#eologi%al legitimiFationE to legitimiFe the e5isting or#er )y presenting it as a realiFation o$ a #ream-- not of our dream, but of the +ther2s, the dead ancestor2s dream, the #ream o$ previous generations, (hat Cas, $or e5ample, the re$eren%e that #etermine# the /progressive/ 3estern attitu#e toCar# the Soviet Union in the tCenties an# thirtiesE in spite o$ the poverty an# Crongs, numerous 3estern visitors Cere $as%inate# )y this very #ra) Soviet reality-ChyK Ge%ause it appeare# to them as a kin# o$ palpa)le materialiFation o$ the #ream o$ millions o$ past an# present Corkers $rom all aroun# the Corl#, "ny #ou)t a)out the Soviet reality thus entaile# instant guiltE /(rue, they in the Soviet Union make numerous mistakes, )ut Chen you %riti%iFe Cith ironi% #is#ain their e$$orts, you are making $un o$ an# )etraying the #ream o$ millions Cho su$$ere# an# riske# their lives $or Chat they are realiFing noC@/ 73 (he situation here is not unlike that o$ Xhuang Xi, Cho #reamt o$ )eing a )utter$ly, an# a$ter his aCakening pose# this Duestion to himsel$E 0oC #oes he knoC that he is not now a

)utter$ly #reaming o$ )eing Xhuang XiK 76 +n the same Cay, postrevolutionary i#eology en#eavors to make us un#erstan# that Chat Ce live noC is a #ream o$ our an%estors %ome true' the Corker in the Soviet Union, $or e5ample, Cas a prerevolutionary $ighter #rean-"ng to )e a Corker in the So%ialist para#ise-- i$ Ce %omplain too mu%h, Ce might #istur) his #ream, (his #etour through the #ea# 8ther is ne%essary $or the i#eologi%al legitimiFation o$ the present to take e$$e%t, 8n another level, the $antasy o$ the harmonious love %ouple $rom ;oFart<s -11B3agic "lute $olloCs the same logi%E the #reary )ourgeois every#ay reality un#ergoes a kin# o$ transu)stantiation an# a%Duires a su)lime #imension as soon as it is %on%eive# as the a%tualiFation o$ a prerevolutionary #ream o$ a $ree love %ouple, 3herein %onsists the logi% o$ this reversalK =et another $ormal homology might move us $urther #oCn the right tra%kE #o Ce not en%ounter the same matri5 in Freu#<s most $amous #ream, that o$ +rma<s inje%tionK 77 Do not the three stages o$ this #ream %orrespon# to the imaginary #ual-relationship, its /aggravation/ into an un)eara)le antagonism Chi%h announ%es the en%ounter o$ the 9eal, an# the $inal /appeasement/ via the a#vent o$ the sym)oli% or#erK +n the $irst phase o$ the #ream, Freu# is /playing Cith his patient/' 7> his #ialogue Cith +rma is /totally stu%k Cithin the imaginary %on#itions Chi%h limit it,/ 7B (his #ual, spe%ular relationship %ulminates in a look into her open mouthE (here<s a horren#ous #is%overy here, that o$ the $lesh one never sees, the $oun#ation o$ things, the other si#e o$ the hea#, o$ the $a%e, the se%retory glan#s par e8cellence, the $lesh $rom Chi%h everything e5u#es, at the very heart o$ the mystery, the $lesh in as mu%h as it is su$$ering, is $ormless, in as mu%h as its $orm in itsel$ is something Chi%h provokes an5iety, Spe%tre o$ an5iety, i#enti$i%ation o$ an5iety, the $inal revelation o$ you are this7Aou are this, which is so far from you, this which is the ultimate formlessness, 7 Su##enly, this horror %hanges mira%ulously into /a sort o$ atara5ia/ #e$ine# )y -a%an pre%isely as /the %oming into operation o$ the sym)oli% $un%tion,/ 79 e5empli$ie# )y the pro#u%tion o$ the $ormula o$ trimethylamin' the su)je%t $loats $reely in sym)oli% )liss-- as soon as the #reamer 1 Freu#2 renoun%es its nar%issisti% perspe%tive, Ha%Dues-"lain ;iller Cas Duite right to su)title this %hapter o$ -a%an<s Seminar II simply /(he +maginary, the 9eal an# the Sym)oli%,/ >A (he trap to )e avoi#e# here is o$ %ourse to oppose this sym)oli% )liss to some /har# reality/E the $un#amental thesis o$ the -a%anian psy%hoanalysis is that Chat Ce %all /reality/ %onstitutes itsel$ against the )a%kgroun# o$ su%h a /)liss,/ i, e,, o$ su%h an e5%lusion o$ some traumati% 9eal, (his is pre%isely Chat -a%an has in min# Chen he says that $antasy is the ultimate support o$ realityE /reality/ sta)iliFes itsel$ Chen some $antasy-$rame o$ a /sym)oli% )liss/ %loses o$$ the vieC into the a)yss o$ the 9eal, Far $rom )eing a kin# o$ #reamlike %o)Ce) that prevents us $rom /seeing reality as it e$$e%tively is,/ $antasy %onstitutes Chat Ce %all -11 realityE the most %ommon )o#ily /reality/ is %onstitute# via a #etour through the %o)Ce) o$ $antasy +n other Cor#s, Ce pay a pri%e to gain a%%ess to /reality/E something-- the real o$ the trauma-- must )e /represse#,/

3hat strikes the eye here is the parallel )etCeen the #ream o$ +rma<s inje%tion an# another $amous Freu#ian #ream, that o$ the #ea# son Cho appears to his $ather an# a##resses him Cith the reproa%h, /Father, %an<t you see that +<m )urningK/ +n his interpretation o$ the #ream o$ +rma<s inje%tion, -a%an #raCs our attention to the appropriate remark )y :ri% :ri%son that a$ter the look into +rma<s throat, a$ter this en%ounter o$ the 9eal, Freu# shoul# have aCakene#-- as #i# the #reaming $ather, upon en%ountering the horri$ying apparition o$ his )urning son, .on$ronte# Cith the 9eal in all its un)eara)le horror, the #reamer aCakens, i,e,, es%apes into /reality,/ " ra#i%al %on%lusion emerges $rom this parallel )etCeen the tCo #reamsE Chat Ce %all /reality/ is %onstitute# e5a%tly upon the mo#el o$ the asinine /sym)oli% )liss/ that ena)les Freu# to %ontinue to sleep a$ter the horri$ying sight o$ +rma<s throat, (he #reaming $ather Cho aCakens into reality in or#er to avoi# the traumati% 9eal o$ his )urning son<s reproa%h pro%ee#s the same Cay as Freu#, Cho, a$ter the look into +rma<s throat, /%hanges the register,/ i,e,, es%apes into the $antasy Chi%h veils the 9eal,

The &y6/oli (eatitude

"t this point, one is tempte# to e5ten# the $ormal homology a step $urtherE #oes not this reversal o$ the horror into sym)oli% )liss pro%ure also the matri5 o$ the 0egelian /tria#/K " homologous shi$t, %hanging impasse into /pass,/ o%%urs at the very )eginning o$ the 0egelian system, namely in the passage o$ Geing into ?othing, 3hat #oes it mean, pre%isely, that ?othing is to )e %on%eive# as the /truth/ o$ GeingK Geing is $irst posite# as the su)je%t 1in the grammati%al sense2, an# one en#eavors to a%%or# it some pre#i%ate, to #etermine it in any Cay possi)le, =et every attempt $ailsE one %annot say anything #eterminate a)out Geing' one %annot attri)ute to it any pre#i%ate, an# thus ?othing Dua the truth o$ Geing $un%tions as a positivi4ation, a %substantiali4ation,% of this impasse, Su%h a positiviFation o$ an impossi)ility is at Cork in every 0egelian passage $rom one %ategory to another Chi%h $un%tions as the $irst %ategory<s /truth/E the 0egelian #evelopment is never simply a #es%ent toCar# a more pro$oun# an# %on%rete essen%e' the logi% o$ the notional passage is )y #e$inition that o$ a re$le%tive positiviFation o$ a $ailure, i,e,, o$ the impossi)ility o$ the passage itsel$, -et -119us take a moment ME all attempts to grasp its %on%eale# essen%e, to #etermine it more %on%retely, en# in $ailure, an# the su)seDuent moment only positiviFes this $ailure' in it, $ailure as su%h assumes positive e5isten%e, +n short, one $ails to #etermine the truth o$ M, an# this $ailure is the truth o$ M, (herein lies the a%%ent o$ 0egel<s interpretation o$ the ine5isten%e o$ movement in Xeno<s philosophyE Xeno strives to prove the e5isten%e o$ sel$i#enti%al, immova)le Geing )eyon# the $alse appearan%e o$ ;ovement' yet this Geing is in itsel$ empty, so the passage )eyon# the appearan%e o$ ;ovement $ails' one %an only #es%ri)e the sel$su)lation o$ ;ovement, i,e,, notional movement o$ sel$-suppression o$ ;ovement, Chi%h is Chy the 0era%liti% movement is the truth o$ the :leati% Geing, "s a rule, one overlooks hoC %losely the elementary -a%anian tria# needdemand7desire $olloCs the inner logi% o$ the 0egelian /negation o$ negation,/ First, Ce have a mythi%al, Duasi-natural starting point o$ an imme#iate need-- the point Chi%h is alCays-alrea#y presupposed, never given, /posite#,/ e5perien%e# /as su%h,/ (he su)je%t nee#s /natural,/ /real/ o)je%ts to satis$y his nee#sE i$ Ce are thirsty, Ce nee# Cater, et%, 0oCever, as soon as the nee# is arti%ulate# in the sym)oli% me#ium 1an# it alCaysalrea#y is arti%ulate# in it2, it starts to $un%tion as a demandE a %all to the 8ther, originally to the ;other Dua primor#ial $igure o$ the 8ther, (hat is to say, the 8ther is originally e5perien%e# as he or she Cho %an

satis$y our nee#, Cho %an give us the o)je%t o$ satis$a%tion, #eprive us o$ it, or hin#er our a%%ess to it, (his interme#iary role o$ the 8ther su)verts the entire e%onomy o$ our relationship toCar# the o)je%tE on the literal level, the #eman# aims at the o)je%t suppose# to satis$y our nee#' the #eman#<s true aim, hoCever, is the love o$ the other, Cho has the poCer to pro%ure the o)je%t, +$ the 8ther %omplies Cith our #eman# an# provi#es the o)je%t, this o)je%t #oes not simply satis$y our nee#, )ut at the same time testi$ies to the 8ther<s love $or us, 13hen, $or e5ample, a )a)y %ries $or milk, the true aim o$ his #eman# is that his mother shoul# #isplay her love $or him )y provi#ing milk, +$ the mother #oes %omply Cith the #eman#, )ut in a %ol#, in#i$$erent Cay, the )a)y Cill remain unsatis$ie#' i$, hoCever, she )ypasses the literal level o$ the #eman# an# simply hugs the )a)y, the most likely result is the %hil#<s %ompla%en%y,2 +t is in no Cay a%%i#ental that, to #enote this inversion, -a%an resorts to the 0egelian notion o$ ,ufhebung 1su)lation2E /(he #eman# su)lates 1aufhebt2 the parti%ularity o$ everything that %an )e grante# )y transmuting it into a proo$ o$ love,/ >1 Gy means o$ the trans$ormation o$ a nee# into a #eman#, i,e,, into a signi$ier a##resse# to -14Athe 8ther, the parti%ular, material o)je%t o$ the nee# is /su)late#/E it is annulle# in its imme#ia%y an# posite# as something /me#iate#,/ as a me#ium through Chi%h a #imension trans%en#ent to its imme#iate reality 1that o$ love2 $in#s its e5pression, (his reversal is stri%tly homologous to that #es%ri)e# )y 3ar8 apropos o$ the %ommo#ity-$ormE as soon as a pro#u%t o$ human la)or assumes the $orm o$ a %ommo#ity, its imme#iate parti%ularity 1its /use-value,/ the e$$e%tive, a%tual properties )y means o$ Chi%h it satis$ies %ertain human nee#s2 starts to $un%tion as the $orm o$ appearan%e o$ its /e5%hange-value,/ i,e,, o$ a nonmaterial intersu)je%tive relationship-- the same as Cith the passage $rom nee# to #eman#, Chere)y the parti%ular o)je%t o$ nee# starts to $un%tion as the $orm o$ appearan%e o$ the 8ther<s love, (his reversal is then the $irst moment, the moment o$ /negation,/ Chi%h ne%essarily %ulminates in a #ea#lo%k, in the unsolva)le antagonisti% relationship )etCeen nee# an# #eman#E every time the su)je%t gets the o)je%t he #eman#e#, he un#ergoes the e5perien%e o$ /(his is not that@/ "lthough the su)je%t /got Chat he aske# $or,/ the #eman# is not $ully satis$ie#, sin%e its true aim Cas the other<s love, not the o)je%t as su%h, in its imme#iate parti%ularity, (his vi%ious %ir%le o$ nee# an# #eman# $in#s its ultimate e5pression in the nursling<s anore5ia 1/pathologi%al/ re$usal o$ $oo#2E its /message/ is pre%isely that the true aim o$ his #eman# $or $oo# Cas not $oo# itsel$ )ut ;other<s love, (he only Cay open to him to point out this #i$$eren%e is )y refusing $oo#, i,e,, the o)je%t o$ #eman# in its parti%ular materiality, (his impasse Chere a #eman# $or the 8ther<s love %an only )e arti%ulate# through the #eman# $or an o)je%t o$ nee# Chi%h, hoCever, is never /that/ is resolve# )y means o$ the intro#u%tion o$ a third element Chi%h a##s itsel$ to nee# an# #eman#E desire, "%%or#ing to -a%an<s pre%ise #e$inition, /#esire is neither the appetite $or satis$a%tion, nor the #eman# $or love, )ut the #i$$eren%e that results $rom the su)tra%tion o$ the $irst $rom the se%on#,/ >4 Desire is Chat in #eman# is irre#u%i)le to nee#E i$ Ce su)tra%t nee# $rom #eman#, Ce get #esire, +n a $ormulation typi%al o$ the anti-0egelian attitu#e o$ his late tea%hing, -a%an speaks here o$ /a reversal that is not simply a negation o$ the negation/ >3 -- in other Cor#s, one that is still a kin# o$ /negation o$ the negation,/ although not a /simple/ one 1as i$, Cith 0egel himsel$, the /negation o$ the negation/ is ever /simple/@2, (his /reversal/ is a /negation o$ the negation/ inso$ar as it entails a return to the ob(ect annulle# )y the passage $rom nee# to #eman#E it pro#u%es a neC o)je%t Chi%h repla%es the lost-su)late# o)je%t o$ nee#-- ob(et petit a, the -141-

o)je%t-%ause o$ #sire, (his para#o5i%al o)je%t /gives )o#y/ to the #imension )e%ause o$ Chi%h #eman# %annot )e re#u%e# to nee#E it is as i$ the surplus o$ the #eman# over its 1literal2 o)je%t-- over Chat the #eman# imme#iately-literally #eman#s-- again em)o#ies itsel$ in an o)je%t, +b(et a is a kin# o$ /positiviFation,/ $illing out, o$ the voi# Ce en%ounter every time Ce are stru%k )y the e5perien%e o$ /(his is not that@/ +n it, the very ina#eDua%y, #e$i%ien%y, o$ every positive o)je%t assumes positive e5isten%e, i,e,, )e%omes an o)je%t, .ru%ial here is the e$$e%t o$ /appeasement/ that results $rom the %onversion o$ #eman# into #esireE the emergen%e o$ the o)je%t-%ause o$ #esire resolves the antagonisti% #ea#lo%k )etCeen nee# an# #eman#, (his resolving of the antagonistic deadlock by means of symbolic %appeasement% also gives us the elementary matri5 a%%or#ing to Chi%h the ill-$ame# tria# o$ /thesisantithesis-synthesis/ >6 $un%tionsE its imaginary starting point is the %omplementary relationship o$ the oppose# poles' thereupon $olloCs the out)reak o$ the real o$ their antagonism, >7 (he illusion o$ their mutual %ompletion evaporates, ea%h pole passes imme#iately into its opposite' this e5treme tension is $inally resolve# )y means o$ symboli4ation Chen the relationship o$ the opposites is posite# as #i$$erential, i,e,, Chen the tCo poles are again unite#, )ut this time against the )a%kgroun# o$ their %ommon la%k, (he notion that /thesis/ %ontains /antithesis/ someChere #eep in its interior an# that, %onseDuently, one has somehoC to /e5tra%t/ the latter $rom its /impli%it/ state Cithin /thesis/ is Cholly erroneousE the /antithesis/ is on the %ontrary Chat the /thesis/ lacks in or#er to /%on%retiFe/ itsel$, i,e,, to a%tualiFe its notional %ontent, +n other Cor#s, the /thesis/ is in itsel$ abstractE it presupposes its /me#iation/ )y the /antithesis/' it %an attain its ontologi%al %onsisten%y only )y means o$ its opposition to the /antithesis,/ (his, hoCever, in no Cay implies that /synthesis/ #enotes a mutual %ompletion, a %omplementary relationship )etCeen the tCo oppose# poles, that is to say, the %onjun%tion o$ the type /ithout =/ 1there is no man Cithout Coman, no love Cithout hate, no harmony Cithout %haos,,,2, 3hat 0egel %alls /the unity o$ the opposites/ su)verts pre%isely the $alse appearan%e o$ su%h a %omplementary relationshipE the position o$ an e5treme is not simply the negation o$ its other, 0egel<s point is rather that the first e8treme, in its very abstractionfrom the other, is this other itself, "n e5treme /passes over/ into its other at the very moment Chen it ra#i%ally opposes itsel$ to this other' the /unity/ o$ Geing an# ?othing, $or e5ample, #oes not %onsist in the $a%t that they presuppose ea%h other, that -144there is no Geing Cithout ?othing an# vi%e versaE Geing reveals itsel$ as ?othing at the very moment Chen Ce en#eavor to grasp it in its pureness, as ra#i%ally oppose# to ?othing, 8r, to re$er to a more /%on%rete/ e5ample $rom the #omain o$ politi%sE the /unity/ o$ universal an# parti%ular 3ill #oes not %onsist in their %o#epen#en%e, )ut in the #iale%ti%al reversal o$ the universal 3ill into its oppositeE inso$ar as the universal 3ill is oppose# to the multitu#e o$ parti%ular 3ills, it turns into the utmost parti%ular 3in o$ those Cho preten# to em)o#y it 1sin%e it e8cludes the Cealth o$ parti%ular 3ills2, +n this Cay, Ce are %aught in an /imme#iate e5%hange/ )etCeen the e5tremes, )etCeen the opposite poles 1pure love turns into the supreme $orm o$ hate, pure Ioo# into supreme :vil, ra#i%al anar%hy %oin%i#es Cith the utmost terror, et%,2' )y means o$ this imme#iate passage o$ an e5treme into its opposite, Ce surpass the level o$ e8ternal negativityE ea%h o$ the e5tremes is not only the negation o$ the other )ut a negation which refers to itself, its oCn negation, (he impasse o$ this /imme#iate e5%hange/ )etCeen thesis an# antithesis is resolve# )y the a#vent o$ synthesis,

3hat #e$ines the imaginary or#er is the appearan%e o$ a %omplementary relationship )etCeen thesis an# antithesis, the illusion that they $orm a harmonious 3hole, $illing out ea%h other<s la%kE Chat the thesis la%ks is provi#e# )y the antithesis an# vi%e versa 1the i#ea that ;an an# 3oman $orm a harmonious 3hole, $or e5ample2, (his $alse appearan%e o$ a mutual %ompletion is shattere# )y the imme#iate passage o$ an e5treme into its oppositeE hoC %an an e5treme $ill out the la%k o$ its other, Chen it is itsel$, in its very opposition to its other, this otherK +t is only the synthesis Chi%h %onveys /appeasement/E in it, the imaginary opposition is symboli4ed, i,e,, trans$orme# into a sym)oli% #ya#, (he $loC o$ imme#iate e5%hange )etCeen the tCo e5tremes is suspen#e#' they are again /posite#/ as #istin%t, )ut this time as /su)late#,/ /internaliFe#/-- in other Cor#s, as elements o$ a signi$ying netCorkE i$ an e5treme #oes not ren#er to its other Chat this other la%ks, Chat %an it return to it i$ not the lack itselfK 3hat /hol#s together/ the tCo e5tremes is there$ore not the mutual $illing out o$ their respe%tive la%ks but the very lack they have in commonE the opposites o$ a signi$ying #ya# /are one/ against the )a%kgroun# o$ some %ommon la%k that they return to ea%h other, (herein %onsists also the #e$inition o$ a sym)oli% e5%hangeE in it, the pla%e o$ the /o)je%t o$ e5%hange/ is o%%upie# )y the la%k itsel$, i,e,, any /positive/ o)je%t Chi%h %ir%ulates among the terms is nothing )ut the em)o#iment o$ a la%k, 3hat is thus /internaliFe#/ )y the a#vent o$ sym)oliFation is ultimately -143la%k itsel$, (his is Chy /synthesis/ #oes not a$$irm the i#entity o$ the e5tremes, their %ommon groun#, the spa%e o$ their opposition, )ut on the %ontrary their difference as suchE Chat /links up/ the elements o$ a signi$ying netCork is their very #i$$eren%e, 3ithin a #i$$erential or#er, the i#entity o$ ea%h o$ the elements %onsists in the )un#le o$ #i$$erential $eatures Chi%h #is%ern it $rom all other elements, (he /synthesis/ thus #elivers the #i$$eren%e $rom the /%ompulsion to i#enti$y/E the %ontra#i%tion is resolve# Chen Ce a%knoCle#ge the /prima%y o$ the #i$$eren%e,/ i,e,, Chen Ce %on%eive i#entity as an e$$e%t o$ the tissue o$ #i$$eren%es, +n other Cor#s, the imme#iate passage o$ an e5treme into its opposite, this pure, utmost $orm o$ %ontra#i%tion, is pre%isely an in#e5 o$ our su)mission to the /%ompulsion to i#enti$y/E /.ontra#i%tion is noni#entity un#er the aspe%t o$ i#entity' the #iale%ti%al prima%y o$ the prin%iple o$ %ontra#i%tion makes the thought o$ unity the measure o$ heterogeneity,/ >> +n this pre%ise sense the synthesis /su)lates/ %ontra#i%tionE not )y esta)lishing a neC unity en%ompassing )oth poles o$ a %ontra#i%tion, )ut )y retra%ting the very $rame o$ i#entity an# a$$irming the #i$$eren%e as %onstitutive o$ i#entity, (he i#ea that the %on%lu#ing moment o$ a #iale%ti%al pro%ess 1/synthesis/2 %onsists o$ the a#vent o$ an i#entity Chi%h en%ompasses the #i$$eren%e, re#u%ing it to its passing moment, is thus totally mislea#ingE it is only with %synthesis% that the difference is acknowledged as such, (he /rational kernel/ o$ the 0egelian tria# %onsists there$ore in the sym)oliFation o$ the imaginary oppositionsE the /aggravation/ o$ the imaginary opposition into the antagonisti% relation Chere the tCo poles pass imme#iately one into another' the resolution o$ this tension via internaliFation o$ the la%k, (he passage o$ /antithesis/ into /synthesis/ is the passage o$ the e5ternal negativity 1o$ the poCer Chi%h strives to negate the o)je%t $rom outsi#e, in an imme#iate Cay, i,e,, to #estroy it in its physi%al reality2 into the /a)solute/ 1sel$-re$erring2 negativity Chi%h /posits/ the o)je%t aneC, )ut Dua sym)oliFe#-- that is to say, against the )a%kgroun# o$ a %ertain loss, o$ an in%orporate#, internaliFe# negativity, (his inversion o$ e5ternal into /a)solute/ negativity means that the o)je%t nee# not anymore )e negate#, #estroye#, annulle#, sin%e it is alrea#y its very /positive/ presen%e Chi%h $un%tions as the

$orm in Chi%h negativity assumes e5isten%eE the /sym)oliFe#/ o)je%t is an o)je%t the very presen%e o$ Chi%h /gives )o#y/ to an a)sen%e' it is the /a)sen%e em)o#ie#,/ -146-

> Hegel?s 8%ogi of Essen e8 as a Theory of Ideology

The ,rin i<le of the Insuffi ient Ground
/-ove lets us vieC imper$e%tions as tolera)le, i$ not a#ora)le, But it2s a choice, 3e %an )ristle at Duirks, or Ce %an %herish them, " $rien# Cho marrie# a hot-shot laCyer remem)ers, <8n the $irst #ate, + learne# that he %oul# ri#e out rough hours an# sti$$ %lient #eman#s, 8n the se%on#, + learne# that Chat he %oul#n<t ri#e Cas a )i%y%le, That2s Chen + #e%i#e# to give him a %han%e,< / (he lesson o$ the so-%alle# /en#earing $oi)les/ re$erre# to in this Duote $rom 0eader2s *igest is that a %hoi%e is an a%t Chi%h retroactively grounds its own reasons, GetCeen the %ausal %hain o$ reasons provi#e# )y knoCle#ge 1S 4 , in -a%anian mathems2 an# the a%t o$ %hoi%e, the #e%ision Chi%h, )y Cay o$ its un%on#itional %hara%ter, %on%lu#es the %hain 1S 1 2, there is alCays a gap, a leap Chi%h %annot )e a%%ounte# $or )y the pre%e#ing %hain, 1 -et us re%all Chat is perhaps the most su)lime moment in melo#ramasE a plotter or a Cell-meaning $rien# tries to %onvin%e the hero to leave his se5ual partner )y Cay o$ enumerating the latter<s Ceak points' yet, unknoCingly, he there)y provi#es reasons $or %ontinue# loyalty, i,e,, his very %ounterarguments $un%tion as arguments $or 1/for that very reason she nee#s me even more/2, 4 (his gap )etCeen reasons an# their e$$e%t is the very $oun#ation o$ Chat Ce %all trans$eren%e, the trans$erential relationship, epitomiFe# )y love, :ven our sense o$ %ommon #e%en%y $in#s it repulsive to enumerate the reasons Ce love some)o#y, (he moment + %an say /+ love this person $or the $olloCing reasons,,,,/ it is %lear )eyon# any #ou)t that -147this is not love proper, 3 +n the %ase o$ true love, apropos o$ some $eature Chi%h is in itsel$ negative, i,e,, Chi%h o$$ers itsel$ as reason against love, Ce say /For this very reason + love this person even more@/Le trait unaire, the unary $eature Chi%h triggers love, is alCays an inde8 of an imperfection, (his %ir%le Cithin Chi%h Ce are #etermine# )y reasons, )ut only )y those Chi%h, retroa%tively, Ce re%ogniFe as su%h, is Chat 0egel has in min# Chen he talks a)out the /positing o$ presuppositions,/ (he same retroa%tive logi% is at Cork in *ant<s philosophy, in the guise o$ Chat, in the "ngloSa5on literature on *ant, is usually re$erre# to as the /+n%orporation (hesis/E 6 there is alCays an element o$ autonomous /spontaneity/ Chi%h pertains to the su)je%t, making him irre#u%i)le to a link in the %ausal %hain, (rue, one %an %on%eive o$ the su)je%t as su)mitte# to the %hain o$ %auses Chi%h #etermine his %on#u%t in a%%or#an%e Cith his /pathologi%al/ interests' therein %onsists the Cager o$ utilitarianism 1sin%e the su)je%t<s %on#u%t is Cholly #etermine# )y seeking the ma5imum o$ pleasure an# the minimum o$ pain, it Coul# )e possi)le to govern the su)je%t, to pre#i%t his steps, )y %ontrolling the e5ternal %on#itions Chi%h in$luen%e his #e%isions2, 3hat elu#es utilitarianism is pre%isely the element o$ /spontaneity/ in the sense o$ Ierman +#ealism, the very opposite

o$ the every#ay meaning o$ /spontaneity/ 1surren#ering onesel$ to the imme#ia%y o$ emotional impulses, et%,2, "%%or#ing to Ierman +#ealism, Chen Ce a%t /spontaneously/ in the every#ay meaning o$ the Cor#, Ce are not $ree $rom )ut prisoners o$ our imme#iate nature, #etermine# )y the %ausal link Chi%h %hains us to the e5ternal Corl#, (rue spontaneity, on the %ontrary, is %hara%teriFe# )y the moment o$ re$le5ivityE reasons ultimately %ount only inso$ar as + /in%orporate/ them, /a%%ept them as mine/' in other Cor#s, the #etermination o$ the su)je%t )y the other is alCays the su)je%t<s sel$-#etermination, " #e%ision is thus simultaneously #epen#ent on an# in#epen#ent o$ its %on#itionsE it /in#epen#ently/ posits its oCn #epen#en%e, +n this pre%ise sense, the su)je%t in Ierman +#ealism is alCays the su)je%t o$ sel$-%ons%iousnessE any imme#iate re$eren%e to my nature 1/3hat %an + #o, + Cas ma#e like this@/2 is $alse' my relationship to the impulses in me is alCays a me#iate# one, i,e,, my impulses #etermine me only inso$ar as + re%ogniFe them, Chi%h is Chy + am $ully responsi)le $or them, 7 "nother Cay to e5empli$y this logi% o$ /positing the presuppositions/ is the spontaneous i#eologi%al narrativiFation o$ our e5perien%e an# a%tivityE Chatever Ce #o, Ce alCays situate it in a larger sym)oli% %onte5t Chi%h is %harge# Cith %on$erring meaning upon our a%ts, " Ser)ian $ighting the -14>;uslim "l)anians an# Gosnians in to#ay<s e5- =ugoslavia %on%eives o$ his $ight as the last a%t in the %enturies-ol# #e$ense o$ .hristian :urope against (urkish penetration' the Golsheviks %on%eive# o$ the 8%to)er 9evolution as the %ontinuation an# su%%ess$ul %on%lusion o$ all previous ra#i%al popular uprisings, $rom Sparta%us in an%ient 9ome to Ha%o)ins in the Fren%h 9evolution 1this narrativiFation is ta%itly assume# even )y some %riti%s o$ Golshevism Cho, $or e5ample, speak o$ the /Stalinist (hermi#or/2' the *hmer 9ouge in *ampu%hea or the Sen#ero -uminoso in Peru %on%eive o$ their movement as a return to the ol# glory o$ an an%ient empire 1+n%a<s empire in Peru, the ol# *hmer king#om in .am)o#ia2' et%, (he 0egelian point to )e ma#e is that su%h narratives are alCays retroa%tive re%onstru%tions $or Chi%h Ce are in a Cay responsi)le' they are never simple given $a%tsE Ce %an never re$er to them as a $oun# %on#ition, %onte5t, or presupposition o$ our a%tivity, Pre%isely as presuppositions, su%h narratives are alCays-alrea#y /posite#/ )y us, (ra#ition is tra#ition inso$ar as Ce %onstitute it as su%h, 3hat Ce must )ear in min# here is the ultimate contingency o$ this a%t o$ /positing the presuppositions,/ +n e5-=ugoslavia, the .ommunist %ensorship Cas neither too harsh nor too permissive, For e5ample, $ilms Cith #ire%t religious %ontent Cere alloCe#, )ut not i$ their su)je%t Cas .hristianE Ce saC #e ;ille (en .omman#ments, )ut there Cere pro)lems Cith 3yler<s Ben #ur, (he %ensor resolve# his #ilemma 1hoC to o)literate .hristian re$eren%es in this /tale o$ .hrist/ an# yet preserve the story<s narrative %onsisten%yK2 in a very imaginative CayE he %ut out o$ the $irst tCo-thir#s the $eC s%attere# o)liDue re$eren%es to .hrist, Chile simply %utting o$$ the entire last thir# Chere .hrist plays the %entral role, (he $ilm thus en#s imme#iately a$ter the $amous horse-ra%e s%ene in Chi%h Gen 0ur Cins over ;assala, his evil 9oman ar%henemyE ;assala, all in )loo#, Coun#e# to #eath, spoils Gen 0ur<s triumph )y letting him knoC that his sister an# mother, allege#ly #ea#, are still alive, yet %on$ine# to a %olony o$ lepers, %ripple# )eyon# re%ognition, Gen 0ur returns to the ra%e groun#, noC silent an# empty, an# %on$ronts the Corthlessness o$ his triumph-- the en# o$ the $ilm, (he %ensor<s a%hievement is here truly )reathtakingE although un#ou)te#ly he ha# not the slightest notion o$ the tragi% e5istentialist vision, he ma#e out o$ a rather insipi# .hristian propagan#a pie%e

an e5istential #rama a)out the ultimate nullity o$ our a%%omplishments, a)out hoC in the hour o$ our greatest triumph Ce are utterly alone, "n# hoC #i# he pull it o$$K 0e a##e# nothingE he )rought a)out the e$$e%t o$ /#epth,/ o$ -14Ba pro$oun# e5istential vision, )y simply mutilating the Cork, )y #epriving it o$ its %ru%ial parts, (his is the Cay meaning emerges $rom nonsense, (hese para#o5es ena)le us to spe%i$y the nature o$ /sel$-%ons%iousness/ in Ierman +#ealism, +n his %riti%al remarks on 0egel, -a%an as a rule eDuates sel$-%ons%iousness Cith sel$transparen%y, #ismissing it as the most )latant %ase o$ a philosophi%al illusion )ent on #enying the su)je%t<s %onstitutive #e%entere#ness, 0oCever, /sel$-%ons%iousness/ in Ierman +#ealism has nothing Chatsoever to #o Cith any kin# o$ transparent sel$-i#entity o$ the su)je%t' it is rather another name $or Chat -a%an himsel$ has in min# Chen he points out hoC every #esire is )y #e$inition the /#esire o$ a #esire/E the su)je%t never simply $in#s in himsel$ a multitu#e o$ #esires, he alCays entertains toCar# them a re$le%te# relationship' i,e,, )y Cay o$ a%tual #esiring, the su)je%t impli%itly ansCers the Duestion, /Chi%h o$ your #esires #o you #esire 1have you %hosen2,/ > "s Ce have alrea#y seen apropos o$ *ant, sel$-%ons%iousness is positively $oun#e# upon the nontransparen%y o$ the su)je%t to itsel$E the *antian trans%en#ental apper%eption 1i,e,, the sel$-%ons%iousness o$ pure +2 is possi)le only inso$ar as + am unattaina)le to mysel$ in my noumenal #imension, Dua /(hing Chi%h thinks,/ B (here is, o$ %ourse, a point at Chi%h this %ir%ular /positing o$ the presuppositions/ rea%hes a #ea#lo%k' the key to this #ea#lo%k is provi#e# )y the -a%anian logi% o$ non-all 1pas7tout2, "lthough /nothing is presuppose# Chi%h Cas not previously posite#/ 1i,e,, although, $or every particular presupposition, it %an )e #emonstrate# that it is /posite#,/ not /natural/ )ut naturaliFe#2, it Coul# )e Crong to #raC the seemingly o)vious universal %on%lusion that /everything presuppose# is posite#,/ (he presuppose# M Chi%h is /nothing in parti%ular,/ totally su)stan%eless yet nevertheless resistant to retroa%tive /positing,/ is Chat -a%an %alls the 0eal, the unattaina)le, elusive (e ne sais 6uoi, +n ender Trouble, Hu#ith Gutler #emonstrates hoC the #i$$eren%e )etCeen se5 an# gen#er-- the #i$$eren%e )etCeen a )iologi%al $a%t an# a %ultural-sym)oli% %onstru%tion Chi%h, a #e%a#e ago, Cas Ci#ely use# )y $eminists in or#er to shoC that /anatomy is not #estiny,/ i,e,, that /Coman/ as a %ultural pro#u%t is not #etermine# )y her )iologi%al status-- %an never )e unam)iguously $i5e#, presuppose# as a positive $a%t, )ut is alCays-alrea#y /posite#/E hoC Ce #raC the line separating /%ulture/ $rom /nature/ is alCays #etermine# )y a spe%i$i% %ultural %onte5t, (his %ultural over#etermination o$ the #ivi#ing line )etCeen gen#er an# se5 shoul# not hoCever push us into a%%epting the Fou%aul#ian notion o$ se5 as the e$$e%t o$ /se5uality/ 1the heterogeneous te5ture o$ -14 #is%ursive pra%ti%es2' Chat gets lost there)y is pre%isely the #ea#lo%k o$ the 9eal, 9 0ere Ce see the thin, )ut %ru%ial, line that separates -a%an $rom /#e%onstru%tion/E simply )e%ause the opposition )etCeen nature an# %ulture is alCays-alrea#y %ulturally over#etermine#, i,e,, that no parti%ular element %an )e isolate# as /pure nature,/ #oes not mean that /everything is %ulture,/ /?ature/ Dua 9eal remains the un$athoma)le M Chi%h resists %ultural /gentri$i%ation,/ 8r, to put it another CayE the -a%anian 9eal is the gap Chi%h separates the Parti%ular $rom the Universal, the gap Chi%h prevents us $rom %ompleting the gesture o$

universaliFation, )lo%king our jump $rom the premise that every parti%ular element is P to the %on%lusion that all elements are P, .onseDuently, there is no logi% o$ Prohi)ition involve# in the notion o$ the 9eal Dua the impossi)le-nonsym)oliFa)leE in -a%an, the 9eal is not surreptitiously %onse%rate#, envisione# as the #omain o$ the inviola)le, 3hen -a%an #e$ines the /ro%k o$ %astration/ as real, this in no Cay implies that %astration is e5%epte# $rom the #is%ursive $iel# as a kin# o$ untou%ha)le sa%ri$i%e, :very #emar%ation )etCeen the Sym)oli% an# the 9eal, every e5%lusion o$ the 9eal Dua the prohi)ite#-inviola)le, is a sym)oli% a%t par e5%ellen%e' su%h an inversion o$ impossi)ility into prohi)ition-e5%lusion occults the inherent deadlock of the 0eal, +n other Cor#s, -a%an<s strategy is to prevent any ta)ooing o$ the 9ealE one %an /tou%h the real/ only )y applying onesel$ to its sym)oliFation, up to the very $ailure o$ this en#eavor, +n *ant<s &riti6ue of $ure 0eason, the only proo$s that there are (hings )eyon# phenomena are paralogisms, in%onsisten%ies in Chi%h reason gets entangle# the moment it e5ten#s the appli%ation o$ %ategories )eyon# the limits o$ e5perien%e' in e5a%tly the same Cay, in -a%an%le r5el%-- the real o$ (ouissance-- %ne saurait s2inscrire 6ue d2une impasse de la formalisation%-%an )e #is%erne# only )y Cay o$ the #ea#lo%ks o$ its $ormaliFation, 1A +n short, the status of the 0eal is thoroughly non7substantialE it is a pro#u%t o$ $aile# attempts to integrate it into the Sym)oli%, (he impasse o$ /presupposing/ 1i,e,, o$ enumerating the presuppositions-- the %hain o$ e5ternal %ausesR%on#itions-- o$ some posite# entity2 is the reverse o$ these /trou)les Cith the non-all,/ "n entity %an easily )e re#u%e# to the totality o$ its presuppositions, 3hat is missing $rom the series o$ presuppositions, hoCever, is simply the per$ormative a%t o$ $ormal %onversion Chi%h retroa%tively posits these presuppositions, making them into Chat they are, into the presuppositions o$,,,1su%h as the a)ovementione# a%t Chi%h retroa%tively /posits/ its reasons2, (his /#otting o$ -149the i/ is the tautologi%al gesture o$ the ;aster-Signi$ier Chi%h %onstitutes the entity in Duestion as 8ne, 0ere Ce see the asymmetry )etCeen positing an# presupposingE the positing of presuppositions chances upon its limit in the %feminine% non7all, and what eludes it is the 0eal- whereas the enumeration of the presuppositions of the posited content is made into a closed series by means of the %masculine% performative, 0egel en#eavors to resolve this impasse o$ positing the presuppositions 1/positing re$le%tion/2 an# o$ the presuppositions o$ every positing a%tivity 1/e5ternal re$le%tion/2 )y Cay o$ #etermining re$le%tion' this logi% o$ the three mo#alities o$ re$le%tion 1positing, e5ternal, an# #etermining re$le%tion2 11 ren#ers the matri5 o$ the entire logi% o$ essen%e, i,e,, o$ the tria#s Chi%h $olloC itE i#entity, #i$$eren%e, %ontra#i%tion' essen%eR$orm, $ormR matter, %ontentR$orm' $ormal, real, %omplete groun#' et%, 14 (he aim o$ the ensuing )rie$ e5amination o$ 0egel<s logi% o$ essen%e is thus #ou)leE to arti%ulate the su%%essive more an# more %on%rete $orms o$ /#etermining re$le%tion/-- the 0egelian %ounterpart o$ Chat *ant %alls /trans%en#ental synthesis/-- an#, simultaneously, to #is%ern in them the same pattern o$ an elementary i#eologi%al operation,

Identity, $ifferen e, Contradi tion

+n #ealing Cith the theme / 0egel an# i#entity,/ one shoul# never $orget that i#entity emerges only in the logi% o$ essen%e, as a /#etermination-o$re$le%tion/E Chat 0egel %alls /i#entity/ is not a simple sel$-eDuality o$ any notional #etermination 1re# is re#, Cinter is Cinter,,,2, )ut the i#entity o$ an essen%e Chi%h /stays the same/ )eyon# the ever-%hanging $loC o$ appearan%es, 0oC are Ce to #etermine this i#entityK +$ Ce try to seiFe the thing as it is /in itsel$,/ irrespe%tive o$ its relationship to other things, its spe%i$i% i#entity elu#es us, Ce %annot say anything a)out it, the thing %oin%i#es Cith all other things, +n short, identity hinges upon what makes a difference, 3e pass $rom i#entity to #i$$eren%e the moment Ce grasp that the /i#entity/ o$ an entity %onsists o$ the %luster o$ its #i$$erential $eatures, (he so%ial i#entity o$ a person M, $or e5ample, is %ompose# o$ the %luster o$ its so%ial man#ates Chi%h are all )y #e$inition #i$$erentialE a person is /$ather/ only in relation to /mother/ an# /son/' in another relation, he is himsel$ /son,/ et%, 0ere is the %ru%ial passage $rom 0egel Logic in Chi%h he )rings a)out the passage $rom #i$$eren%e to %ontra#i%tion apropos o$ the sym)oli% #etermination /$ather/E -13AFather is the other o$ son, an# son the other o$ $ather, an# ea%h only is as this other o$ the other' an# at the same time, the one #etermination only is, in relation to the other,,,, (he $ather also has an e5isten%e o$ his oCn apart $rom the son-relationship' )ut then he is not $ather )ut simply man,,,, 8pposites, there$ore, %ontain %ontra#i%tion in so $ar as they are, in the same respe%t, negatively relate# to one another or sublate each other an# are indifferent to one another, 13 (he inattentive rea#er may easily miss the key a%%ent o$ this passage, the $eature Chi%h )elies the stan#ar# notion o$ the /0egelian %ontra#i%tion/E /%ontra#i%tion/ #oes not take pla%e )etCeen /$ather/ an# /son/ 1here, Ce have a %ase o$ simple opposition )etCeen tCo %o#epen#ent terms2' it also #oes not turn on the $a%t that in one relation 1to my son2 + am /$ather/ an# in another 1to my oCn $ather2 + am mysel$ /son,/ i,e,, + am /simultaneously $ather an# son,/ +$ this Cere the 0egelian /%ontra#i%tion,/ 0egel Coul# )e e$$e%tively guilty o$ logi%al %on$usion, sin%e it is %lear that + am not )oth in the same respe%t, (he last phrase in the Duote# passage $rom 0egel Logic lo%ates the %ontra#i%tion %learly inside %father% himself? /%ontra#i%tion/ #esignates the antagonisti% relationship )etCeen Chat + am /$or the others/-my sym)oli% #etermination-- an# Chat + am /in mysel$,/ a)stra%te#ly $rom my relations to others, +t is the %ontra#i%tion )etCeen the voi# o$ the su)je%t<s pure /)eing-$or-himsel$/ an# the signi$ying $eature Chi%h represents him $or the others, in -a%anian termsE )etCeen L an# S 1 , ;ore pre%isely, /%ontra#i%tion/ means that it is my very /alienation/ in the sym)oli% man#ate, in S 1 , Chi%h retroa%tively makes L-- the voi# Chi%h elu#es the hol# o$ the man#ate-- out o$ my )rute realityE + am not only /$ather,/ not only this parti%ular #etermination, yet )eyon# these sym)oli% man#ates + am nothing )ut the voi# Chi%h elu#es them 1an#, as su%h, their oCn retroa%tive pro#u%t2, 16 +t is the very sym)oli% representation in the #i$$erential netCork Chi%h eva%uates my /pathologi%al/ %ontent, i,e,, Chi%h makes out o$ S, the su)stantial $ullness o$ the /pathologi%al/ su)je%t, the )arre# L, the voi# o$ pure sel$relating, 3hat + am /$or the others/ is %on#ense# in the signi$ier Chi%h represents me $or other signi$iers 1$or the /son/ + am /$ather,/ et%,2, 8utsi#e o$ my relations to the others + am nothing, + am only the %luster o$ these relations 1/the human essen%e is the entirety o$ so%ial

relations,/ as ;ar5 Coul# have sai#2, )ut this very /nothing/ is the nothing o$ pure sel$relatingE + am only Chat + am $or the others, yet simultaneously + am the one Cho sel$-131#etermines mysel$, i,e,, Cho #etermines Chi%h netCork o$ relations to others Cill #etermine me, +n other Cor#s, + am #etermine# )y the netCork o$ 1sym)oli%2 relations pre%isely an# only inso$ar as +, Dua voi# o$ sel$relating, sel$-#etermine mysel$ this Cay, 3e en%ounter here again spontaneity Dua sel$-#eterminationE in my very relating to the other + relate mysel$ to mysel$, sin%e + #etermine the %on%rete $orm o$ my relating to the other, 8r, to put it in the terms o$ -a%an<s s%heme o$ #is%ourseE 17

3e must )e %are$ul, there$ore, not to miss the logi% o$ this passing o$ opposition into %ontra#i%tionE it has nothing to #o Cith %oin%i#en%e or %o#epen#en%e o$ the opposites, Cith one pole passing into its opposite, et%, -et us take the %ase o$ man an# ComanE one %an en#lessly vary the moti$ o$ their %o#epen#en%e 1ea%h is only as the other o$ the other' its )eing is me#iate# )y the )eing o$ its opposite, et%,2, )ut as long as Ce %ontinue to set this opposition against the )a%kgroun# o$ some neutral universality 1the human genus Cith its tCo spe%ies, male an# $emale2, Ce are $ar $rom /%ontra#i%tion,/ +n /male %hauvinist/ terms, Ce arrive at %ontra#i%tion only Chen /man/ appears as the imme#iate em)o#iment o$ the universalhuman #imension, an# Coman as /trun%ate# man/' this Cay, the relationship o$ the tCo poles %eases to )e symmetri%al, sin%e man stan#s $or the genus itsel$, Chereas Coman stan#s $or spe%i$i% #i$$eren%e as su%h, 18r, to put it in the language o$ stru%tural linguisti%sE Ce enter /%ontra#i%tion/ proper Chen one o$ the terms o$ the opposition starts to $un%tion as /marke#,/ an# the other as /non-marke#,/2 .onseDuently, Ce pass $rom opposition to %ontra#i%tion through the logi% o$ Chat 0egel %alle# /oppositional #etermination/E Chen the universal, %ommon groun# o$ the tCo opposites /en%ounters itsel$/ in its oppositional #etermination, i,e,, in one o$ the terms o$ the opposition, -et us re%all ;ar5 &apital, in Chi%h the supreme %ase o$ /oppositional #etermination/ is %apital itsel$E the multitu#e o$ %apitals 1investe# in parti%ular %ompanies, i,e,, pro#u%tive units2 ne%essarily %ontains /$inan%e %apital,/ the imme#iate em)o#iment o$ %apital in general as oppose# to parti%ular %apitals, /.ontra#i%tion/ #esignates there$ore the relationship )etCeen %apital in general an# the spe%ies o$ %apital Chi%h em)o#ies %apital in general 1$inan%e %apital2, "n even more outright e5ample appears in the Introduction to rundrisseE pro#u%tion as the stru%turing prin%iple o$ the -134Chole o$ pro#u%tion, #istri)ution, e5%hange, an# %onsumption /en%ounters itsel$/ in its oppositional #etermination' the /%ontra#i%tion/ is here )etCeen pro#u%tion as the en%ompassing totality o$ the $our moments an# pro#u%tion as one o$ these $our moments, 1> +n this pre%ise sense, %ontra#i%tion is also the %ontra#i%tion )etCeen the position o$ enun%iation an# the enun%iate# %ontentE it o%%urs Chen the enun%iator himsel$, )y Cay o$ the illo%utory $or%e o$ his spee%h, a%%omplishes Chat, at the level o$ lo%ution, is the o)je%t o$ his #enun%iation, " te5t)ook %ase $rom politi%al li$eE Chen a politi%al agent %riti%iFes rival parties

$or %onsi#ering only their narroC party interests, he there)y o$$ers his oCn party as a neutral $or%e Corking $or the )ene$it o$ the Chole nation, .onseDuently, he #oes Chat he %harges the other Cith, i,e,, he promotes in the strongest Cay possi)le the interest o$ his oCn partyE the #ivi#ing line that stru%tures his spee%h runs )etCeen his oCn party an# all the rest, 3hat is at Cork here is again the logi% o$ /oppositional #etermination/E the allege# universality )eyon# petty party interests en%ounters itsel$ in a parti%ular party-- that is /%ontra#i%tion,/ "t the en# o$ the %re#its o$ (he Ireat Di%tator, .haplin revises the stan#ar# #is%laimer %on%erning the relationship )etCeen #iegeti% reality an# /true/ reality 1/any resem)lan%e is purely %oin%i#ental/2 to rea#E /"ny resem)lan%e )etCeen the #i%tator 0ynkel an# the HeCish )ar)er is purely %oin%i#ental,/ (he Ireat Di%tator is ultimately a $ilm a)out this %oin%i#ental identityE 0ynkel-0itler, this all-pervasive Uoi%e, is the /oppositional #etermination,/ the sha#oCy #ou)le, o$ the poor HeCish )ar)er, Su$$i%e it to re%all the s%ene in the ghetto in Chi%h lou#speakers transmit the $ero%ious anti-Semiti% spee%h )y 0ynkel-- the )ar)er runs #oCn the street, as i$ perse%ute# )y the multiplie# e%hoes o$ his oCn voi%e, as i$ running aCay $rom his oCn sha#oC, (herein lies a #eeper insight than might at $irst )e apparentE the HeCish )ar)er in (he Ireat Di%tator is not #epi%te# primarily as a HeC, )ut rather as the epitome o$ /a little man Cho Cants to live his mo#est, pea%e$ul every#ay li$e outsi#e o$ politi%al turmoils,/ an# 1as has )een #emonstrate# )y numerous analyses2 naFism is pre%isely the enrage# reverse o$ this /little man,/ Chi%h erupts Chen his %ustomary Corl# is throCn o$$ the rails, +n the i#eologi%al universe o$ the $ilm, the same para#o5i%al eDuation is arti%ulate# in another impli%it i#entity o$ the oppositesE "ustria Q Iermany, (hat is to say, Chi%h %ountry in the $ilm plays the role o$ the vi%tim an# at the same time the i#ylli% %ounterpart o$ /(omania/IermanyK /"usterli%/-"ustria, the small Cine-groCing %oun-133try o$ happy inno%ent people living together like a large $amily, in shortE the lan# o$ /$as%ism Cith a human $a%e,/ 1B (he $a%t that the same musi% 1the Prelu#e to 3agner Lohengrin2 a%%ompanies )oth the )ar)er<s $inal spee%h an# 0ynkel<s $amous playing Cith the glo)e)alloon a%Duires there)y an une5pe%te# ominous #imensionE at the en#, the )ar)er<s Cor#s a)out the nee# $or love an# pea%e %orrespon# per$e%tly to Chat 0itler-0ynkel himsel$ Coul# say in his sentimental petit )ourgeois moo#,

-or6@Essen e, -or6@+atter, -or6@Content

"s Ce start losing groun# in an argument, our last re%ourse is usually to insist that /#espite Chat has )een sai#, things are essentially Chat Ce think them to )e,/ (his, pre%isely, is Chat 0egel has in min# Chen he speaks o$ the essen%e in its imme#ia%yE /essen%e/ #esignates here the imme#iate inCar#ness, the /essen%e o$ things,/ Chi%h persists irrespe%tive o$ the e5ternal $orm, .ases o$ su%h an attitu#e, )est e5empli$ie# )y the stupi#ity o$ the prover) /a leopar# %annot %hange his spots,/ a)oun# in politi%s, Su$$i%e it to re%all the usual right-Cing treatment o$ e5-.ommunists in the :astE irrespe%tive o$ Chat they a%tually #o, their #emo%rati% /$orm/ shoul# in no Cay #e%eive us, it is mere $orm' /essentially/ they remain the same ol# totalitarians, et%, 1 " re%ent e5ample o$ su%h a logi% o$ /inner essen%e,/ Chi%h sti%ks to its point notCithstan#ing the %hanges o$ the e5ternal $orm, Cas the ju#gment o$ the #istrust$ul on Ior)a%hev in 19 7E nothing Cill %hange, Ior)a%hev is even more #angerous than or#inary har#-line .ommunists, sin%e he provi#es the totalitarian system Cith a se#u%tive /open,/ /#emo%rati%/ $ront' his ultimate aim is to strengthen the system, not to %hange it ra#i%ally, " 0egelian point to )e ma#e here is that this statement is pro)a)ly trueE in all likelihoo#,

Ior)a%hev /really/ #i# Cant only to improve the e5isting system, 0oCever, notCithstan#ing his intentions, his a%ts set in motion a pro%ess Chi%h trans$orme# the system $rom top to )ottomE the /truth/ resi#e# in Chat not only Ior)a%hev<s #istrust$ul %riti%s )ut also Ior)a%hev himsel$ took to )e a mere e5ternal $orm, /:ssen%e,/ thus %on%eive#, remains an empty #etermination Chose a#eDua%y %an )e teste# only )y veri$ying the e5tent to Chi%h it is e5presse#, ren#ere# mani$est, in the e5ternal $orm, 3e thus o)tain the su)seDuent %ouple $ormRmatter in Chi%h the relationship is inverte#E $orm %eases to )e a passive e5pression-e$$e%t )ehin# Chi%h one has to look $or some hi##en /true essen%e,/ an# )e%omes instea# the agen%y Chi%h in#ivi#uates the -136otherCise passive-$ormless matter, %on$erring on it some parti%ular #etermination, +n other Cor#s, the moment Ce )e%ome aCare o$ hoC the entire #eterminate#ness o$ the essen%e resi#es in its $orm, then essen%e, %on%eive# a)stra%te#ly $rom its $orm, %hanges into a $ormless su)stratum o$ the $orm, in shortE into matter, "s 0egel put it %on%isely, the moment o$ #etermination an# the moment o$ su)sisten%e there)y $all apart, are posite# as #istin%tE Chere a thing is %on%erne#, /matter/ is the passive moment o$ su)sisten%e 1its su)stantial su)stratum-groun#2, Chereas /$orm/ is Chat provi#es $or its spe%i$i% #etermination, Chat makes this thing Chat it is, (he #iale%ti% Chi%h hampers this seemingly straight opposition is not limite# to the $a%t that Ce never en%ounter /pure/ matter #evoi# o$ any $orm 1the %lay out o$ Chi%h a pot is ma#e must alrea#y possess properties Chi%h make it appropriate $or some $orm an# not $or another-- $or a pot, not $or a nee#le, $or e5ample2, so that /pure/ $ormless matter passes into its opposite, into empty $orm-re%epta%le )ere$t o$ any %on%rete, positive, su)stantial #etermination' an# vi%e versa, o$ %ourse, Gut Chat 0egel has in min# here is something more ra#i%alE the inherent %ontra#i%tion o$ the notion o$ $orm Chi%h #esignates )oth the prin%iple o$ universaliFation an# the prin%iple o$ in#ivi#uation, Form is Chat makes out o$ some $ormless matter a parti%ular, #eterminate thing 1say, a %up out o$ %lay2' )ut it is at the same time the a)stra%t Universal %ommon to #i$$erent things 1paper %ups, glass %ups, %hina %ups, an# metal %ups are all /%ups/ on a%%ount o$ their %ommon form2, (he only Cay out o$ this #ea#lo%k is to %on%eive matter not as something passive-$ormless, )ut as something Chi%h alrea#y in itsel$ possesses an inherent stru%ture, i,e,, something Chi%h stan#s opposite $orm $urnishe# Cith its own content, 0oCever, in or#er to avoi# regression into the initial a)stra%t %ounter-position o$ inner essen%e an# e5ternally impose# $orm, one has to keep in min# that the couple content>form :or, more pointedly, content as such; is (ust another name for the tautological relationship by which form is related to itself, 3hat is /%ontent/ i$ not, pre%isely, formed matter) 8ne %an thus #e$ine /$orm/ as the Cay some %ontent is a%tualiFe#, realiFe#, in matter 1)y means o$ the latter<s a#eDuate formation2E /the same %ontent/-- the story o$ .aesar<s mur#er, $or e5ample-- %an )e tol# in #i$$erent $orms, $rom Plutar%h<s historiographi%al report through Shakespeare<s play to 0ollyCoo# movie, +n the alternative, one %an #e$ine $orm as the universality Chi%h unites the multitu#e o$ #iverse %ontents 1the $orm o$ the %lassi%al #ete%tive novel, $or e5ample, $un%tions as the skeleton o$ %o#i$ie# genre rules Chi%h set a %ommon seal on the Corks o$ authors as #i$$erent as -137-

"gatha .hristie, :, S, Iar#ner, et%,2, +n other Cor#s, inso$ar as matter stan#s $or the a)stra%t 8ther o$ the $orm, /%ontent/ is the Cay matter is me#iate# )y $orm, an# inversely, /$orm/ is the Cay %ontent $in#s its e5pression in matter, +n )oth %ases, the relationship %ontentR$orm, in %ontrast to the relationship matterR$orm, is tautologicalE /%ontent/ is $orm itsel$ in its oppositional #etermination, 3ith a vieC to the totality o$ this movement $rom essen%eR$orm to %ontentR$orm, it is easy to per%eive hoC its logi% announ%es in a %on#ense# Cay the tria# o$ notion, ju#gment, an# syllogism $rom the /su)je%tive logi%,/ the thir# part o$ 0egel LogicE the %ouple essen%eR$orm remains on the level o$ notion' that is, essen%e is the simple in-itsel$ o$ the notion, o$ the su)stantial #etermination o$ an entity, (he ne5t step literally )rings a)out the Ur7Teilung, ju#gment Dua /original #ivision,/ $alling apart, o$ the essen%e into its tCo %onstitutive moments Chi%h are there)y /posite#/ as su%h, e5pli%ate#, )ut in the mo#e o$ e5ternality, i,e,, as e5ternal, in#i$$erent to ea%h otherE the moment o$ su)sisten%e 1matter Dua su)stratum2 an# the moment o$ #etermination 1$orm2, " su)stratum a%Duires #etermination Chen a $orm is pre#i%ate# to it, (he thir# step, $inally, ren#ers mani$est the ternary stru%ture o$ me#iation, the #istinguishing mark o$ syllogism, Cith $orm as its mi##le term,

-or6al, Real, Co6<lete Ground

(here is something almost un%anny a)out the /propheti%/ #imensions o$ this apparently mo#est su)#ivision o$ 0egel Logic, +t is as i$ Ce %an truly %omprehen# it only i$ Ce knoC the history o$ philosophy, an# espe%ially the %ru%ial 0egel-%ritiDues, o$ the ne5t 17A years, in%lusive o$ "lthusser, "mong other things, this su)#ivision anti%ipates )oth the young ;ar5<s %ritiDue o$ 0egel an# the %on%ept o$ over#etermination Chi%h Cas #evelope# )y "lthusser pre%isely as an alternative to the allege#ly 0egelian notion o$ /e5pressive %ausality,/ Formal groun# repeats the tautologi%al gesture o$ the imme#iate re$eren%e to /true essen%e/E it #oes not a## any neC %ontent to the phenomenon to )e e5plaine#, it just translates, transposes, the $oun# empiri%al %ontent into the $orm o$ groun#, (o %omprehen# this pro%ess, one nee# only re%all hoC #o%tors sometimes respon# Chen Ce #es%ri)e our symptomsE /"ha, %learly a %ase o$,,,/ 3hat then $olloCs is a long, in%omprehensi)le -atin term Chi%h simply translates the %ontent o$ our %omplaints into -13>me#i%alese, a##ing no neC knoCle#ge, Psy%hoanalyti%al theory itsel$ o$$ers one o$ the %learest e5amples o$ Chat 0egel has in min# Cith /$ormal groun#,/ namely the Cay it sometimes uses the notion o$ #eath-#riveE e5plaining the so-%alle# /negative therapeuti% rea%tion/ 1more generally, o$ the phenomena o$ aggressivity, #estru%tive rage, Car, et%,2 )y invoking Todestrieb is a tautologi%al gesture Chi%h only %on$ers upon the same empiri%al %ontent the universal $orm o$ laC-- e,g,, people kill ea%h other )e%ause they are #riven to it )y the #eath-#rive, (he prin%ipal target o$ 0egel himsel$ is here a %ertain simpli$ie# version o$ ?eCtonian physi%sE this stone is heavy-- ChyK 8n a%%ount o$ the $or%e o$ gravity, et%, 0oCever, the )ounti$ul sneers in 0egel<s %omments on $ormal groun# shoul# not )lin# us to its positive si#e, $or the ne%essary, %onstitutive $un%tion o$ this $ormal gesture o$ %onverting the %ontingent %ontent Chi%h Cas simply $oun# into the $orm o$ groun#, +t is easy to #eri#e the tautologi%al emptiness o$ this gesture, )ut 0egel<s point lies elseChereE )y means o$ its

very $ormal %hara%ter, this gesture ren#ers possi)le the sear%h $or the real groun#, Formal %ausality Dua empty gesture opens up the $iel# o$ the analysis o$ %ontent-- as in ;ar5 &apital, in Chi%h the $ormal su)sumption o$ the pro%ess o$ pro#u%tion un#er %apital pre%e#es, opens up the Cay $or, the material organiFation o$ pro#u%tion in a%%or#an%e Cith the reDuirements o$ %apital 1i,e,, $irst, the pre%apitalist material organiFation o$ pro#u%tion Chi%h Cas simply $oun#-- in#ivi#ual artisans, et%,-- is $ormally su)sume# un#er %apital-- the %apitalist provi#es the artisan Cith raC materials, et%,' then, gra#ually, pro#u%tion is materially restru%ture# into a %olle%tive manu$a%turing pro%ess #ire%tly run )y the %apitalist2, 0egel $urther #emonstrates hoC su%h tautologi%al e5planations, in or#er to %on%eal their true nature an# to %reate an appearan%e o$ positive %ontent, $ill out again the empty $orm o$ groun# Cith some $antasiFe#, imaginary %ontent, %on%eive# as a neC, spe%ial kin# o$ a%tual empiri%al %ontentE Ce thus o)tain /aether,/ /magnetism,/ /$logiston,/ an# other similar mysterious /natural $or%es/ in Chi%h empty #eterminations-o$thought assume the $orm o$ positive, #eterminate %ontent-- in short, Ce o)tain the inverte# /topsy-turvy Corl#/ in Chi%h the #eterminations-o$thought appear un#er the guise o$ their opposite, o$ positive empiri%al o)je%ts, 1"n e5emplary %ase Cithin philosophy itsel$, o$ %ourse, is Des%artes< pla%ing o$ the link %onne%ting )o#y an# soul Cithin the pineal glan#E this glan# is nothing )ut a Duasiempiri%al positiviFation o$ the $a%t that Des%artes Cas una)le to grasp conceptually the me#iation o$ thinking an# -13Be5ten#e# su)stan%e in man,2 For 0egel, the inverte# /topsy-turvy Corl#/ #oes not %onsist in presupposing, )eyon# the a%tual, empiri%al Corl#, the king#om o$ suprasensi)le i#eas, )ut in a kin# o$ #ou)le inversion )y means o$ Chi%h these suprasensi)le i#eas themselves assume again sensi)le $orm, so that the very sensi)le Corl# is re#ou)le#E as i$, )y the si#e o$ our or#inary sensi)le Corl#, there e5ists another Corl# o$ /spiritual materiality/ 1o$ aether Dua $ine stu$$, et%,2, 3hy are 0egel<s %onsi#erations o$ su%h interestK (hey arti%ulate in a#van%e the moti$ Feuer)a%h, young ;ar5, an# "lthusser pro%laim as the /%ritiDue o$ spe%ulative i#ealism/E the hi##en o)verse an# /truth/ o$ spe%ulative i#ealism is positivism, enslavement to %ontingent empiri%al %ontent' i,e,, i#ealism only %on$ers spe%ulative $orm on the empiri%al %ontent simply $oun# there, 19 (he supreme %ase o$ su%h a Duasi-empiri%al o)je%t Chi%h positiviFes the su)je%t<s ina)ility to think a purely %on%eptual relationship is provi#e# )y *ant himsel$, Cho, in his +pus $osthumum, proposes the hypothesis o$ /aether,/ 4A +$ spa%e is $ull, *ant reasone#, movement $rom one pla%e in spa%e to another is not possi)le sin%e /all pla%es are alrea#y taken/' i$, hoCever, spa%e is empty, no %onta%t, no intera%tion %an o%%ur )etCeen tCo )o#ies separate# )y spa%e sin%e no $or%e %an )e transmitte# via pure voi#, From this para#o5, *ant #reC the %on%lusion that spa%e is possi)le only i$ sustaine# )y /aether/ Dua all-pervasive, allpenetrating Corl#-stu$$ Chi%h is pra%ti%ally the same as spa%e itsel$ hypostati%ally %on%eive#E an all-present element Chi%h is spa%e itsel$, Chi%h %ontinuously $ills it out an# is as su%h the me#ium o$ the intera%tion o$ all other /or#inary/ positive $or%es an#R or o)je%ts in spa%e, (his is Chat 0egel has in min# apropos o$ the /topsyturvy Corl#/E *ant solves the opposition o$ empty spa%e an# the o)je%ts $illing it out )y Cay o$ presupposing a /matter/ Chi%h is its opposite, i,e,, thoroughly transparent, homogeneous, an# %ontinuous-- as in primitive religions Cith their notion o$ the suprasensi)le as an aetheri%al-material Geyon#, 1(he nee# $or this hypothesis evaporates, o$ %ourse, as soon as one a%%epts the post-?eCtonian notion o$ nonhomogeneous spa%e,2 41

.onseDuently, $ormal groun# is $olloCe# )y real groun#E the #i$$eren%e )etCeen groun# an# groun#e# %eases to )e purely $ormal, it is #ispla%e# into %ontent itsel$ an# %on%eive# as the #istin%tion )etCeen tCo o$ its %onstituents, +n the very %ontent o$ the phenomenon to )e e5plaine#, one has to isolate some moment an# to %on%eive o$ it as the /groun#/ o$ all other moments Chi%h there)y appear as Chat is /groun#e#,/ +n tra#itional ;ar5ism, $or e5ample, the so-%alle# /e%onomi%al )asis,/ the stru%ture o$ the pro%ess o$ pro#u%tion, is the moment Chi%h, notCithstan#ing the -13 in%onvenien%es o$ the notorious /last instan%e,/ #etermines all other moments 1politi%al an# i#eologi%al superstru%ture2, 0ere, o$ %ourse, the Duestion emerges imme#iatelyE Chy this moment an# not some otherK (hat is to say, as soon as Ce isolate some moment $rom the Chole an# %on%eive o$ it as its /groun#/ Ce must also take into a%%ount the Cay groun# itsel$ is #etermine# )y the totality o$ relations Cithin Chi%h it $un%tions as groun#E /groun#/ %an only e5ert its groun#ing $un%tion Cithin a pre%isely #e$ine# netCork o$ %on#itions, +n short, Ce %an only ansCer the Duestion /3hy this moment an# not some otherK/ through the #etaile# analysis o$ the entire netCork o$ relations )etCeen the groun# an# the groun#e#, Chi%h e5plains Chy it is pre%isely this element o$ the netCork Chi%h plays the role o$ groun#, 3hat is thus a%%omplishe# is the step to the ne5t, $inal mo#ality o$ groun#, to %omplete groun#, +t is %ru%ial to grasp the pre%ise nature o$ 0egel<s a%%omplishmentE he #oes not put $orCar# another, even /#eeper/ supra-Iroun# Chi%h Coul# groun# the groun# itsel$' he simply groun#s the groun# in the totality o$ its relations to the groun#e# %ontent, +n this pre%ise sense, %omplete groun# is the unity o$ $ormal an# real groun#E it is the real groun# Chose groun#ing relationship to the remaining %ontent is again groun#e# in ChatK-- in itself, i,e,, in the totality of its relations to the grounded, (he groun# groun#s the groun#e#, )ut this groun#ing role must )e itsel$ groun#e# in the relationship o$ the groun# to the groun#e#, (hus, Ce again arrive at the tautology 1the moment o$ $ormal groun#2, )ut not at the empty tautology, as in the %ase o$ $ormal groun#E noC, the tautology %ontains the moment o$ %ontra#i%tion in the pre%ise a)ove-mentione# 0egelian sense, it #esignates the i#entity o$ the 3hole Cith its /oppositional #etermination/E the i#entity o$ a moment o$ the 3hole-- the real groun#-- Cith the 3hole itsel$, +n 0eading &apital, 44 -ouis "lthusser en#eavore# to arti%ulate the epistemologi%al )reak o$ ;ar5ism )y means o$ a neC %on%ept o$ %ausality, /over#etermination/E the very #etermining instan%e is over#etermine# )y the total netCork o$ relations Cithin Chi%h it plays the #etermining role, "lthusser oppose# this notion o$ %ausality to )oth me%hani%al, transitive %ausality 1the linear %hain o$ %auses an# e$$e%ts Chose para#igmati% %ase is %lassi%al, pre:insteinian physi%s2 an# e5pressive %ausality 1the inner essen%e Chi%h e5presses itsel$ in the multitu#e o$ its $orms-o$-appearan%e2, /:5pressive %ausality,/ o$ %ourse, targets 0egel, in Chose philosophy the same spiritual essen%e-- /Feitgeist/-- allege#ly e5presses itsel$ at the #i$$erent levels o$ so%ietyE in religion as Protestantism, in politi%s as the li)eration o$ %ivil so%iety $rom the %hains o$ me#ieval %orporatism, in laC as -139the rule o$ private property an# the emergen%e o$ $ree in#ivi#uals as its )earers, (his tria# o$ e5pressive-transitive-over#eterminate %ausality parallels the -a%anian tria# +maginary-9ealSym)oli%E e5pressive %ausality )elongs to the level o$ the +maginary, it #esignates the logi% o$ an i#enti%al imago Chi%h leaves its imprint at #i$$erent levels o$ material %ontent'

over#etermination implies a sym)oli% totality, sin%e su%h retroa%tive #etermination o$ the groun# )y the totality o$ the groun#e# is possi)le only Cithin a sym)oli% universe' transitive %ausality #esignates the senseless %ollisions o$ the real, (o#ay, in the mi#st o$ e%ologi%al %atastrophe, it is espe%ially important that Ce %on%eive this %atastrophe as a meaningless real tuche, i,e,, that Ce #o not /rea# meanings into things,/ as is #one )y those Cho interpret the e%ologi%al %risis as a /#eeper sign/ o$ punishment $or our mer%iless e5ploitation o$ nature, et%, 1Su$$i%e it to re%all the theories on the homology )etCeen the soul<s innerCorl# an# the outerCorl# o$ the universe Chi%h are again $ashiona)le Cithin the so-%alle# /?eC "ge %ons%iousness/-- the e5emplary %ase o$ a neC rise o$ /e5pressive %ausality,/2 +t shoul# )e %lear, noC, that the "lthusserian %riti%al attri)ution to 0egel o$ /e5pressive %ausality/ misses the targetE 0egel himsel$ arti%ulate# in a#van%e the %on%eptual $rameCork o$ "lthusser<s %ritiDue' i,e,, his tria# o$ $ormal, real, an# %omplete groun# %orrespon#s per$e%tly to the tria# o$ e5pressive, transitive, an# over#etermine# %ausality, 3hat is /%omplete groun#/ i$ not the name $or a /%omple5 stru%ture/ in Chi%h the #etermining instan%e itsel$ is 1over2#etermine# )y the netCork o$ relations Cithin Chi%h it e5erts its #etermining roleK 43 +n #egel ou Spino4a) 46 Pierre ;a%herey para#o5i%ally maintaine# that SpinoFa<s philosophy must )e rea# as a %ritiDue o$ 0egel-- as i$ SpinoFa rea# 0egel an# Cas a)le in a#van%e to ansCer the latter<s %ritiDue o$ /SpinoFism,/ (he same %oul# )e sai# o$ 0egel in relation to "lthusserE 0egel outline# in a#van%e the %ontours o$ the "lthusserian %ritiDue o$ 1Chat "lthusser presents as2 /0egelianism/' moreover he #evelope# the element that is missing in "lthusser an# prevents him $rom thinking out the notion o$ over#etermination-- the element o$ su)je%tivity Chi%h %annot )e re#u%e# to imaginary 1mis2re%ognition Dua e$$e%t o$ interpellation, that is to say, the su)je%t as N, the /empty,/ )arre# su)je%t,

-ro6 8In:itself8 to 8-or:itself8

-et us stop here an# a)stain $rom #is%erning the same matri5 up to the en# o$ the se%on# part o$ Logic' su$$i%e it to as%ertain that the $un#amental -16Aantagonism o$ the entire logi% o$ essen%e is the antagonism )etCeen ground an# conditions, )etCeen the inner essen%e 1/true nature/2 o$ a thing an# the e5ternal %ir%umstan%es Chi%h ren#er possi)le the realiFation o$ this essen%e, i,e,, the impossi)ility o$ rea%hing a %ommon measure )etCeen these tCo #imensions, o$ %oor#inating them in a /higher-or#er synthesis,/ 1+t is only in the thir# part o$ Logic, the /su)je%tive logi%/ o$ ?otion, that this in%ommensura)ility is surpasse#,2 (herein %onsists the alternative )etCeen positing an# e5ternal re$le%tionE #o people %reate the Corl# they live in $rom Cithin themselves, autonomously, or #oes their a%tivity result $rom e5ternal %ir%umstan%esK Philosophi%al %ommon sense Coul# here impose the %ompromise o$ a /proper measure/E true, Ce have the possi)ility o$ %hoi%e, Ce %an realiFe our $reely %on%eive# proje%ts, )ut only Cithin the $rameCork o$ tra#ition, o$ the inherite# %ir%umstan%es Chi%h #elineate our $iel# o$ %hoi%es' or, as ;ar5 put it in his 9ighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte?/;en make their oCn history' )ut they #o not make it just as they please' they #o not make it un#er %ir%umstan%es %hosen )y themselves, )ut un#er %ir%umstan%es #ire%tly en%ountere#, given an# transmitte# $rom the past,/ 47

0oCever, it is pre%isely su%h a /#iale%ti%al synthesis / that 0egel #e%lines, (he Chole point o$ his argument is that Ce have no Cay o$ #raCing a line )etCeen the tCo aspe%tsE every inner potential %an )e translate# 1its $orm %an )e %onverte#2 into an e5ternal %on#ition, an# vi%e versa, +n short, Chat 0egel #oes here is something very pre%iseE he un#ermines the usual notion o$ the relationship )etCeen the inner potentials o$ a thing an# the e5ternal %on#itions Chi%h ren#er 1im2possi)le the realiFation o$ these potentials by positing between these two sides the sign of e6uality, (he %onseDuen%es are $ar more ra#i%al than they appear' they %on%ern a)ove all the ra#i%ally antievolutionary %hara%ter o$ 0egel<s philosophy, as e5empli$ie# in the notional %ouple in7itself>for7self (his %ouple is usually taken as the supreme proo$ o$ 0egel<s trust in evolutionary progress 1the #evelopment $rom /in-itsel$/ into /$or-sel$/2' yet a %loser look #ispels this phantom o$ :volution, (he /in-itsel$/ in its opposition to /$or-sel$/ means at one an# the same time 112 Chat e5ists only potentially, as an inner possi)ility, %ontrary to the a%tuality Cherein a possi)ility has e5ternaliFe# an# realiFe# itsel$, and 142 a%tuality itsel$ in the sense o$ e5ternal, imme#iate, /raC/ o)je%tivity Chi%h is still oppose# to su)je%tive me#iation, Chi%h is not yet internaliFe#, ren#ere#-%ons%ious' in this sense, the /in-itsel$/ is a%tuality inso$ar as it has not yet rea%he# its ?otion, (he simultaneous rea#ing o$ these tCo aspe%ts un#ermines the usual -161i#ea o$ #iale%ti%al progress as a gra#ual realiFation o$ the o)je%t<s inner potentials, as its spontaneous sel$-#evelopment, 0egel is here Duite outspoken an# e5pli%itE the inner potentials o$ the sel$-#evelopment o$ an o)je%t an# the pressure e5erte# on it )y an e5ternal $or%e are stri%tly correlative- they $orm the tCo parts o$ the same %onjun%tion, +n other Cor#s, the potentiality o$ the o)je%t must also )e present in its e5ternal a%tuality, un#er the $orm o$ heteronomous %oer%ion, For e5ample 1the e5ample here is o$ 0egel himsel$2, to say that a pupil at the )eginning o$ the pro%ess o$ e#u%ation is some)o#y Cho potentially knoCs, some)o#y Cho, in the %ourse o$ his #evelopment, Cill realiFe his %reative potentials, e6uals saying that these inner potentials must )e present $rom the very )eginning in e5ternal a%tuality as the authority o$ the ;aster Cho e5erts pressure upon his pupil, (o#ay, one %an a## to this the sa#ly $amous %ase o$ the Corking %lass Dua revolutionary su)je%tE to a$$irm that the Corking %lass is /in-itsel$,/ potentially, a revolutionary su)je%t, eDuals the assertion that this potentiality must alrea#y )e a%tualiFe# in the Party, Chi%h knoCs in a#van%e a)out the revolutionary mission an# there$ore e5erts pressure upon the Corking %lass, gui#ing it toCar# the realiFation o$ its potentials, (hus, the /lea#ing role/ o$ the Party is legitimiFe#' it is thus its right to /e#u%ate/ the Corking %lass in a%%or#an%e Cith its potentials, to /implant/ in this %lass its histori%al mission, 3e %an see, noC, Chy 0egel is as $ar as possi)le $rom the evolutionist notion o$ the progressive #evelopment o$ in-itsel$ into $or-itsel$E the %ategory o$ /in itsel$/ is stri%tly %orrelative to /$or us,/ i,e,, $or some %ons%iousness e5ternal to the thing-in-itsel$, (o say that a %lo# o$ %lay is /in itsel$/ a pot eDuals saying that this pot is alrea#y present in the min# o$ the %ra$tsman Cho Cill impose the $orm o$ pot on the %lay (he %urrent Cay o$ saying /un#er the right %on#itions the pupil Cill realiFe his potentials/ is thus #e%eptiveE Chen, in e5%use o$ his failure to realiFe his potentials, Ce insist that /he Coul# have realiFe# them, i$ only the %on#itions ha# )een right,/ Ce %ommit there)y an error o$ %yni%ism Corthy o$ Gre%ht<s $amous lines $rom The Threepenny +pera, /3e Coul# )e goo# instea# o$ )eing so ru#e, i$ only the %ir%umstan%es Cere not o$ this kin#@/ For 0egel, e5ternal %ir%umstan%es are not an impe#iment to realiFing inner potentials, )ut on the %ontrary the very arena in which the true

nature of these inner potentials is to be tested? are su%h potentials true potentials or just vain illusions a)out Chat might have happene#K 8r, to put it in SpinoFeian termsE /positing re$le%tion/ o)serves things as they are in their eternal essen%e, sub specie aeter7 -164nitatis, Chereas/e5ternal re$le%tion/ o)serves them sub specie durationis, in their #epen#en%e on a series o$ %ontingent e5ternal %ir%umstan%es, 0ere, verything hinges on how 0egel over%omes /e5ternal re$le%tion,/ +$ his aim Cere simply to re#u%e the e5ternality o$ %ontingent %on#itions to the sel$me#iation o$ the inner essen%e-groun# 1the usual notion o$ /0egel<s i#ealism/2, then 0egel<s philosophy Coul# truly )e a mere /#ynamiFe# SpinoFism,/ Gut Chat #oes 0egel a%tually #oK -et us approa%h this pro)lem via -a%anE in Chat pre%ise sense %an Ce maintain that -a%an o$ the late $orties an# early $i$ties Cas a 0egelianK +n or#er to get a %lear i#ea o$ his 0egelianism, it su$$i%es to take a %loser look at hoC he %on%eives the analyst<s /passivity/ in the psy%hoanalyti%al %ure, Sin%e /the a%tual is rational,/ the analyst #oes not have to $or%e his interpretations upon the analysan#, all he has to #o is %lear the Cay $or the analysan# to arrive at his oCn truth )y means o$ a mere pun%tuation o$ his spee%h, (his is Chat 0egel has in min# Chen he speaks o$ the /%unning o$ reason/E the analyst #oes not seek to un#ermine the analysan#<s sel$-#e%eit, his attitu#e o$ the /Geauti$ul Soul,/ )y Cay o$ #ire%tly %on$ronting him Cith the /true state o$ things,/ )ut )y Cay o$ giving him a $ree rein, o$ removing all o)sta%les that may serve as an e5%use, thus %ompelling him to reveal /the stu$$ he is a%tually ma#e o$,/ +n this pre%ise sense /the a%tual is rational/E our-- the 0egelian philosopher<s-- trust into the inherent rationality o$ the a%tual means that a%tuality provi#es the only testing groun# $or the reasona)leness o$ the su)je%t<s %laims' i,e,, the moment the su)je%t is )ere$t o$ e5ternal o)sta%les Chi%h %an )e )lame# $or his $ailure, his su)je%tive position Cill %ollapse on a%%ount o$ its inherent inauthenti%ity, 3hat Ce have here is a kin# o$ %yni%iFe# 0ei#eggerianismE sin%e the o)je%t is in itsel$ in%onsistent, sin%e Chat alloCs it to retain the appearan%e o$ %onsisten%y is the very e5ternal hin#ran%e Chi%h allege#ly restrains its inner potentials, the most e$$e%tive Cay to #estroy it, to )ring a)out its %ollapse, is pre%isely to renoun%e any %laims o$ #omination, to remove all hin#ran%es an# to /let it )e,/ i,e,, to leave the $iel# open $or the $ree #eployment o$ its potentials, 4> 0oCever, #oes the 0egelian notion o$ the /%unning o$ reason/ not entail a /regression/ to the pre-*antian rationalist metaphysi%sK +t is a philosophi%al %ommonpla%e to oppose here *ant<s %ritiDue o$ the ontologi%al proo$ o$ Io#<s e5isten%e to 0egel<s rea$$irmation o$ it, an# to Duote 0egel<s rea$$irmation as the supreme proo$ o$ 0egel<s return to the #omain o$ %lassi%al metaphysi%s, (he story goes someChat like thisE *ant #emonstrate# that -163e5isten%e is not a pre#i%ate, sin%e, at the level o$ pre#i%ates Chi%h #e$ine the notional %ontent o$ a thing, there is a)solutely no #i$$eren%e )etCeen 1AA a%tual tollars an# a mere notion o$ 1AA tollars-- an#, mutatis mutan#is, the same hol#s $or the notion o$ Io#, Furthermore, one is even tempte# to see in *ant<s position a kin# o$ pre$iguration o$ the -a%anian e%%entri%ity o$ the real Cith re$eren%e to the sym)oli%E e5isten%e is real inso$ar as it is irre#u%i)le to the netCork o$ notional-sym)oli% #eterminations, ?evertheless, this %ommonpla%e has to )e reje%te# thoroughly,

*ant<s a%tual line o$ argumentation is $ar more re$ine#' he pro%ee#s in tCo )asi% steps 1see .P9, " 7 6->A32, First, he #emonstrates that there is still a hi##en i$-%lause at Cork in the ontologi%al proo$ o$ Io#<s e5isten%eE true, /Io#/ #oes #esignate a )eing Chose e5isten%e is implie# in its very notion' )ut Ce still must presuppose that su%h a )eing e5ists 1i,e,, all that the ontologi%al proo$ a%tually #emonstrates is that, if Io# e5ists, he e5ists ne%essarily2, so that it remains possi)le that there is simply no su%h )eing Chose notion Coul# entail e5isten%e, "n atheist Coul# even Duote su%h a nature o$ Io# as an argument against 0is e5isten%eE there is no Io# pre%isely )e%ause one %annot imagine in a %onsistent Cay a )eing Chose notion Coul# entail e5isten%e, *ant<s ne5t step aims at the same pointE the only legitimate use o$ the term /e5isten%e/ is to #esignate the phenomenal reality o$ the o)je%ts o$ possi)le e5perien%e' hoCever, the difference between 0eason and Intuition is constitutive of reality? the su)je%t a%%epts that something /e5ists in reality/ only inso$ar as its representation is $ille# out )y the %ontingent, empiri%al %ontent provi#e# )y intuition, i,e,, only inso$ar as the su)je%t is passively a$$e%te# )y senses, :5isten%e is not a pre#i%ate, i,e,, part o$ the notion o$ an o)je%t, pre%isely )e%ause, in or#er to pass $rom the notion to a%tual e5isten%e, one has to a## the passive element o$ intuition, For that reason, the notion o$ /ne%essary e5isten%e/ is sel$%ontra#i%tory-every e8istence is by definition contingent, 4B 3hat is 0egel<s ansCer to all thisK 0egel in no Cay returns to tra#itional metaphysi%sE he re$utes *ant Cithin the horiFon opene# up )y *ant himsel$, 0e so to speak approa%hes the pro)lem $rom the opposite en#E hoC #oes the /%oming-to-notion/ 14um7Begriff7kommen2 a$$e%t the e5isten%e o$ the o)je%t in DuestionK 3hen a thing /rea%hes its notion,/ Chat impa%t #oes this have on its e5isten%eK (o %lari$y this Duestion, let us re%all an e5ample Chi%h %on$irms -a%an<s thesis that ;ar5ism is not a /Corl#vieC,/ 4 namely the i#ea that the proletariat )e%omes an actual revolutionary su)je%t )y Cay o$ integrating the knowledge o$ its histori%al roleE 49 -166histori%al materialism is not a neutral /o)je%tive knoCle#ge/ o$ histori%al #evelopment, sin%e it is an a%t o$ sel$-knoCle#ge o$ a histori%al su)je%t' as su%h, it implies the proletarian su)je%tive position, +n other Cor#s, the /knoCle#ge/ proper to histori%al materialism is sel$re$erential, it %hanges its /o)je%t,/ +t is only via the a%t o$ knoCle#ge that the o)je%t )e%omes Chat it truly /is,/ So, the rise o$ /%lass %ons%iousness/ pro#u%es the e$$e%t in the e5isten%e o$ its /o)je%t/ 1proletariat2 )y Cay o$ %hanging it into an a%tual revolutionary su)je%t, "n# is it not the same Cith psy%hoanalysisK Does the interpretation o$ a symptom not %onstitute a #ire%t intervention o$ the Sym)oli% in the 9eal, #oes it not o$$er an e5ample o$ hoC the Cor# %an a$$e%t the 9eal o$ the symptomK "n#, on the other han#, #oes not su%h an e$$i%a%y o$ the Sym)oli% presuppose entities Chose e5isten%e literally hinges on a %ertain non-knoCle#geE the moment knoCle#ge is assume# 1through interpretation2, e5isten%e #isintegratesK :5isten%e is here not one o$ the pre#i%ates o$ a (hing, )ut #esignates the Cay the (hing relates to its pre#i%ates, more pre%iselyE the Cay the (hing is related to itself )y means o$ 1through the #etour o$2 its pre#i%ates-properties, 3A 3hen a proletarian )e%omes aCare o$ his /histori%al role,/ none of his actual predicates changes- Chat %hanges is just the Cay he relates to them, an# this %hange in the relationship to pre#i%ates ra#i%ally a$$e%ts his e5isten%e, (o #esignate this aCareness o$ /histori%al role,/ tra#itional ;ar5ism makes use o$ the 0egelian %ouple /in-itsel$R$or-itsel$/E )y Cay o$ arriving at its /%lass %ons%iousness,/ the proletariat %hanges $rom a /%lass-in-itsel$/ to a /%lass-$or-itsel$,/ (he #iale%ti% at Cork here is that o$ a failed encounter? the passage to /$or itsel$,/ to the ?otion, involves the loss o$

e5isten%e, ?oChere is this $aile# en%ounter more o)vious than in a passionate love a$$airE its /in itsel$/ o%%urs Chen + simply yiel# to the passion, unaCare o$ Chat is happening to me' a$terCar#s, Chen the a$$air is over, aufgehoben in my re%olle%tion, it )e%omes /$or itsel$/-- + retroa%tively )e%ome aCare o$ Chat + ha#, o$ Chat + lost, (his aCareness o$ Chat + lost gives )irth to the $antasy o$ the impossi)le %onjun%tion o$ )eing an# knoCle#ge 1/i$ only + %oul# have knoCn hoC happy + Cas,,,/2, Gut is the 0egelian /+n-an#-$oritsel$/ 1,n7und7"uer7sich2 really su%h an impossi)le %onjun%tion, the $antasy o$ a moment Chen + am happy an# + knoC itK +s it not rather the unmasking o$ the illusion o$ the /e5ternal re$le%tion/ that still pertains to /$or-itsel$,/ the illusion that, in the past, + a%tually was happy Cithout knoCing it, i,e,, the insight into hoC /happiness/ )y #e$inition %omes to )e retroa%tively, )y means o$ the e5perien%e o$ its lossK -167(his illusion o$ the e5ternal re$le%tion %an )e $urther e5empli$ie# )y Gilly Gathgate, the movie )ase# upon :, -, Do%toroC novel, (he $ilm is $un#amentally $aile# an# the impression it arouses is that Chat Ce see is a pale, #istorte# re$le%tion o$ a $ar superior literary sour%e, (here is, hoCever, an unpleasant surprise in store $or those Cho, a$ter seeing the movie, set to rea# the novelE the novel is $ar %loser to the insipi# happy en# 1in it, Gilly po%kets the hi##en Cealth o$ Dut%h S%hultF2' numerous #eli%ate #etails Chi%h the spe%tator una%Duainte# Cith the novel e5perien%es as $ragments happily not lost in the impoverishing pro%ess o$ transposition to %inema, $ragments that mira%ulously survive# the shipCre%k, a%tually turn out to )e a##e# )y the s%riptCriter, +n short, the /superior/ novel evoke# )y the $ilm<s $ailure is not the pree5istent a%tual novel upon Chi%h the $ilm is )ase#, )ut a retroa%tive %himera arouse# )y the $ilm itsel$, 31

Ground 7ersus Conditions

(his %on%eptual )a%kgroun# alloCs us to re$ormulate the vi%ious %ir%le o$ groun# an# %on#itions, -et us re%all the usual mo#e o$ e5plaining out)reaks o$ ra%ism, Chi%h invokes the %ategori%al %ouple o$ groun# an# %on#itions-%ir%umstan%esE one %on%eives o$ ra%ism 1or, more generally, so%alle# /out)reaks o$ irrational mass-sa#ism/2 as a latent psy%hi% #isposition, a kin# o$ Hungian ar%hetype Chi%h %omes $orth un#er %ertain %on#itions 1so%ial insta)ility an# %risis, et%,2, From this point o$ vieC the ra%ist #isposition is the /groun#/ an# %urrent politi%al struggles the /%ir%umstan%es,/ the %on#itions o$ its e$$e%tuation, 0oCever, Chat %ounts as groun# an# Chat %ounts as %on#itions is ultimately %ontingent an# e5%hangea)le, so that one %an easily a%%omplish the ;ar5ist reversal o$ the a)ove-mentione# psy%hologist perspe%tive an# %on%eive the present politi%al struggle as the only true #etermining groun#, +n the present %ivil Car in e5-=ugoslavia, $or e5ample, the /groun#/ o$ Ser)ian aggression is not to )e sought in any primitive Galkan Carrior ar%hetypes, )ut in the struggle $or poCer in post.ommunist Ser)ia 1the survival o$ the ol# .ommunist state apparatus2, (he status o$ eventual Ser)ian )elli%ose #ispositions an# other similar ar%hetypes 1the /.roatian geno%i#al %hara%ter,/ the /perennial tra#ition o$ ethni% hatre#s in the Galkans,/ et%,2 is pre%isely that o$ the %on#itionsR%ir%umstan%es in Chi%h the poCer struggle realiFes itsel$, (he /)elli%ose #ispositions/ are pre%isely that, i,e,, latent #ispositions Chi%h are a%tualiFe#, #raCn $orth $rom their sha#oCy hal$-e5isten%e )y the re%ent politi-16>-

%al struggle Dua their #etermining groun#, 8ne is thus $ully justi$ie# in saying that /Chat is at stake in the =ugoslav %ivil Car are not ar%hai% ethni% %on$li%tsE these perennial hatre#s are in$lame# only on a%%ount o$ their $un%tion in the re%ent politi%al struggle,/ 34 0oC, then, are Ce to es%heC this mess, this e5%hangea)ility o$ groun# an# %ir%umstan%esK -et us take another e5ampleE 0enaissance, i,e,, the re#is%overy 1/re)irth/2 o$ antiDuity Chi%h e5erte# a %ru%ial in$luen%e on the )reak Cith the me#ieval Cay o$ li$e in the $i$teenth %entury, (he $irst, o)vious e5planation is that the in$luen%e o$ the neCly #is%overe# antiDue tra#ition )rought a)out the #issolution o$ the me#ieval /para#igm,/ 0ere, hoCever, a Duestion imme#iately pops upE Chy #i# antiDuity )egin to e5ert its in$luen%e at pre%isely that moment an# not earlier or laterK (he ansCer that o$$ers itsel$, o$ %ourse, is that #ue to the #issolution o$ me#ieval so%ial links, a neC Feitgeist emerge# Chi%h ma#e us responsive to antiDuity' something must have %hange# in /us/ so that Ce )e%ame a)le to per%eive antiDuity not as a pagan king#om o$ sin )ut as the mo#el to )e a#opte#, (hat<s all very Cell, )ut Ce still remain lo%ke# in a vi%ious %ir%le, sin%e this neC Feitgeist itsel$ took shape pre%isely through the #is%overy o$ antiDue te5ts as Cell as $ragments o$ %lassi%al ar%hite%ture an# s%ulpture, +n a Cay, everything Cas alrea#y there, in the e5ternal %ir%umstan%es' the neC Feitgeist $orme# itsel$ through the in$luen%e o$ antiDuity Chi%h ena)le# renaissan%e thought to shatter the me#ieval %hains' yet $or this in$luen%e o$ antiDuity to )e $elt, the neC Feitgeist must alrea#y have )een a%tive, (he only Cay out o$ this impasse is there$ore the intervention, at a %ertain point, o$ a tautologi%al gestureE the neC Feitgeist ha# to %onstitute itsel$ )y literally presupposing itself in its e8teriority, in its e5ternal %on#itions 1in antiDuity2, +n other Cor#s, it Cas not su$$i%ient $or the neC Feitgeist retroa%tively to posit these e5ternal %on#itions 1the antiDue tra#ition2 as /its oCn,/ it ha# to 1presup2pose itsel$ as alrea#y present in these %on#itions, The return to e8ternal conditions :to anti6uity; had to coincide with the return to the foundation, to the %thing itself,% to the ground, 1(his is pre%isely hoC the 9enaissan%e %on%eive# itsel$E as the return to the Ireek an# 9oman $oun#ations o$ our 3estern %iviliFation,2 3e #o not thus have an inner groun# the a%tualiFation o$ Chi%h #epen#s on e5ternal %ir%umstan%es' the e5ternal relation o$ presupposing 1groun# presupposes %on#itions an# vi%e versa2 is surpasse# in a pure tautologi%al gesture )y means o$ Chi%h the thing presupposes itself (his tautologi%al gesture is /empty/ in the pre%ise sense that it #oes not %ontri)ute anything neC, it only retroa%tively as%ertains -16Bthat the thing in Duestion is already present in its conditions, i,e,, that the totality o$ these %on#itions is the a%tuality o$ the thing, Su%h an empty gesture provi#es us Cith the most elementary #e$inition o$ the symbolic act, 0ere Ce see the $un#amental para#o5 o$ /re#is%overing tra#ition/ at Cork in the %onstitution o$ national i#entityE a nation $in#s its sense o$ sel$i#entity )y means o$ su%h a tautologi%al gesture, i,e,, )y Cay o$ #is%overing itsel$ as alrea#y present in its tra#ition, .onseDuently, the me%hanism o$ the /re#is%overy o$ national tra#ition/ %annot )e re#u%e# to the /positing o$ presuppositions/ in the sense o$ the retroa%tive positing o$ %on#itions as /ours,/ (he point is rather that, in the very a%t o$ returning to its 1e5ternal2 %on#itions, the :national; thing returns to itself, (he return to %on#itions is e5perien%e# as the /return to our true roots,/

The Tautologi al 8Return of the Thing to Itself8

"lthough /really e5isting so%ialism/ has alrea#y re%e#e# into a #istan%e Chi%h %on$ers upon it the nostalgi% magi% o$ a postmo#ern lost o)je%t, some o$ us still re%all a Cell-knoCn joke a)out Chat so%ialism isE a so%ial system that is the #iale%ti%al synthesis o$ all previous history, From the prehistori% %lassless so%iety, it took primitivism, $rom antiDuity slave la)or, $rom me#ieval $eu#alism ruthless #omination, $rom %apitalism e5ploitation, and from socialism the name, (his is Chat the 0egelian tautologi%al gesture o$ the /return o$ the thing to itsel$/ is all a)outE one must in%lu#e along Cith the #e$inition o$ the o)je%t its name, (hat is to say, a$ter Ce #e%ompose an o)je%t into its ingre#ients, Ce look in vain in them $or some spe%i$i% $eature Chi%h hol#s together this multitu#e an# makes o$ it a uniDue, sel$-i#enti%al thing, "s to its properties an# ingre#ients, a thing is Cholly /outsi#e itsel$,/ in its e5ternal %on#itions' every positive $eature is alrea#y present in the %ir%umstan%es Chi%h are not yet this thing, (he supplementary operation Chi%h pro#u%es $rom this )un#le a uniDue, sel$i#enti%al thing is the purely sym)oli%, tautologi%al gesture o$ positing these e5ternal %on#itions as the %on#itions%omponents o$ the thing an#, simultaneously, o$ presupposing the e5isten%e o$ groun# Chi%h hol#s together this multitu#e o$ %on#itions, "n#, to throC our -a%anian %ar#s on the ta)le, this tautologi%al /return o$ the thing to itsel$/ Chi%h ren#ers $orth the %on%rete stru%ture o$ sel$i#entity is Chat -a%an #esignates as the /point #e %apiton,/ the /Duilting point/ at Chi%h the signi$ier /$alls into/ the signi$ie# 1as in the a)ove-16 mentione# joke on so%ialism, Chere the name itsel$ $un%tions as part o$ the #esignate# thing2, -et us re%all an e5ample $rom popular %ultureE the killer shark in Spiel)erg HaCs, " #ire%t sear%h $or the shark<s i#eologi%al meaning evokes nothing )ut misgui#e# DuestionsE #oes it sym)oliFe the threat o$ the (hir# 3orl# to "meri%a epitomiFe# )y the ar%hetypal small toCnK is it the sym)ol o$ the e5ploitative nature o$ %apitalism itsel$ 1 Fi#el .astro<s interpretation2K #oes it stan# $or the untame# nature Chi%h threatens to #isrupt the routine o$ our #aily livesK +n or#er to avoi# this lure, Ce have to shi$t our perspe%tive ra#i%allyE the #aily li$e o$ the %ommon man is #ominate# )y an in%onsistent multitu#e o$ $ears 1he %an )e%ome the vi%tim o$ )ig )usiness manipulations' (hir# 3orl# immigrants seem to intru#e into his small or#erly universe' unruly nature %an #estroy his home' et%,2, an# the a%%omplishment o$ HaCs %onsists in an a%t o$ purely $ormal %onversion Chi%h provi#es a %ommon /%ontainer/ $or all these $ree$loating, in%onsistent $ears )y Cay o$ an%horing them, /rei$ying/ them, in the $igure o$ the shark, 33 .onseDuently, the $un%tion o$ the $as%inating presen%e o$ the shark is pre%isely to block any $urther inDuiry into the so%ial meaning 1so%ial me#iation2 o$ those phenomena that arouse $ear in the %ommon man, (o say that the mur#erous shark /sym)oliFes/ the a)ovementione# series o$ $ears is to say too mu%h an# not enough at the same time, +t #oes not sym)oliFe them, sin%e it literally annuls them )y o%%upying itsel$ the pla%e o$ the o)je%t o$ $ear, +t is there$ore /more/ than a sym)olE it )e%omes the $eare# /thing itsel$,/ =et, the shark is #e%i#e#ly less than a sym)ol, sin%e it #oes not point toCar# the sym)oliFe# %ontent )ut rather )lo%ks a%%ess to it, ren#ers it invisi)le, +n this Cay, it is homologous Cith the antiSemiti% $igure o$ the HeCE /HeC/ is the e5planation, o$$ere# )y anti-Semitism $or the multiple $ears e5perien%e# )y the /%ommon man/ in an epo%h o$ #issolving so%ial links 1in$lation, unemployment, %orruption, moral #egra#ation2-)ehin# all these phenomena lies the invisi)le han# o$ the /HeCish plot,/ (he %ru%ial point here, again, is that the #esignation %=ew% does not add any new content? the entire %ontent is alrea#y present in the e5ternal %on#itions 1%risis,

moral #egeneration,,,2' the name /HeC/ is only the supplementary $eature Chi%h a%%omplishes a kin# o$ transu)stantiation, %hanging all these elements into so many mani$estations o$ the same ground, the /HeCish plot,/ Paraphrasing the joke on so%ialism, one %oul# say that antiSemitism takes $rom the e%onomy unemployment an# in$lation, $rom politi%s parliamentary %orruption an# intrigue, $rom morality its oCn #egeneration, $rom art /in%omprehensi)le/ avant-gar#ism, and from the (ew the name, (his -169name ena)les us to re%ogniFe )ehin# the multitu#e o$ e5ternal %on#itions the a%tivity o$ the same ground, 0ere Ce also $in# at Cork the #iale%ti% o$ %ontingen%y an# ne%essityE as to their %ontent, they $ully %oin%i#e 1in )oth %ases, the only positive %ontent is the series o$ %on#itions that $orm part o$ our a%tual li$e e5perien%eE e%onomi% %risis, politi%al %haos, the #issolution o$ ethi%al links,,,2' the passage o$ %ontingen%y into ne%essity is an a%t o$ purely $ormal %onversion, the gesture o$ a##ing a name Chi%h %on$ers upon the %ontingent series the mark o$ ne%essity, there)y trans$orming it into the e5pression o$ some hi##en groun# 1the /HeCish plot/2, (his is also hoC later-- at the very en# o$ the /logi% o$ essen%e/-- Ce pass $rom a)solute ne%essity to $ree#om, (o %omprehen# properly this passage, one has to renoun%e thoroughly the stan#ar# notion o$ /$ree#om as %omprehen#e# ne%essity/ 1a$ter getting ri# o$ the illusions o$ $ree Cill, one %an re%ogniFe an# $reely a%%ept one<s pla%e in the netCork o$ %auses an# their e$$e%ts2, 0egel<s point is, on the %ontrary, that it is only the sub(ect2s :free; act of %dotting the i% which retroactively installs necessity, so that the very a%t )y means o$ Chi%h the su)je%t re%ogniFes 1an# thus %onstitutes2 ne%essity is the supreme a%t o$ $ree#om an# as su%h the sel$-suppression o$ ne%essity, /oilB pour6uoi #egel n2est pas spino4iste? on a%%ount o$ this tautologi%al gesture o$ retroa%tive per$ormativity, So /per$ormativity/ in no Cay #esignates the poCer o$ $reely /%reating/ the #esignate# %ontent 1/Cor#s mean Chat Ce Cant them to mean,/ et%,2E the /Duilting/ only stru%tures the material Chi%h is $oun#, e5ternally impose#, (he a%t o$ naming is /per$ormative/ only an# pre%isely inso$ar as it is always7already part of the definition of the signified content, 36 (his is hoC 0egel resolves the #ea#lo%k o$ positing an# e5ternal re$le%tion, the vi%ious %ir%le o$ positing the presuppositions an# o$ enumerating the presuppositions o$ the posite# %ontentE )y means o$ the tautologi%al return-upon-itsel$ o$ the thing in its very e5ternal presuppositions, "n# the same tautologi%al gesture is alrea#y at Cork in *ant<s analyti% o$ pure reasonE the synthesis o$ the multitu#e o$ sensations in the representation o$ the o)je%t Chi%h )elongs to /reality/ implies an empty surplus, i,e,, the positing o$ an M as the unknoCn su)stratum o$ the per%eive# phenomenal sensations, Su$$i%e it to Duote Fin#lay<s pre%ise $ormulationE 3e alCays re$er appearan%es to a (rans%en#ental 8)je%t, an M, o$ Chi%h Ce, hoCever, knoC nothing, )ut Chi%h is none the less the o)je%tive %orrelate o$ the syntheti% a%ts insepara)le $rom thinking sel$-17A%ons%iousness, (he (rans%en#ental 8)je%t, thus %on%eive#, %an )e %alle# a ?oumenon or thing o$ thought O edankending P, Gut the re$eren%e to su%h a thing o$ thought #oes not,

stri%tly speaking, use the %ategories, )ut is something like an empty synthetic gesture in Chi%h nothing o)je%tive is really put )e$ore us, 37 (he trans%en#ental o)je%t is thus the very opposite o$ the *ing7an7sich? it is /empty/ inso$ar as it is #evoi# o$ any /o)je%tive/ %ontent, (hat is to say, to o)tain its notion, one has to a)stra%t $rom the sensi)le o)je%t its entire sensi)le %ontent, i,e,, all sensations )y means o$ Chi%h the su)je%t is a$$e%te# )y *ing, (he empty M Chi%h remains is the pure ob(ective correlate>effect of the sub(ect2s autonomous7spontaneous synthetic activity, (o put it para#o5i%allyE the trans%en#ental o)je%t is the /in-itsel$/ inso$ar as it is $or the su)je%t, posite# )y it' it is pure /posite#ness/ o$ an in#eterminate M, (his /empty syntheti% gesture/-- Chi%h a##s to the thing nothing positive, no neC sensi)le $eature, an# yet, in its very %apa%ity o$ an empty gesture, %onstitutes it, makes it into an o)je%t-- is the a%t o$ symboli4ation in its most elementary $orm, at its Fero-level, 8n the $irst page o$ his )ook, Fin#lay points out that the trans%en#ental o)je%t /is not for 1ant different $rom the o)je%t or o)je%ts Chi%h appear to the senses an# Chi%h Ce %an ju#ge a)out an# knoC,,,)ut it is the same o)je%t or o)je%ts %on%eive# in respe%t o$ %ertain intrinsi%ally unapparent $eatures, an# Chi%h is in su%h respe%ts in%apa)le o$ )eing ju#ge# a)out or knoCn,/ 3> (his M, this irrepresenta)le surplus Chi%h a##s itsel$ to the series o$ sensi)le $eatures, is pre%isely the /thing-o$-thought/ 1 edankending2E it )ears Citness to the $a%t that the o)je%t<s unity #oes not resi#e Cithin it, )ut is the result o$ the su)je%t<s syntheti% a%tivity, 1"s Cith 0egel, Chere the a%t o$ $ormal %onversion inverts the %hain o$ %on#itions into the un%on#itional (hing, $oun#e# in itsel$,2 -et us )rie$ly return to anti-Semitism, to the /syntheti% a%t o$ apper%eption/ Chi%h, out o$ the multitu#e o$ 1imagine#2 $eatures o$ HeCs, %onstru%ts the anti-Semiti% $igure o$ /HeC,/ (o pass $or a true anti-Semite, it is not enough to %laim that Ce oppose HeCs )e%ause they are e5ploitative, gree#y intriguers, (hat is, it is not su$$i%ient $or the signi$ier /HeC/ to #esignate this series o$ spe%i$i%, positive $eatures' one has to a%%omplish the %ru%ial step $urther )y saying /they are like that 1e5ploitative, gree#y,,, because they are HeCs,/ (he /trans%en#ental o)je%t/ o$ HeCishness is pre%isely that elusive M Chi%h /makes a HeC into a HeC/ an# $or Chi%h Ce look in vain among his positive properties, (his a%t o$ pure -171$ormal %onversion, i,e,, the /syntheti% a%t/ o$ uniting the series o$ positive $eatures in the signi$ier /HeC/ an# there)y trans$orming them into so many mani$estations o$ the /HeCishness/ Dua their hi##en groun#, brings about the appearance of an ob(ectal surplus, o$ a mysterious M Chi%h is /in HeC more than HeC,/ in other Cor#sE o$ the trans%en#ental o)je%t, 3B +n the very te5t o$ *ant &riti6ue of $ure 0eason, this voi# o$ the syntheti% gesture is in#i%ate# )y an e5%eption in the use o$ the pair %onstitutiveRregulativeE 3 in general, /%onstitutive/ prin%iples serve to %onstru%t o)je%tive reality, Chereas /regulative/ prin%iples are merely su)je%tive ma5ims Chi%h gui#e reason Cithout giving a%%ess to positive knoCle#ge, 0oCever, Chen he speaks o$ e5isten%e 1*asein2, *ant makes use o$ the pair %onstitutiveRregulative in the mi#st o$ the very #omain o$ the %onstitutive, )y Cay o$ linking it to the %ouple mathemati%alR#ynami%alE /+n the appli%ation o$ pure %on%eptions o$ un#erstan#ing to possi)le e5perien%e, the employment o$ their synthesis is either mathematical or 9dynamical' $or it is %on%erne# partly Cith the mere intuition o$ an appearan%e in general, partly Cith its e8istence/ 1.P9, G 1992,

+n Chat pre%ise sense, then, are #ynami%al prin%iples /merely regulative prin%iples, an# OareP #istinguishe# $rom the mathemati%al, Chi%h are %onstitutive/ 1.P9, G 4432K (he prin%iples o$ the mathemati%al use o$ %ategories re$er to the intuite# phenomenal %ontent 1to phenomenal properties o$ the thing2' it is only the #ynami%al prin%iples o$ synthesis Chi%h guarantee that the %ontent o$ our representations re$ers to some o)je%tive e5isten%e, in#epen#ent o$ the $lu5 o$ per%eiving %ons%iousness, 0oC, then, are Ce to e5plain the para#o5 o$ making o)je%tive e5isten%e #epen#ent not on /%onstitutive/ )ut on /regulative/ prin%iplesK -et us return, $or the last time, to the anti-Semiti% $igure o$ the HeC, ;athemati%al synthesis %an only gather together phenomenal properties attri)ute# to the HeC 1gree#iness, intriguing spirit, et%,2' then #ynami%al synthesis a%%omplishes the reversal )y means o$ Chi%h this series o$properties is posite# as the mani$estation o$ an ina%%essi)le M, /HeCishness,/ that is to say, o$ something real, really e5isting, "t Cork here are regulative prin%iples, sin%e #ynami%al synthesis is not limite# to phenomenal $eatures, )ut re$ers them to their un#erlyingunknoCa)le su)stratum, to the trans%en#ental o)je%t' in this pre%ise sense, the e5isten%e o$ /HeC/ as irre#u%i)le to the series o$ pre#i%ates, i,e,, his e5isten%e as pure positing 1Set4ung2 o$ the trans%en#ental o)je%t Dua su)stratum o$ phenomenal pre#i%ates, hinges on #ynami%al synthesis, +n -a%anian terms, #ynami%al synthesis posits the e5isten%e o$ an M as the transphenomenal /har# kernel o$ )eing/ )eyon# pre#i%ates 1Chi%h is Chy the -174hatre# o$ HeCs #oes not %on%ern their phenomenal properties )ut aims at their hi##en /kernel o$ )eing/2-- a neC proo$ o$ hoC /reason/ is at Cork in the very heart o$ /un#erstan#ing,/ in the most elementary positing o$ an o)je%t as /really e5isting,/ +t is there$ore #eeply signi$i%ant that, throughout the su)#ivision on the se%on# analogy o$ e5perien%e, *ant %onsistently uses the Cor# +b(ekt 1#esignating an intelligi)le entity2 an# not egenstand 1#esignating a simple phenomenal entity2E the e5ternal, o)je%tive e5isten%e a%hieve# )y the syntheti% use o$ #ynami% regulative prin%iples is /intelligi)le,/ not empiri%al-intuitive' i,e,, it a##s to the intuitive-sensi)le $eatures o$ the o)je%t an intelligi)le, nonsensi)le M an# thus makes an o)je%t out o$ it, +n this pre%ise sense 0egel remains Cithin *ant<s $un#amental $rameCork, (hat is to say, in Chat resi#es the $un#amental para#o5 o$ *ant<s trans%en#entalismK *ant<s initial pro)lem is the $olloCing oneE given that my senses )om)ar# me Cith a %on$use# multitu#e o$ representations, hoC am + to #istinguish, in this $lu5, )etCeen mere /su)je%tive/ representations an# o)je%ts that e5ist in#epen#ently o$ the $lu5 o$ representationsK (he ansCerE my representations a%Duire /o)je%tive status/ via trans%en#ental synthesis Chi%h %hanges them into the o)je%ts o$ e5perien%e, 3hat + e5perien%e as /o)je%tive/ e5isten%e, the very /har# kernel/ o$ the o)je%t )eneath the ever-%hanging phenomenal $lu%tuations, in#epen#ent o$ the $lu5 o$ my %ons%iousness, thus results $rom my 1the su)je%t<s2 oCn /spontaneous/ syntheti% a%tivity, "n#, mutatis mutan#is, 0egel says the same thingE the esta)lishment o$ a)solute ne%essity eDuals its sel$-%an%ellation, i,e,, it #esignates the a%t o$ $ree#om Chi%h retroa%tively /posits/ something as ne%essary,

The 8A/solute 'nrest of (e o6ing8

(he trou)le Cith %ontingen%y resi#es in its un%ertain statusE is it ontologi%al, i,e,, are things in themselves %ontingent, or is it epistemologi%al, i,e,, is %ontingen%y merely an e5pression o$ the $a%t that we do not know the %omplete %hain o$ %auses Chi%h )rought a)out the allege#ly /%ontingent/ phenomenonK 0egel un#ermines the %ommon supposition o$ this alternative,

namely the e5ternal relationship o$ )eing an# knoCle#geE the notion o$ /reality/ as something that is simply given, that e5ists /out there,/ prior an# e5ternal to the pro%ess o$ knoCle#ge' the #i$$eren%e )etCeen the ontologi%al an# the epistemologi%al version is only that, in the $irst %ase, %ontingen%y is part o$ this reality itsel$, Chereas in the se%on# %ase, reality is -173Cholly #etermine# )y ne%essity, +n %ontrast to )oth these versions, 0egel a$$irms the )asi% thesis o$ spe%ulative i#ealismE the pro%ess o$ knoCle#ge, i,e,, our %omprehen#ing the o)je%t, is not something e5ternal to the o)je%t )ut inherently #etermines its status 1as *ant puts it, the %on#itions o$ possi)ility o$ our e5perien%e are also the %on#itions o$ possi)ility o$ the o)je%ts o$ e5perien%e2, +n other Cor#s, %ontingen%y #oes e5press the in%ompleteness o$ our knoCle#ge, )ut this incompleteness also ontologically defines the ob(ect of knowledge itself-it )ears Citness to the $a%t that the o)je%t itsel$ is not yet ontologi%ally /realiFe#,/ $ully a%tual, (he merely epistemologi%al status o$ %ontingen%y is thus invali#ate#, Cithout us $alling )a%k into ontologi%al naivetJE )ehin# the appearan%e o$ %ontingen%y there is no hi##en, not-yetknoCn ne%essity, )ut only the necessity of the very appearance that, behind superficial contingency, there is an underlying substantial necessity-- as in the %ase o$ anti-Semitism, Chere the ultimate appearan%e is the very appearan%e o$ the un#erlying ne%essity, i,e,, the appearan%e that, )ehin# the series o$ a%tual $eatures 1unemployment, moral #isintegration,,,2, there is the hi##en ne%essity o$ the /HeCish plot,/ (herein %onsists the 0egelian inversion o$ /e5ternal/ into /a)solute/ re$le%tionE in e5ternal re$le%tion, appearan%e is the elusive sur$a%e %on%ealing its hi##en ne%essity, Chereas in a)solute re$le%tion, appearan%e is the appearan%e o$ this very 1unknoCn2 ?e%essity )ehin# %ontingen%y, 8r, to make use o$ an even more /0egelian/ spe%ulative $ormulation, i$ %ontingen%y is an appearan%e %on%ealing some hi##en ne%essity, then this ne%essity is stricto sensu an appearance of itself, (his inherent antagonism o$ the relationship )etCeen %ontingen%y an# ne%essity o$$ers an e5emplary %ase o$ the 0egelian tria#E $irst the /naive/ ontologi%al %on%eption Chi%h lo%ates the #i$$eren%e in things themselves 1some events are in themselves %ontingent, others ne%essary2, then the attitu#e o$ /e5ternal re$le%tion/ Chi%h %on%eives o$ this #i$$eren%e as purely epistemologi%al, i,e,, #epen#ent upon the in%ompleteness o$ our knoCle#ge 1Ce e5perien%e as /%ontingent/ an event Chen the %omplete %ausal %hain that pro#u%e# it remains )eyon# our grasp2, an#, $inally,-- ChatK 3hat is the thir# term )esi#es the seemingly e5haustive %hoi%e )etCeen ontology an# epistemologyK The very relationship between possibility :6ua sub(ective sei4ing of actuality; and actuality :6ua the ob(ect of conceptual sei4ing;, Goth %ontingen%y an# ne%essity are %ategories Chi%h e5press the #iale%ti%al unity o$ a%tual an# possi)le' they are to )e #istinguishe# only inso$ar as %ontingen%y #esignates this unity %on%eive# in the mo#e o$ su)je%tivity, o$ -176the /a)solute unrest/ o$ )e%oming, o$ the split )etCeen su)je%t an# o)je%t, an# /ne%essity/ this same %ontent %on%eive# in the mo#e o$ o)je%tivity, o$ #eterminate )eing, o$ the i#entity o$ su)je%t an# o)je%t, o$ the rest o$ the 9esult, 39 +n short, Ce are again at the %ategory o$ pure formal conversion' the %hange %on%erns only the mo#ality o$ $ormE /(his absolute unrest o$ the becoming o$ these tCo #eterminations is contingency, Gut just )e%ause ea%h imme#iately turns into its opposite, eDually in this other it simply unites Cith itsel$, an# this i#entity o$ )oth, o$ one in the other, is necessity,/ 6A

0egel<s %ounterposition here Cas a#opte# )y *ierkegaar#, in his notion o$ the tCo #i$$erent mo#alities o$ o)serving a pro%essE $rom the stan#point o$ /)e%oming/ an# $rom the stan#point o$ /)eing,/ 61 /"$ter the $a%t,/ history %an alCays )e rea# as a pro%ess governe# )y laCs, i,e,, as a meaning$ul su%%ession o$ stages' hoCever, inso$ar as Ce are history<s agents, em)e##e#, %aught in the pro%ess, the situation appears-- at least at the turning points Chen /something is happening/-- open, un#e%i#a)le, $ar $rom the e5position o$ an un#erlying ne%essity, 3e must )ear in min# here the lesson on the me#iation o$ the su)je%tive attitu#e Cith o)je%tivityE Ce %annot re#u%e one perspe%tive to another )y %laiming, $or e5ample, that the /true/ pi%ture is that o$ ne%essity #is%overe# )y the /)a%kCar# vieC,/ that $ree#om is just an illusion o$ the imme#iate agents Cho overlook hoC their a%tivity is a small Cheel Cithin the large %ausal me%hanism' or, %onversely, )y em)ra%ing a kin# o$ Sartrean e5istentialist perspe%tive an# a$$irming the su)je%t<s ultimate autonomy an# $ree#om, %on%eiving the appearan%e o$ #eterminism as the later /pra%ti%o-inert/ o)je%tiviFation o$ the su)je%t<s spontaneous pra8is, +n )oth %ases, the ontologi%al unity o$ the universe is save#, Chether in the $orm o$ su)stantial ne%essity pulling the strings )ehin# the su)je%t<s )a%k or in the $orm o$ the su)je%t<s autonomous a%tivity /o)je%tiviFing/ itsel$ in su)stantial unity, 3hat gets lost is the ontologi%al s%an#al o$ the ultimate undecidability )etCeen the tCo %hoi%es, 0ere 0egel is $ar more su)versive than *ierkegaar#, Cho es%apes the #ea#lo%k )y giving pre$eren%e to possi)ility over a%tuality an# thus announ%es the Gergsonian notion o$ a%tuality Dua me%hani%al %ongelation o$ the li$e-pro%ess, 64 +n this un#e%i#a)ility lies the ultimate am)iguity o$ 0egel<s philosophy, the in#e5 o$ an impossi)ility )y Cay o$ Chi%h it /tou%hes the real/E hoC are Ce to %on%eive o$ the #iale%ti%al re-%olle%tionK 63 +s it a retroa%tive glan%e ena)ling us to #is%ern the %ontours o$ inner ne%essity Chere the vieC immerse# in the events %an only per%eive an interplay o$ a%%i#ents, i,e,, as -177the /su)lation/ 1,ufhebung2 o$ this interplay o$ a%%i#ents in un#erlying logi%al ne%essityK 8r is it, on the %ontrary, a glan%e ena)ling us to resus%itate the openness o$ the situation, its /possi)ility,/ its irre#u%i)le %ontingen%y, in Chat a$terCar#s, $rom o)je%tive #istan%e, appears as a ne%essary o)je%tive pro%essK "n# #oes not this un#e%i#a)ility )ring us )a%k to our starting pointE is not this am)iguity again the Cay se5ual #i$$eren%e is ins%ri)e# into the very %ore o$ 0egel<s logi%K +nso$ar as the relationship )etCeen %ontingen%y an# ne%essity is that o$ )e%oming an# )eing, it is legitimate to %on%eive o$ ob(et a, this pure sem)lan%e, as a kin# o$ /anti%ipation/ o$ )eing $rom the perspe%tive o$ )e%oming, (hat is to say, 0egel %on%eives o$ matter as %orrelative to in%omplete $orm, i,e,, to $orm Chi%h still is a /mere $orm,/ a mere anti%ipation o$ itsel$ Dua %omplete $orm, +n this pre%ise sense, it %an )e sai# that ob(et a #esignates that remain#er o$ matter Chi%h )ears Citness to the $a%t that $orm #i# not yet $ully realiFe itsel$, that it #i# not )e%ome a%tual as the %on%rete #etermination o$ the o)je%t, that it remains a mere anti%ipation o$ itsel$, (he spatial anamorphosis has to )e supplemente# here )y the temporal anamorphosis 1Chat is anti%ipation i$ not a temporal anamorphosis in Chi%h Ce pro#u%e an image o$ the o)je%t #istorte# )y the hasty, overtaking glan%eK2, Spatially, a is an o)je%t Chose proper %ontours are #is%erni)le only i$ Ce glimpse it askan%e' it is $orever in#is%erni)le to the straight$orCar# look, 66 (emporally, it is an o)je%t Chi%h e5ists only Dua anti%ipate# or lost, only in the mo#ality o$ not-yet or not-anymore, never in the /noC/ o$ a pure, un#ivi#e# present, *ant<s trans%en#ental o)je%t 1his term $or a2 is there$ore a kin# o$ mirage Chi%h gives

)o#y to the ineDuality o$ the $orm to itsel$, not an in#e5 o$ the surplus o$ the material in-itsel$ over $orm, 3hat Ce en%ounter here is again the ultimate am)iguity o$ 0egel, "%%or#ing to the stan#ar# do8a, the telos o$ the #iale%ti%al pro%ess is the a)solute $orm that a)olishes any material surplus, +$, hoCever, this is truly the %ase Cith 0egel, hoC are Ce to a%%ount $or the $a%t that the 9esult e$$e%tively throCs us )a%k into the Chirlpool, that it is nothing )ut the totality o$ the route Ce ha# to travel in or#er to arrive at the 9esultK +n other Cor#s, is not a kin# o$ leap $rom /not-yet/ to /alCays-alrea#y/ %onstitutive o$ the 0egelian #iale%ti%sE Ce en#eavor to approa%h the Ioal 1the a)solute $orm #evoi# o$ any matter2, Chen, all o$ a su##en, Ce esta)lish that all the time Ce Cere alrea#y thereK +s not the %ru%ial shi$t in a #iale%ti%al pro%ess the reversal o$ anti%ipation-- not into its $ul$illment, )ut-- into retroa%tionK +$, there$ore, the $ul$illment never o%%urs in the Present, #oes this not testi$y to the irre#u%i)le status o$ ob(et aK -17>-

A tuality of the ,ossi/le

(he ontologi%al )a%kgroun# o$ this leap $rom /not-yet/ to /alCaysalrea#y/ is a kin# o$ /tra#ing o$ pla%es/ )etCeen possi)ility an# a%tualityE possi)ility itsel$, in its very opposition to a%tuality, possesses an a%tuality o$ its oCn-- in Chat pre%ise senseK 0egel alCays insists on the a)solute prima%y o$ a%tualityE true, the sear%h $or the /%on#itions o$ possi)ility/ a)stra%ts $rom the a%tual, %alls it into Duestion, in or#er to 1re2%onstitute it on a rational )asis' yet in all these ruminations a%tuality is presuppose# as something given, +n other Cor#s, nothing is stranger to 0egel than -ei)niFean spe%ulation a)out the multitu#e o$ possi)le Corl#s out o$ Chi%h the .reator pi%ks out the )estE spe%ulation on possi)le universes alCays takes pla%e against the )a%kgroun# o$ the har# $a%t o$ a%tual e5isten%e, 8n the other han#, there is alCays something traumati% a)out the raC $a%tuality o$ Chat Ce en%ounter as /a%tual/' a%tuality is alCays marke# )y an in#eli)le )ran# o$ the 1real as2 /impossi)le,/ (he shi$t $rom a%tuality to possi)ility, the suspension o$ a%tuality through inDuiry into its possi)ility, is there$ore ultimately an en#eavor to avoi# the trauma o$ the real, i,e,, to integrate the real )y means o$ %on%eiving it as something that is meaning$ul Cithin our sym)oli% universe, 67 8$ %ourse, this sDuaring o$ the %ir%le o$ possi)le an# a%tual 1i,e,, $irst the suspension o$ a%tuality an# then its #erivation $rom the %on%eptual possi)ility2 never Corks out, as proven )y the very %ategory o$ %ontingen%yE /%ontingen%y/ #esignates an a%tual %ontent inso$ar as it %annot )e Cholly groun#e# in its %on%eptual %on#itions o$ possi)ility, "%%or#ing to philosophi%al %ommon sense, %ontingen%y an# ne%essity are the tCo mo#alities o$ a%tualityE something a%tual is ne%essary inso$ar as its %ontrary is not possi)le' it is %ontingent inso$ar as its %ontrary is also possi)le 1inso$ar as things %oul# also have turne# out otherCise2, (he pro)lem, hoCever, resi#es in the inherent antagonism that pertains to the notion o$ possi)ilityE possi)ility #esignates something /possi)le/ in the sense o$ )eing a)le to a%tualiFe itsel$, as Cell as something /merely possi)le/ as oppose# to )eing a%tual, (his inner split $in#s its %learest e5pression perhaps in the #iametri%ally oppose# roles playe# )y the notion o$ possi)ility in moral argumentation, 8n the one han#, Ce have the /empty possi)ility,/ the e5ternal e5%use o$ the CeakE /+$ + really Cante# to, + %oul# have,,, 1stoppe# smoking, et%,2,/ +n %hallenging this %laim, 0egel again an# again points out hoC the true nature o$ a possi)ility 1is it a true possi)ility or a mere empty presumptionK2 is %on$irme# only )y Cay o$ its a%tualiFationE the only e$$e%tive proo$ that

-17Byou really %an #o something is simply to #o it, 8n the other han#, the possi)ility o$ a%ting #i$$erently e5erts pressure on us in the guise o$ the /voi%e o$ %ons%ien%e/E Chen + o$$er the usual e5%uses 1/+ #i# all that Cas possi)le, there Cas no %hoi%e/2, the superego voi%e keeps gnaCing at me, /?o, you %oul# have #one more@/ (his is Chat *ant has in min# Chen he insists that $ree#om is a%tual alrea#y as possi)ilityE Chen + gave Cay to pathologi%al impulses an# #i# not %arry out my #uty, the actuality o$ my $ree#om is atteste# to )y my aCareness o$ hoC + could have a%te# otherCise, 6> "n# this is also Chat 0egel aims at Chen maintaining that the a%tual 1das !irkliche2 is not the same as that Chi%h simply e5ists 1das Bestehende2E my %ons%ien%e pri%ks me Chen my a%t 1o$ giving Cay to pathologi%al impulses2 Cas not /a%tual,/ #i# not e5press my true moral nature' this #i$$eren%e e5erts pressure on me in the guise o$ /%ons%ien%e,/ 8ne %an #is%ern the same logi% )ehin# the re%ent revival o$ the %onspira%y theory 1 8liver Stone ="12E Cho Cas )ehin# *enne#y<s mur#erK (he i#eologi%al %athe5is o$ this revival is %learE *enne#y<s mur#er a%Duire# su%h traumati% #imensions retroa%tively, $rom the later e5perien%e o$ the Uietnam 3ar, o$ the ?i5on a#ministration<s %yni%al %orruption, o$ the revolt o$ the si5ties that opene# up the gap )etCeen the young generation an# the esta)lishment, (his later e5perien%e trans$orme# *enne#y into a person Cho, ha# he remaine# alive, Coul# have spare# us Uietnam, the gap separating the si5ties generation $rom the esta)lishment, et%, 13hat the %onspira%y theory /represses,/ o$ %ourse, is the pain$ul $a%t o$ *enne#y<s impotence? *enne#y himsel$ Coul# not have )een a)le to prevent the emergen%e o$ this gap,2 (he %onspira%y theory thus keeps alive the #ream o$ another "meri%a, #i$$erent $rom the one Ce %ame to knoC in the seventies an# eighties, 6B 0egel<s position Cith regar# to the relationship o$ possi)ility an# a%tuality is thus very re$ine# an# pre%iseE possi)ility is simultaneously less an# more than Chat its notion implies' %on%eive# in its a)stra%t opposition to a%tuality, it is a /mere possi)ility/ an#, as su%h, it %oin%i#es Cith its opposite, Cith impossi)ility, 8n another level, hoCever, possi)ility alrea#y possesses a %ertain a%tuality in its very capacity of possibility, Chi%h is Chy any $urther #eman# $or its a%tualiFation is super$luous, +n this sense, 0egel points out that the i#ea o$ $ree#om realiFes itsel$ through a series o$ $ailuresE every parti%ular attempt to realiFe $ree#om may $ail' $rom its point o$ vieC, $ree#om remains an empty possi)ility' )ut the very %ontinuous striving o$ $ree#om to realiFe itsel$ )ears Citness to its /a%tuality,/ i,e,, to the $a%t that -17 $ree#om is not a /mere notion/ )ut mani$ests a ten#en%y that pertains to the very essen%e o$ reality, 8n the other han#, the supreme %ase o$ /mere possi)ility/ is the 0egelian /a)stra%t universal/' Chat + have in min# here is the Cell-knoCn para#o5 o$ the relationship )etCeen universal ju#gment an# ju#gment o$ e5isten%e in the %lassi%al "ristotelian syllogismE ju#gment o$ e5isten%e implies the e5isten%e o$ its su)je%t, Chereas universal ju#gment %an also )e true even i$ its su)je%t #oes not e5ist, sin%e it %on%erns only the notion o$ the su)je%t, +$, $or e5ample, one says /"t least one man is 1orE some men are2 mortal,/ this ju#gment is true only i$ at least one man e5ists' i$, on the %ontrary, one says /" uni%orn has only one horn,/ this ju#gment remains true even i$ there are no uni%orns, sin%e it %on%erns solely the immanent #etermination o$ the notion o$ /uni%orn,/ Far $rom its relevan%e )eing limite# to pure theoreti%al ruminations, this gap )etCeen the universal an# the parti%ular has palpa)le

material e$$e%ts-- in politi%s, $or e5ample, "%%or#ing to the results o$ a pu)li% opinion poll in the $all o$ 1991, in the %hoi%e )etCeen Gush an# a nonspe%i$ie# Demo%rati% %an#i#ate, the nonspe%i$ie# Demo%rat Coul# Cin easily' hoCever, in the %hoi%e )etCeen Gush an# any %on%rete, in#ivi#ual Demo%rat, provi#e# Cith $a%e an# name 1 *errey, .uomo,,,2, Gush Coul# have an easy Cin, +n short, the Demo%rat in general Cins over Gush, Chereas Gush Cins over any %on%rete Demo%rat, (o the mis$ortune o$ the Demo%rats, there Cas no /Demo%rat in general,/ 6 (he status o$ possi)ility, Chile #i$$erent $rom that o$ a%tuality, is thus not simply #e$i%ient Cith regar# to it, $ossibility as such e8erts actual effects which disappear as soon as it %actuali4es% itself, Su%h a /short-%ir%uit/ )etCeen possi)ility an# a%tuality is at Cork in the -a%anian notion o$ /sym)oli% %astration/E the so-%alle# /%astration-an5iety/ %annot )e re#u%e# to the psy%hologi%al $a%t that, upon per%eiving the a)sen%e o$ the penis in Coman, man )e%omes a$rai# that /he also might lose it, / 69 /.astration an5iety/ rather #esignates the pre%ise moment at Chi%h the possi)ility o$ %astration takes pre%e#en%e over its a%tuality, i,e,, the moment at Chi%h the very possi)ility o$ %astration, its mere threat, pro#u%es a%tual e$$e%ts in our psy%hi% e%onomy, (his threat as it Cere /%astrates/ us, )ran#ing us Cith an irre#u%i)le loss, "n# it is this same /short-%ir%uit/ )etCeen possi)ility an# a%tuality Chi%h #e$ines the very notion o$ poCerE poCer is actually e5erte# only in the guise o$ a potential threat, i,e,, only inso$ar as it #oes not strike $ully )ut /keeps itsel$ in reserve,/ 7A Su$$i%e it to re%all the logi% o$ paternal authorityE the moment a $ather loses %ontrol an# #isplays his $ull poCer -1791starts to shout, to )eat a %hil#2, Ce ne%essarily per%eive this #isplay as impotent rage, i,e,, as an in#e5 o$ its very opposite, +n this pre%ise sense sym)oli% authority alCays, )y #e$inition, hinges on an irre#u%i)le potentiality-possi)ility, on the a%tuality-e$$e%tivity that pertains to possi)ility Dua possi)ilityE Ce leave )ehin# the /raC,/ pre-sym)oli% real an# enter the sym)oli% universe the moment possi)ility a%Duires a%tuality o$ its oCn, 1(his para#o5 is at Cork in the 0egelian struggle $or re%ognition )etCeen the 1$uture2 -or# an# Gon#smanE to say that the impasse o$ their struggle is resolve# )y Cay o$ the -or#<s symbolic vi%tory an# the Gon#sman<s symbolic #eath eDuals saying that the mere possibility o$ vi%tory is su$$i%ient, (he sym)oli% pa%t at Cork in their struggle ena)les them to stop )e$ore the a%tual physi%al #estru%tion an# to a%%ept the possi)ility o$ vi%tory as its a%tuality,2 (he ;aster<s potential threat is $ar Corse than his a%tual #isplay o$ poCer, (his is Chat Gentham %ounts on in his $antasy-matri5 o$ Panopti%onE the $a%t that the 8ther-- the gaFe in the %entral o)serving toCer-- can Cat%h me' my ra#i%al un%ertainty as to Chether + am )eing o)serve# or not at any pre%ise moment gives rise to an an5iety $ar greater than that arouse# )y the aCareness that + am a%tually o)serve#, (his surplus o$ Chat is /in the possi)ility more than a mere possi)ility/ an# Chi%h gets lost in its a%tualiFation is the real 6ua impossible, 71 +t is pre%isely on a%%ount o$ this potential %hara%ter o$ his poCer that a ;aster is alCays, )y #e$inition, an impostor, i,e,, some)o#y Cho illegitimately o%%upies the pla%e o$ the la%k in the 8ther 1the sym)oli% 8r#er2, +n other Cor#s, the emergen%e o$ the $igure o$ the ;aster is o$ a stri%tly metonymical natureE a ;aster never $ully /measures up to its notion,/ to Death Dua /a)solute ;aster/ 1 0egel2, 0e remains $orever the /metonymy o$ Death/' his Chole %onsisten%y hinges upon the #e$erral, the keeping-inreserve, o$ a $or%e that he $alsely %laims to possess, 74 +t Coul# )e Crong, hoCever, to %on%lu#e-- $rom the $a%t that anyone Cho o%%upies the pla%e o$ the ;aster is an impostor an# a %loCn-- that the per%eive# imper$e%tions o$ the ;aster su)vert his authority, (he Chole arti$i%e o$ /playing a ;aster/ %onsists in

knoCing hoC to use this very gap 1)etCeen the /notion/ o$ the ;aster an# its empiri%al )earer2 to our a#vantageE the Cay $or a ;aster to strengthen his authority is pre%isely to present himsel$ as /human like the rest o$ us,/ $ull o$ little Ceaknesses, a person Cith Chom it is Duite possi)le to /talk normally/ Chen he is not %ompelle# to give voi%e to "uthority, "t a #i$$erent level, this #iale%ti% Cas Ci#ely e5ploite# )y the .atholi% %hur%h, Chi%h Cas alCays rea#y to %on#one small in$ringements i$ they sta)iliFe# -1>Athe reign o$ -aCE prostitution, pornography, et%,, are sins, yet not only %an they )e par#one#, they %an )e %ommen#e# i$ they help preserve marriageE )etter a perio#i% visit to a )rothel than #ivor%e, 73 (his prima%y o$ possi)ility over a%tuality ena)les us also to arti%ulate the #i$$eren%e )etCeen the phalli% signi$ier an# the $etish, (his #i$$eren%e may seem elusive sin%e, in )oth %ases, Ce have to #o Cith a /re$le%tive/ element Chi%h supplements a primor#ial la%k 1the $etish $ills out the voi# o$ the missing maternal phallus' the phallus is the signi$ier o$ the very la%k o$ the signi$ier2, 0oCever, as the signi$ier o$ pure possi)ility, the phallus is never $ully a%tualiFe# 1i,e,, it is the empty signi$ier Chi%h, although #evoi# o$ any #eterminate, positive meaning, stan#s $or the potentiality o$ any possi)le $uture meaning2, Chereas a $etish alCays %laims an a%tual status 1i,e,, it preten#s a%tually to su)stitute $or the maternal phallus2, +n other Cor#s, inso$ar as a $etish is an element that $ills in the la%k o$ 1the maternal2 phallus, the most %on%ise #e$inition o$ the phalli% signi$ier is that it is a fetish of itself? phallus Dua /signifier of castration/ as it Cere gives )o#y to its own lack, -1>1-

,ART III
&'+ The %oo< of En0oy6ent
-1>3-

A The 3ound Is Healed "nly /y the !!!&<ear That &6ote You

8pera took shape as a musi%al $orm aroun# 1>AA1 ;ontever#i +rfeo, the earliest opera /still alive/ to#ay, Cas %ompose# in 1>A32 an# en#e# someChere a$ter 19AA1among the numerous %an#i#ates $or the title o$ the /last true opera,/ there are Pu%%ini Turandot, some o$ 9i%har# Strauss<s operas, Gerg !o44eck,,,2, "t its )eginning stan#s the re%itative 1the great invention o$ ;ontever#i2, the not-yet-aria, an# at its en# Spra%hgesang, the /spoken song,/ the nolonger-aria, +n )etCeen-- in the epo%h Chi%h )roa#ly %oin%i#es Cith that o$ mo#ern-age su)je%tivity-- it Cas possi)le to sing on stage, as part o$ the staging o$ some #ramati% event, 8ne is tempte#, there$ore, to look in the history o$ opera $or tra%es o$ the tren#s an# shi$ts that make up the history o$ su)je%tivity, (his en# o$ %lassi%al su)je%tivity, o$ %ourse, is the very point o$ the emergen%e o$ the mo#ern hysteri%al su)je%t, +n this pre%ise sense, the history o$ the opera %an )e sai# to )elong to the prehistory o$ psy%hoanalysisE it is )y no a%%i#ent that the en# o$ the opera %oin%i#es Cith the emergen%e o$ psy%hoanalysis, (he pre#ominant moti$ o$ S%hoen)erg Chi%h #rove him into the atonal revolution, the %ontent Chi%h it Cas not anymore possi)le to arti%ulate in the %lassi%al tonal operati% aria, Cas pre%isely the $eminine hysteria 1 S%hoen)erg 9rwartung, his $irst atonal masterpie%e, #epi%ts the hysteri%al longing o$ a lone Coman2, "n#, as is Cell knoCn, the $irst analysan#s Cere $emale hysteri%s' that is to say, psy%hoanalysis Cas originally an interpretation o$ $emale hysteria, -1>7-

The Answer of the Real

"t the origins o$ opera there is a pre%isely #e$ine# intersu)je%tive %onstellationE the relationship o$ the su)je%t 1in )oth senses o$ the termE autonomous agent as Cell as the su)je%t o$ legal poCer2 to his ;aster 1*ing or Divinity2 is reveale# through the hero<s re%itative 1the %ounterpoint to the %olle%tivity em)o#ie# in the %horus2, Chi%h is )asi%ally a suppli%ation a##resse# to the ;aster, a %all to him to shoC mer%y, to make an e5%eption, or otherCise $orgive the hero his trespass, 1 (he $irst, ru#imentary $orm o$ su)je%tivity is this voi%e o$ the su)je%t )esee%hing the ;aster to suspen#, $or a )rie$ moment, his oCn -aC, " #ramati% tension in su)je%tivity arises $rom the am)iguity )etCeen poCer an# impoten%e that pertains

to the gesture o$ gra%e )y means o$ Chi%h the ;aster ansCers the su)je%t<s entreaty, "s to the o$$i%ial i#eology, gra%e e5presses the ;aster<s supreme poCer, the poCer to rise a)ove one<s oCn laCE only a really poCer$ul ;aster %an a$$or# to #istri)ute mer%y, 3hat Ce have here is a kin# o$ sym)oli% e5%hange )etCeen the human su)je%t an# his #ivine ;asterE Chen the su)je%t, the human mortal, )y Cay o$ his o$$er o$ sel$-sa%ri$i%e, surmounts his $initu#e an# attains the #ivine heights, the ;aster respon#s Cith the su)lime gesture o$ Ira%e, the ultimate proo$ o$ his humanity, 4 =et this a%t o$ gra%e is at the same time )ran#e# )y the irre#u%i)le mark o$ a $or%e# empty gestureE the ;aster ultimately makes a virtue out o$ ne%essity, in that he promotes as a $ree a%t Chat he is in any %ase %ompelle# to #o' i$ he re$uses %lemen%y, he takes the risk that the su)je%t<s entreaty Cill turn into open re)ellion, +t is here that Ce alrea#y en%ounter the intri%a%ies o$ the #iale%ti% o$ ;aster an# Servant ela)orate# later )y 0egelE is not the ;aster, inso$ar as he #epen#s on the other<s re%ognition, e$$e%tively his oCn servantmapos's servantK For that reason, the temporal pro5imity o$ the emergen%e o$ opera to Des%artes< $ormulation o$ cogito is more than a $ortuitous %oin%i#en%eE one is even tempte# to say that the move $rom ;ontever#i +rfeo to Ilu%k +rpheusand 9uridice %orrespon#s to the move $rom Des%artes to *ant, "t the $ormal level, this move entails a shi$t $rom re%itative to aria' at the level o$ #ramati% %ontent, Chat Ilu%k %ontri)ute# Cas a neC $orm o$ su)je%tiviFation, +n ;ontever#i Ce have su)limation in its purestE a$ter 8rpheus turns to %ast a glan%e at :uri#i%e an# thus loses her, the Divinity %onsoles himE true, he has lost her as a $lesh-an#-)loo# person, )ut $rom noC on, he Cill )e a)le to #is%ern her )eauti$ul $eatures everyChere, in the stars in the -1>>sky, in the glistening o$ the morning #eC, 8rpheus is Dui%k to a%%ept the nar%issisti% pro$it o$ this reversalE he )e%omes enrapture# Cith the poeti% glori$i%ation o$ :uri#i%e that lies ahea# o$ him, 1(his, o$ %ourse, throCs another light on the eternal Duestion o$ Chy he looke# )a%k an# thus s%reCe# things up, 3hat Ce en%ounter here is simply the link )etCeen the #eath-#rive an# %reative su)limationE 8rpheus<s )a%kCar# gaFe is a perverse a%t stricto sensu' he loses her intentionally in or#er to regain her as the o)je%t o$ su)lime poeti% inspiration,2 3 3ith Ilu%k, the #enouement is %ompletely #i$$erentE a$ter looking )a%k an# thus losing :uri#i%e, 8rpheus sings his $amous aria /&he faro sen4a 9uridice,/ announ%ing his intention to kill himsel$, "t this pre%ise point o$ total sel$-a)an#onment, -ove intervenes an# gives him )a%k his :uri#i%e, 6 (his spe%i$i% $orm o$ su)je%tiviFation-- the intervention o$ Ira%e not as a simple ansCer to the su)je%t<s entreaty, )ut as an ansCer in the very moment Chen the su)je%t #e%i#es to put his li$e at stake-- is the tCist a##e# )y Ilu%k, 7 8pera<s #evelopment thus rea%hes its $irst $ull %ir%leE all the elements $or ;oFart are present in Ilu%k, (hat is to say, ;oFart<s /$un#amental matri5/ %onsists o$ pre%isely su%h a gesture o$ su)je%tiviFation Chere)y the assertion o$ the su)je%t<s autonomy 1our rea#iness to sa%ri$i%e ourselves, to go to the en#, to #ie, to lose all2 gives rise to a gesture o$ mer%y in the 8ther, (his matri5 is at Cork in its purest in his $irst tCo masterpie%es, the opera seria Idomeneo an# the Singspiel ,bduction $rom The SeraglioE Chen, in Seraglio, the tCo lovers, prisoners o$ Pasha Selim, e5press their $earless rea#iness to #ie, Pasha Selim shoCs mer%y an# lets them go, "ll ;oFart<s su)seDuent operas %an )e rea# as so many variations or permutations on this matri5, +n Le .o44e di "igaro, $or e5ample, the relationship is reverse#E the ;aster.ount"lmaviva-- is not prepare# to grant mer%y to his Ci$e an# Figaro Chen he thinks that he has %aught them in a#ultery, =et Chen he Calks into the trap set to e5pose his oCn #e%eit, he is himsel$ $or%e# to )eg $or mer%y' an# the %ommunity o$ su)je%ts #oes $orgive him, (hus

o%%urs a uniDue utopian moment o$ re%on%iliation, o$ integration o$ the ;aster into the %ommunity o$ eDuals, *on iovanni )rings this logi% o$ mer%y to its inherent negationE in it, Ce $in# neither entreaty nor mer%y, Don Iiovanni prou#ly re$uses the Stone Iuest<s %all to repent, an# Chat then )e$alls him instea# o$ %lemen%y is the most %ruel punishment, he is sCalloCe# )y the $lames o$ 0ell, > (he i#eal )alan%e o$ autonomy an# mer%y is here pertur)e# )y the emergen%e o$ an autonomy so ra#i%al that it leaves no spa%e open $or mer%y, an autonomy in Chi%h it is not #i$$i%ult to #is%ern the -1>B%ontours o$ Chat *ant %alle# /ra#i%al :vil,/ "$ter this moment o$ utter #espair, Chen the Chole e%onomy o$ mer%y is suspen#e#, the register mira%ulously %hanges an#, Cith The 3agic "lute, Ce enter the #omain o$ $airy )liss, 0ere Ce also tCi%e en%ounter the gesture o$ su)je%tiviFation through a rea#iness to #ie 1)oth Pamina an# Papageno are a)out to %ommit sui%i#e2, yet the agen%y that intervenes an# prevents the a%%omplishment o$ the a%t is not an imposing ;aster or Divinity )ut the three !underknaben, (he temptation to )e avoi#e# here is to %on%eive this ;oFartian %o#epen#en%e o$ autonomy an# mer%y as a %ompromise $ormation, as an illusory point o$ eDuili)rium )etCeen the notyet-su)je%t Cho still relies on the ;aster<s gra%e 1the su)je%t o$ enlightene# a)solutism in his relationship to the ;onar%h2, an# the $ully autonomous su)je%t, master o$ his oCn $ate, +$ Ce su%%um) to this temptation, Ce lose the $un#amental para#o5 o$ hoC autonomy itself, in its very self7affirmation, relies on %mercy,% on a sign of the +ther, on an %answer of the real/E /(he empiri%al min# sees the response o$ mer%y as an alien %apri%e, or just %oin%i#en%e, Gon#age to $ate %an, a)sur#ly enough, )e )roken only )y the $avor o$ $ate' the in#ivi#ual %an roun# his e5isten%e into a Chole only, as Ioethe put it, <i$ Duite une5pe%te# things $rom outsi#e %ome to his ai#,< Piously )elieving it an# )itterly a%%epting it, Ioethe entruste# sel$realiFation in his li$e to the <#aemon,< in his major Cork to the #evil,/ B +n ;oFart, o$ %ourse, the )ourgeois su)je%t, Cith his utilitarian, instrumental %unning #e5terity, is har# at Cork $rom the very )eginning 1the element o$ opera buffa2, (he motto /0elp yoursel$ an# Io# Cill help you/ re%eives here its $ull valueE the su)je%t is never a mere appli%ant' )y Cay o$ his su)ter$uge, he prepares the groun# in a#van%e, arranging the plot, so that all that is le$t $or the Io#-;aster is to no# his assent a$ter the $a%t, like the 0egelian monar%h, Gut the more it )e%omes %lear that, at the level o$ %ontent, the su)je%t<s su)ter$uge has alrea#y taken %are o$ the $inal out%ome, the more the true enigma o$ $orm )e%omes palpa)leE Chy #oes the su)je%t still nee# mer%y, Chy #oes he not also assume the $ormal a%t o$ #e%ision, Chy #oes he still rely on the 8therK (he $urther $eature Chi%h apparently %ontra#i%ts the %unning #e5terity is that the 8ther intervenes at the very moment Chen, in a sui%i#al a%t o$ a)an#onment, the su)je%t e5presses his rea#iness to put all at stake in a gesture o$ #e$iant renun%iation an# thus #isavoCs all the %heap tri%ks o$ instrumental reason, "s long as + en#eavor to )argain, as long as + propose my sel$-sa%ri$i%e so to speak Cith my $ingers %rosse#, %ounting on the lastminute intervention o$ gra%e, the 8ther Cill not respon#, Ira%e is a %ase o$ -1> Chat Hon :lster %alle# /states Chi%h are essentially a )y-pro#u%t/E it o%%urs at the very moment Chen Ce a)an#on all hope an# %ease to %ount on it, (he situation is here ultimately the same as that o$ ")raham<s a%%eptan%e o$ Io#<s %omman# to sa%ri$i%e his sonE )e%ause he

a%%epte# it, he #i# not have to %arry it out' but he could not know that in advance, "n# #oes not the same para#o5 #e$ine so-%alle# /mature love/E our partner Cill really appre%iate our love only i$ Ce somehoC let him knoC that Ce are not %hil#ishly #epen#ent on him, that Ce are a)le to survive Cithout himK (herein %onsists the or#eal o$ true loveE + preten# that +<ll leave you, an# only i$ an# Chen you #emonstrate your a)ility to en#ure my loss #o you )e%ome Corthy o$ my love, "s Cas pointe# out )y .lau#e -e$ort, 9 a similar %on$i#en%e in the ansCer o$ the real is at Cork in #emo%ra%y, Chi%h entails the sym)oli% #issolution o$ so%ial links 1in the a%t o$ ele%tions, the $uture $ate o$ so%iety is ma#e #epen#ent on a play o$ numeri% %ontingen%y2' the un#erlying hypothesis that-- in the long term, at least-- the result Cill )e in the )est interests o$ so%iety %an never )e #ire%tly proven, it alCays relies on a minimum o$ mira%ulous %oin%i#en%e' i,e,, to re$er to the *antian terms, the status o$ this hypothesis is stri%tly regulative, not %onstitutive, like that o$ teleology in *ant, 1+t is pre%isely this gap Chi%h opens up the spa%e $or the totalitarian temptation #ire%tly to impose on so%iety the solution Chi%h is /in its )est interest,/2 8ne o$ the most %ommon /postmo#ern/ myths %on%erns the phantom o$ the so-%alle# /.artesian para#igm o$ su)je%tivity/E the era o$ mo#ernity noC rea%hing its en# Cas allege#ly marke# )y the all-#evouring monster o$ the a)solute, sel$-transparent Su)je%t, re#u%ing every 8therness to an o)je%t to )e /me#iate#,/ /internaliFe#,/ #ominate# )y te%hnologi%al manipulation, et%,, the ultimate result o$ Chi%h is the present e%ologi%al %risis, 0ere, re$eren%e to the history o$ the opera alloCs us to #enoun%e this myth )y Cay o$ #emonstrating hoC, $ar $rom postulating an /a)solute su)je%t,/ philosophy $rom *ant to 0egel, this apogee o$ /mo#ern-age su)je%tivity,/ struggle# #esperately to arti%ulate the para#o5i%al %onjun%tion o$ autonomy an# Ira%e, i,e,, the #epen#en%e o$ the very assertion o$ the su)je%t<s autonomy on the sympatheti% response o$ an 8therness, 1A

&u/0e ti7ity and Gra e

(his /ansCer o$ the 9eal/ on Chi%h Ce rely, this support in the )ig 8ther Chose gesture o$ response /su)je%tiviFes/ the a)yss o$ the pure su)je%t, is Chat 0egel has in min# Chen he speaks o$ the /%unning o$ reason,/ (he -1>9su)je%t<s rea#iness to /sa%ri$i%e everything/ is %on%eive# )y 0egel as /the return o$ %ons%iousness into the #epths o$ the night o$ the + Q +, Chi%h #istinguishes an# knoCs nothing )esi#es itsel$, (his $eeling is there$ore in $a%t the loss o$ su)stan%e an# its stan#ing over an# against %ons%iousness,/ 11 (he %ommonpla%e reproa%h to 0egel is that, in the /%lose# e%onomy/ o$ his i#ealism, this loss reverts automati%ally into the neC positivity o$ the sel$i#enti%al Su)je%t-Su)stan%e, Gut Ce must )e parti%ularly %are$ul not to miss the para#o5 o$ this inversion, 8n the one han#, the sa%ri$i%e is in no Cay $eigne#, i,e,, it is not part o$ the game in Chi%h one %an rely on the ")solute<s guaranteeing a happy out%ome, 0egel is here Duite %lear an# unam)iguousE Chat #ies in this e5perien%e o$ the return into the night o$ the + Q + is ultimately Su)stan%e itsel$, i,e,, Io# Dua trans%en#ent agen%y Chi%h pulls the strings )ehin# the stage, 3hat #ies is thus pre%isely Io# Dua 9eason, Chi%h, )y Cay o$ its /%unning,/ guarantees the happy out%ome o$ the histori%al pro%ess-- in short, a)solute Su)je%t-9eason, the notion o$ Chi%h is usually impute# to 0egel, 0egel<s interpretation o$ .hristianity is here $ar more su)versive than it may appear, 0oC #oes 0egel %on%eive the .hristian notion o$ the )e%oming-man o$ Io#' at Chat level #oes he pla%e the sign o$ eDuality )etCeen Io# an# manK "t the ra#i%al opposite o$ the usual vieC Chi%h %on%eives the /#ivine/ in man as that

Chi%h in him is eternal, no)le, et%, 3hen Io# )e%omes man, he i#enti$ies Cith man Dua su$$ering, sin$ul mortal, +n this sense, the /#eath o$ Io#/ means that the su)je%t verily $in#s himsel$ alone, Cithout any guarantee in su)stantial 9eason, in the )ig 8ther, 8n the other han#, hoCever-- an# therein %onsists the para#o5-- Ce are here as $ar as possi)le $rom any kin# o$ e5istential #espair, $rom the /openness/ o$ the ra#i%al risk 1/Chen everything is put at stake, Ira%e %an either intervene or not/2E the reversal into mer%y $olloCs automati%ally' it takes pla%e as soon as Ce truly put everything at stake, 3hyK ;ore pre%iselyE Chy is the stan#ar# Derri#ean Duestion 1/3hat i$ the reversal #oes not arrive, Chat i$ no <ansCer o$ the 9eal< $olloCs the ra#i%al lossK/2 here totally out o$ pla%eK (here is only one e5planation possi)leE the reversal o$ loss into salvation )y Cay o$ Ira%e is an a%t o$ purely $ormal %onversion' i,e,, the intervention of race is not something distinct from the preceding loss, but is this very loss, the same act of self7renunciation, conceived from a different perspective, 3ith regar# to .hristianity, this means that the #eath o$ .hrist is simultaneously a #ay o$ grie$ an# a #ay o$ joyE Io#-.hrist ha# to #ie in or#er to )e a)le to %ome to li$e again in the shape o$ the %ommunity o$ )elievers 1the -1BA/0oly Spirit/2, +nstea# o$ the /su)stan%e/ Dua Io#-;aster, the ins%ruta)le Fate Chi%h reigns in its Geyon#, Ce o)tain the /su)stan%e/ Dua %ommunity o$ )elievers, +n this pre%ise sense, /the Coun# is heale# only )y the spear that smote you/E the #eath o$ Io# is his resurre%tion, the Ceapon that kille# .hrist is the tool that %reate# the .hristian %ommunity o$ the 0oly Spirit, Su)je%tivity thus involves a kin# o$ loop, a vi%ious %ir%le, an e%onomi%al para#o5 Chi%h %an )e ren#ere# in a multitu#e o$ Cays, 0egel<s, 3agner<s, -a%an<s, -a%anE %astration means that the (hing-(ouissance must )e lost in or#er to )e regaine# on the la##er o$ #esire, i,e,, the sym)oli% or#er re%overs its oCn %onstitutive #e)t' 3agner in $arsifalE the Coun# is heale# only )y the spear that smote you' 0egelE the imme#iate i#entity o$ the su)stan%e must )e lost in or#er to )e regaine# through the Cork o$ su)je%tive me#iation, 3hat Ce %all /su)je%t/ is ultimately a name $or this e%onomi% para#o5 or, more a%%urately, short-%ir%uit, Chere)y the conditions of possibility coincide with the conditions of impossibility, (his #ou)le-)in#, Chi%h %onstitutes the su)je%t, Cas $or the $irst time e5pli%itly arti%ulate# )y *antE the + o$ trans%en#ental apper%eption %an )e sai# to )e /sel$-%ons%ious,/ %an e5perien%e itsel$ as a $ree, spontaneous agent, to the very e5tent to Chi%h it is ina%%essi)le to itsel$ as the /(hing Chi%h thinks/' the su)je%t o$ pra%ti%al reason %an a%t morally 1out o$ #uty2 to the very e5tent to Chi%h any #ire%t a%%ess to Supreme Ioo# is )arre# to him' et%, (he point o$ these para#o5es is that Chat Ce %all /su)je%tiviFation/ 1re%ogniFing onesel$ in interpellation, assuming an impose# sym)oli% man#ate2 is a kin# o$ #e$ense me%hanism against an a)yss, a gap, Chi%h /is/ the su)je%t, (he "lthusserian theory %on%eives the su)je%t as the e$$e%t o$ i#eologi%al 1mis2re%ognitionE the su)je%t emerges in an a%t Chi%h ren#ers invisi)le its oCn %ausality, 9e$eren%e to opera ena)les us to #is%ern the %ontours o$ a %ertain vi%ious %ir%le Chi%h #e$ines the #imension o$ su)je%tivity, yet is not the "lthusserian %ir%le o$ interpellationE the "lthusserian moment o$ the %losure o$ the %ir%le, o$ the 1mis2re%ognition in interpellation, is not the #ire%t e$$e%t o$ a /pro%ess Cithout su)je%t,/ )ut an attempt to heal the very Coun# o$ su)je%tivity, 3e en%ounter this antagonism )etCeen su)je%t an# su)je%tivity in all three o$ *ant<s %ritiDues, +n the #omain o$ /pure reason,/ the su)je%t o$ pure apper%eption-- N, the empty /+ think/--

ne%essarily lapses into the trans%en#ental Schein, mistaking itsel$ $or a /thinking substance,/ i,e,, $alsely assuming that, )y Cay o$ sel$-%ons%iousness, it has the a%%ess to itsel$ Dua -1B1(hing-in-itsel$, +n the #omain o$ /pra%ti%al reason,/ the moral su)je%t-su)mitte# to, %onstitute# )y, the universal form o$ %ategori%al imperative-ne%essarily $alls prey to the Schein o$ Supreme Ioo#, elevating some /pathologi%al/ content into the aim an# impetus o$ its moral a%tivity, +n the #omain o$ /ju#gment,/ the re$le%ting su)je%t ne%essarily misses the purely regulative nature o$ a teleologi%al ju#gment-- i,e,, the $a%t that this ju#gment %on%erns only the su)je%t<s re$le%tive relationship to reality, not reality itsel$-- an# misrea#s teleology as something that pertains to reality itsel$, as its constitutive #etermination, (he %ru%ial $eature in all three %ases is an irre#u%i)le splitting o$ the su)je%tE )etCeen N an# the su)stantial /person/ in pure reason, )etCeen $ul$illing #uty $or the sake o$ #uty an# serving some Supreme Ioo# in pra%ti%al reason, )etCeen the su)lime e5perien%e o$ the gap that separates phenomena $rom the suprasensi)le +#ea an# the /gentri$i%ation/ o$ this gap via )eauty an# teleology in the %apa%ity o$ ju#gment, +n all three %ases, the /lapse/ #esignates the shi$t $rom su)je%t into su)je%tiviFationE in my %apa%ity as knoCing su)je%t, + /su)je%tiviFe/ mysel$ )y Cay o$ re%ogniFing mysel$ as /person/ in the $ullness o$ its %ontent' in my %apa%ity as moral su)je%t, + /su)je%tiviFe/ mysel$ )y Cay o$ su)mitting mysel$ to some su)stantial Supreme Ioo#' in my %apa%ity as re$le%ting, ju#ging su)je%t, + /su)je%tiviFe/ mysel$ )y Cay o$ i#enti$ying my pla%e in a teleologi%al, harmonious stru%ture o$ the universe, +n all three %ases, the logi% o$ this /lapse/ is that o$ an illusion Chi%h, even Chen its me%hanism is e5pose#, %ontinues to operateE + 1may2 knoC that teleologi%al ju#gments have the status o$ a mere su)je%tive re$le%tion, not o$ a genuine knoCle#ge o$ reality, yet nonetheless + %annot a)stain $rom making teleological observations' et%, +n all three %ases, the *antian su)je%t is there$ore %aught in a kin# o$ #ou)le-)in#E in pra%ti%al reason, it is evi#ent that the true superego-reverse o$ the *antian /*u kannst, denn du sollst@/ 1/=ou %an, )e%ause you must@/2 is /=ou must, although you knoC that you %annot, that it is not possi)le@/-- i,e,, an impossi)le #eman# Chi%h %an never )e satis$ie# an# as su%h %on#emns the su)je%t to an eternal split, +n teleology, on the %ontrary, /you knoC you shoul# not #o it, yet you %annot not #o it,/ (o put it yet another Cay, the /lapse/ 1into teleology, into the su)stantial notion o$ Supreme Ioo#2 is an en#eavor to heal the Coun# o$ the su)je%t Dua N, to $ill in the gap Chi%h ren#ers the (hing ina%%essi)leE it reinstates the su)je%t into the /great %hain o$ )eing,/ "n# $ar $rom a%ting as a stum)ling )lo%k, this very #ou)le-)in# serve# as a lever $or the $urther -1B4#evelopment o$ philosophi%al pro)lemati%, +n other Cor#s, *ant<s merit %onsists thus o$ the very $eature that is the usual target o$ his %riti%sE by means of one and the same gesture, his philosophy opens up the space :the possibility, the need; for a thing and makes this thing inaccessible and > or impossible to accomplish-- as i$ the opening is possi)le only at the pri%e o$ the instantaneous %rossing-out, 14 ;aimon, *ant<s %ontemporary, Cas the $irst to point out that *ant<s #ualism )etCeen reason an# sense )oth %reates the nee# $or the trans%en#ental turn 1to es%ape 0ume<s skepti%ism2 an# makes it impossi)le' along the same lines, *ant is usually reproa%he# $or %on%eiving (hings-in-themselves as a ne%essary presupposition o$ our knoCle#ge 1provi#ing the /material/ to )e $orme# )y the trans%en#ental gri#2, )ut at the same time making them ina%%essi)le to our knoCle#ge' on another level, the pure ethi%al a%t is un%on#itionally impose# )y the moral imperative and something that, $or all pra%ti%al

purposes, remains impossi)le to a%%omplish, sin%e one %an never )e Duite %ertain o$ the total a)sen%e o$ /pathologi%al/ %onsi#erations in any o$ our a%ts, (his entity, ne%essary an# impossi)le in one an# the same movement, is the -a%anian 9eal, 13 "n# the line separating *ant $rom 0egel is here $ar thinner than it may appearE all 0egel #i# Cas to )ring to its %on%lusion this %oin%i#en%e o$ %on#itions o$ possi)ility Cith %on#itions o$ impossi)ilityE i$ positing an# prohi)iting %oin%i#e a)solutely, then there is no nee# $or (hing-in-itsel$' i,e,, then the mirage o$ +n-itsel$ is %reate# )y the very a%t o$ prohi)iting, "n# #oes not this same a)solute simultaneity o$ positioning an# prohi)iting #e$ine the -a%anian ob(et petit a, the o)je%t-%ause o$ #esireK +n this pre%ise sense, -a%an %an )e sai# to a%%omplish the *antian %riti%al proje%t )y supplementing it Cith a $ourth %ritiDue, the /%ritiDue o$ pure #esire,/ the $oun#ation o$ the $irst three %ritiDues, 16 Desire )e%omes /pure/ the moment it %eases to )e %on%eive# as the #esire $or a /pathologi%al/ 1positively given2 o)je%t, the moment it is posite# as the #esire $or an o)je%t Chose emergen%e %oin%i#es Cith its Cith#raCal, i,e,, Chi%h is nothing )ut the tra%e o$ its oCn retreat, 3hat must )e )orne in min# here is the #i$$eren%e )etCeen this *antian position an# the tra#itional /spiritualist/ position o$ striving a$ter in$inity, $ree# $rom every atta%hment to sensi)le parti%ularity 1the Platoni% mo#el o$ love Chi%h elevates itsel$ $rom love $or an in#ivi#ual person toCar# love $or the +#ea o$ Geauty as su%h2E $ar $rom amounting to another version o$ su%h spiritualiFe#-ethereal #esire, the *antian /pure #esire/ is %on$ine# to the para#o5 o$ the su)je%t<s $initu#e, +$ the su)je%t Cere a)le to trespass the limitations o$ his $initu#e an# to a%%omplish the -1B3step into the noumenal #omain, the very su)lime o)je%t Chi%h %onstitutes his #esire as /pure/ Coul# )e lost 1Ce en%ounter the same para#o5 in *ant<s pra%ti%al philosophyE it is the very ina%%essi)ility o$ the (hing Chi%h makes us %apa)le o$ moral a%ts2,

-ro6 +o;art to 3agner

=et the story is $ar $rom over at this point, (he line o$ ;oFart<s operas, $rom its $un#amental matri5 through its variations to the $inal reversal into the )liss o$ The 3agic "lute, is repeate#, on a #i$$erent level, in the operas o$ 9i%har# 3agner, (he missing link )etCeen ;oFart an# 3agner is provi#e# )y Geethoven "idelio, 8n the one han#, Ce $in# the intervention o$ ;er%y Chi%h $olloCs the gesture o$ sel$-sa%ri$i%ing su)je%tiviFation in its purestE Chen PiFarro, the evil governor o$ the prison, Cants to #ispose o$ the no)le Florestan, -eonora, Florestan<s $aith$ul Ci$e, maske# as a man an# employe# as the jailer assistant un#er the $alse name o$ /Fi#elio,/ interposes hersel$ )etCeen the tCo, shiel#ing Florestan Cith her oCn )o#y, an# reveals her true i#entity, "t the very moment Chen PiFFaro threatens to kill her, a trumpet soun#s, announ%ing the arrival o$ the ;inister, the messenger o$ the goo# *ing Cho %omes to $ree Florestan, 8n the other han#, Ce alrea#y en%ounter here the key moment o$ 3agner<s $un#amental matri5E man<s re#emption through Coman<s Cilling sel$-sa%ri$i%e, 17 8ne is even tempte# to say that all o$ "idelio, this apogee o$ the e5altation o$ the )ourgeois %ouple, is #ire%te# toCar# the su)lime moment o$ the Coman<s re#emptive sa%ri$i%e, the %onseDuen%es o$ Chi%h are #ou)le, Ge%ause o$ this e5alte# ethi%al enthusiasm, "idelio has alCays )een surroun#e# )y a kin# o$ magi%al aura 1as late as 1977, Chen its per$orman%e marke# the opening o$ the renovate# Uienna opera, Cil# rumors )egan to %ir%ulate in Uienna a)out %ripples regaining their a)ility to Calk an# )lin# men their sight2, =et this very o)session Cith the ethi%al gesture entails a kin# o$ /ethi%al suspension o$ the estheti%/ Chi%h seems to sap the opera<s stage potentialE at the %ru%ial moment, the %urtain $alls an# the opera proper is

supplante# )y a symphoni% interlu#e, alone %apa)le o$ ren#ering the intensity o$ the su)lime e5altation 1the overture Leonora III, usually per$orme# )etCeen the #enouement-- the ;inister<s arrival-- an# the ju)ilant $inale2-- as i$ this e5altation $ails to meet the /%onsi#erations o$ representa)ility,/ as i$ something in it resists the mise-en-s%Yne, 1> For the shi$t to 3agner<s universe to take pla%e, Ce only have to stain -1B6)oth man an# Coman Cith a %ertain /pathology/E the man to )e #elivere# is no longer an inno%ent hero, )ut a su$$ering sinner, a kin# o$ 3an#ering HeC Cho is not alloCe# to #ie, sin%e he is %on#emne#, $or some unspeaka)le past transgression, to rove unen#ingly in the #omain )etCeen the tCo #eaths, 1+n %ontrast to Florestan, Cho in his $amous aria Chi%h opens the se%on# a%t o$ "idelio, prior to the phantasmagori%al appearan%e o$ -eonora, repeats almost o)sessively hoC he /has a%%omplishe# his #uty/ O ich habe meine $flicht getan P, the 3agnerian hero failed to a%t in a%%or#an%e Cith his /#uty,/ his ethi%al man#ate,2 (he %ounterpoint to this $aile# interpellation is that the Coman, the hero<s re#eemer, a%Duires the unmistaka)le $eatures o$ hysteria, so that Ce o)tain a kin# o$ re#ou)le#, mirrore# $antasy, 8n the one han#, The "lying *utchman /%oul# )e re#u%e# to the moment Chen the Dut%hman steps )eneath-- one %oul# almost say, steps out $rom-- his pi%ture, as Senta, Cho has %onjure# him up as :lsa ha# %onjure# up the knight Oin Lohengrin P, stan#s gaFing into his eyes, (he entire opera is nothing more than the attempt to un$ol# this moment in time,/ 1B 1"n# is not the great last a%t o$ Tristan und Isolde an inversion o$ this phantasmagoriaK +s not +sol#e<s appearan%e %onjure# up )y the #ying (ristanK For that reason, the tCo re%ent stagings o$ 3agner Chi%h #ispla%e# part o$ the a%tion into the phantasmagoria o$ one o$ the persons on stage are #eeply justi$ie#E 0arry *up$er<s interpretation o$ the Dut%hman as Senta<s hysteri%al vision' HeanPierre Ponelle<s interpretation o$ +sol#e<s arrival an# e%stati% #eath as the vision o$ the #ying (ristan,2 1 8n the other han#, this $igure o$ the Coman rea#y to sa%ri$i%e hersel$ is %learly an ostentatious male phantasmagoria, in this %ase a phantasmagoria o$ 3agner himsel$, Su$$i%e it to Duote the $olloCing passage $rom his letter to -isFt apropos o$ his love a$$air Cith ;athil#e 3esen#onkE /(he love o$ a ten#er Coman has ma#e me happy' she #are# to throC hersel$ into a sea o$ su$$ering an# agony so that she shoul# )e a)le to say to me /+ love you@/ ?o one Cho #oes not knoC all her ten#erness %an ju#ge hoC mu%h she ha# to su$$er, 3e Cere spare# nothing-)ut as a %onseDuen%e + am re#eeme# an# she is )lesse#ly happy )e%ause she is aCare o$ it,/ 19 For that reason, one is Duite justi$ie# in %on%eiving o$ The "lying *utchman as the $irst/true/ 3agner operaE the su$$ering man, %on#emne# to Can#er in the #omain /)etCeen the tCo #eaths,/ is #elivere# )y the Coman<s sel$-sa%ri$i%e, +t is here that Ce en%ounter the $un#amental matri5 in its purest, an# all 3agner<s su)seDuent operas %an )e generate# $rom it via a set o$ variations, 4A 0ere, also, the elementary $orm o$ the song is the entreaty-- man<s %omplaint, Chose $irst -1B7para#igmati% %ase is the Flying Dut%hman<s monologue in Chi%h Ce learn a)out his sa# $ate, eternally sailing on a ghost-ship, (he most poCer$ul moments in $arsifal, 3agner<s last opera, are also the tCo suppli%ations o$ the Fisher *ing "m$ortas' here, as in the %ase o$ the Dut%hman, the %ontent o$ the entreaty is almost the e5a%t opposite o$ the entreaty Chi%h opens the history o$ operaE in 3agner, the hero )emoans his very ina)ility to $in# pea%e in #eath, i,e,, his $ate o$ eternal su$$ering, 41 (he gesture o$ Ira%e, the /ansCer o$ the 9eal,/ Chi%h %loses $arsifal is an a%t o$ Parsi$al himsel$, Cho intervenes at the last minute, preventing the

knights $rom slaughtering "m$ortas an# #elivering him )y lan%e $rom his torments, 0ere is the outline o$ the storyE (he 0oly Irail, the vessel Cith .hrist<s )loo#, is kept in the %astle ;ontsalvat' yet its ruler "m$ortas, the Fisher *ing, is maime#E he )etraye# the san%tity o$ the Irail )y letting himsel$ )e se#u%e# )y *un#ry, a slave to the evil magi%ian *lingsor, Cho %astrate# himsel$ in or#er to )e a)le to resist the se5ual urge, 3hile "m$ortas Cas in *un#ry<s em)ra%e, *lingsor snat%he# aCay $rom him the sa%re# spear 1the one Cith Chi%h -onginus smote .hrist on the %ross2 an# Coun#e# him in his thigh' this Coun# %on#emns "m$ortas to a li$e o$ eternal su$$ering, (he young Parsi$al enters the #omain o$ ;ontsalvat an# kills a sCan, unknoCingly %ommitting a %rime' the Cise ol# IurnemanF re%ogniFes in him the pure $ool Cho-- so the prophe%y goes-- Cill #eliver "m$ortas' he takes him into the temple o$ the Irail, Chere Parsi$al Citnesses the ritual o$ the Irail<s #is%losure pain$ully per$orme# )y "m$ortas, Disappointe# that Parsi$al is una)le to make anything out o$ this ritual, IurnemanF %hases him aCay, +n a%t 4, Parsi$al enters *lingsor<s magi% %astle Chere *un#ry en#eavors to se#u%e him' in the very moment o$ her kiss, Parsi$al su##enly $eels %ompassion $or the su$$ering "m$ortas an# pushes her aCay' Chen *lingsor throCs the sa%re# lan%e at him, Parsi$al is a)le to stop it )y raising his han#-- sin%e he resiste# *un#ry<s se#u%tion, *lingsor has no poCer over him, Gy making the sign o$ the %ross Cith the lan%e, Parsi$al #ispels *lingsor<s magi% an# the %astle $alls into a #esert, +n a%t 3 Parsi$al, a$ter many years o$ Can#ering, returns on Ioo# Fri#ay to ;ontsalvat an# reveals to IurnemanF that he has re%overe# the stolen lan%e' IurnemanF anoints him as the neC king' Parsi$al )aptiFes the repentant *un#ry, e5perien%es the inner pea%e an# elevation o$ Ioo# Fri#ay, then again enters the temple o$ the Irail, Chere he $in#s "m$ortas surroun#e# )y enrage# knights like a trappe#, Coun#e# animal, (he knights Cant to $or%e him to per$orm the Irail ritual' una)le to #o so, -1B>he implores them to kill him an# thus relieve him o$ his su$$ering' )ut at the last moment, Parsi$al enters, heals his Coun# )y a tou%h o$ the lan%e 1/(he Coun# is heale# only )y the spear that smote you/2, pro%laims himsel$ the neC king an# or#ers the Irail to remain reveale# $orever, Chile *un#ry silently #rops #ea#, 0oC %an one avoi# here, as a $irst spontaneous rea%tion, the amaFement over su%h a strange set o$ %entral %hara%ters e5presse# )y (homas ;ann 1among others2E /8ne a#van%e# an# o$$ensive #egenerate a$ter anotherE a sel$-%astrate# magi%ian' a #esperate #ou)le personality, %ompose# o$ a .ir%e an# a repentant ;ag#alene, Cith %atalepti% transition stages' a lovesi%k high-priest, aCaiting the re#emption that is to %ome to him in the person o$ a %haste youth' the youth himsel$, <pure< $ool an# re#eemer,/ 44 (he Cay to intro#u%e some or#er into this apparent mess is )y simple re$eren%e to the $our elements o$ the -a%anian #is%ourse-matri5E the maime# king "m$ortas as S1, the ;aster' the magi%ian *lingsor as the sem)lan%e o$ knoCle#ge, S4 1the sem)lan%e pertaining to *lingsor<s status is atteste# to )y the phantasmagori%al %hara%ter o$ his magi% %astleE as soon as Parsi$al makes the sign o$ the %ross, it %ollapses2' 43 *un#ry as N, the split hysteri%al Coman 1Chat she #eman#s $rom the other is pre%isely to re$use her #eman#, i,e,, to resist her %onDuest2' Parsi$al, the /pure $ool,/ as ob(et petit a, the o)je%t-%ause o$ *un#ry<s #esire, yet totally insensitive to $eminine %harms, 46 (he $urther un%anny $eature is the la%k o$ any proper a%tion in the opera, 3hat a%tually takes pla%e is a su%%ession o$ negative or empty, purely sym)oli% gesturesE Parsi$alfails to understand the ritual' he refuses *un#ry<s a#van%es' he makes the sign o$ the %ross Cith the spear' he proclaims himsel$ king, (herein %onsists the most su)lime

#imension o$ $arsifalE it #ispenses Cholly Cith the usual /a%tion/ 1Cith positively /#oing something/2 an# limits itsel$ to the most elementary opposition )etCeen the a%t o$ renun%iation R re$usal an# the empty sym)oli% gesture, 47 Parsi$al makes tCo #e%isive gesturesE in a%t 4 he reje%ts *un#ry<s a#van%es, an# in a%t 3, in Chat is perhaps the %ru%ial turning point o$ the opera, he pro%laims himsel$ king, a%%ompanie# )y the $our$ol# )eat o$ the #rum 1/,,,that he may greet me to#ay as king/2, +n the $irst %ase, Ce have the a%t Dua repetition )y means o$ Chi%h Parsi$al i#enti$ies Cith "m$ortas<s su$$ering, taking it upon himsel$' in the se%on# %ase, Ce have the a%t Dua per$ormative )y means o$ Chi%h Parsi$al assumes the sym)oli% man#ate o$ the king, the keeper o$ the Irail, 4> So, Chat %an this set o$ e%%entri%s an# their 1non-2 #ee#s tell usK -1BB-

I A6 Going to Tal4 to You a/out the %a6ella555

-et us )egin )y taking a %loser look at the mysterious Coun# Chi%h prevents "m$ortas $rom $in#ing pea%e in #eath, (his Coun#, o$ %ourse, is another name $or its opposite, $or a %ertain surplus o$ (ouissance, (o #elineate more pre%isely its %ontours, let us take as our starting point a neC )ook on -a%an, 9i%har# Gooth)y *eath and *esire, 4B +ts %entral thesis, although ultimately $alse, is #eeply satis$ying in the sense o$ a #eman# $or symmetryE it is as i$ it provi#es the missing element o$ a puFFle, (he tria# +maginary-9eal-Sym)oli% ren#ers the $un#amental %oor#inates o$ the -a%anian theoreti%al spa%e' )ut these three #imensions %an never )e %on%eive# simultaneously, in pure syn%hroni%ity, i,e,, one is alCays $or%e# to %hoose one pair at a time 1as Cith *ierkegaar#<s tria# o$ the aestheti%al-ethi%alreligious2E the Sym)oli% versus the +maginary, the 9eal versus the Sym)oli%, (he hitherto pre#ominating interpretations o$ -a%an ten#e# to a%%ent either the a5is +maginary-Sym)oli% 1sym)oliFation, sym)oli% realiFation, against imaginary sel$-#e%eption in the -a%an o$ the $i$ties2 or the a5is Sym)oli%-9eal 1the traumati% en%ounter o$ the 9eal as the point at Chi%h sym)oliFation $ails in the late -a%an2, 3hat Gooth)y o$$ers as a key to the entire -a%anian theoreti%al e#i$i%e is simply the thir#, not yet e5ploite# a5isE the +maginary versus the 9eal, (hat is to say, a%%or#ing to Gooth)y, the theory o$ the mirror-stage is not only %hronologi%ally -a%an<s $irst %ontri)ution to psy%hoanalysis )ut #esignates also the original $a%t Chi%h #e$ines the status o$ manE the alienation in the mirror image, #ue to man<s premature )irth an# his R her helplessness in the $irst years o$ li$e, this $i5ation on imago interrupts the supple li$e-$loC, it intro#u%es an irre#u%i)le )Jan%e, gap, separating $orever the imaginary ego-- the Cholesome yet immo)ile mirror image, a kin# o$ halte# %inemati% pi%ture-- $rom the polymorphous, %haoti% sprout o$ )o#ily #rives-- the real +#, From this perspe%tive, the Sym)oli% is o$ a stri%tly se%on#ary nature Cith regar# to the original tension )etCeen the +maginary an# the 9ealE its pla%e is the voi# opene# up )y the e5%lusion o$ the polymorphous Cealth o$ )o#ily #rives, Sym)oliFation #esignates the su)je%t<s en#eavor, alCays $ragmentary an# ultimately #oome# to $ail, to )ring to the light o$ the #ay, )y Cay o$ sym)oli% representatives, the 9eal o$ )o#ily #rives e5%lu#e# )y imaginary i#enti$i%ation' it is there$ore a kin# o$ %ompromise$ormation )y Cay o$ Chi%h the su)je%t integrates $ragments o$ the ostra%iFe# 9eal, +n this sense, Gooth)y interprets the #eath-#rive as the reemergen%e o$ -1B -

Chat Cas ostra%iFe# Chen the ego %onstitute# itsel$ )y Cay o$ imaginary i#enti$i%ationE the return o$ the polymorphous impulses is e5perien%e# )y the ego as a mortal threat, sin%e it a%tually entails the #issolution o$ its imaginary i#entity, (he $ore%lose# 9eal thus returns in tCo mo#esE as a Cil#, #estru%tive, nonsym)oliFe# raging, or in the $orm o$ sym)oli% me#iation, i,e,, /su)late#/ 1aufgehoben2 in the sym)oli% me#ium, (he elegan%e o$ Gooth)y<s theory turns on interpreting the #eath-#rive as its very oppositeE as the return o$ the li$e-$or%e, o$ the part o$ +# e5%lu#e# )y the imposition o$ the petri$ie# mask o$ the ego, (hus, Chat reemerges in the /#eath-#rive/ is ultimately life itself, an# the $a%t that the ego per%eives this return as a #eath threat pre%isely %on$irms the ego<s perverte# /repressive/ %hara%ter, (he /#eath-#rive/ means that li$e itsel$ re)els against the egoE the true representative o$ #eath is ego itsel$, as the petri$ie# imago Chi%h interrupts the $loC o$ li$e, "gainst this )a%kgroun#, Gooth)y also reinterprets -a%an<s #istin%tion )etCeen the tCo #eathsE the $irst #eath is the #eath o$ the ego, the #issolution o$ its imaginary i#enti$i%ations, Chereas the se%on# #eath #esignates the interruption o$ the pre-sym)oli% li$e-$loC itsel$, 0ere, hoCever, pro)lems )egin Cith this otherCise simple an# elegant %onstru%tionE the pri%e to )e pai# is that -a%an<s theoreti%al e#i$i%e is ultimately re#u%e# to the opposition Chi%h %hara%teriFes the $iel# o$ Lebensphilosophie, i,e,, to the opposition )etCeen an original polymorphous li$e-$or%e an# its later %oagulation, %on$inement to the Pro%rustian )e# o$ imagos, For this reason, Gooth)y<s s%heme has no pla%e $or the $un#amental -a%anian insight a%%or#ing to Chi%h the sym)oli% or#er /stan#s $or #eath/ in the pre%ise sense o$ /morti$ying/ the real o$ the )o#y, o$ su)or#inating it to a $oreign automatism, o$ pertur)ing its /natural,/ instin%tual rhythm, thereby producing the surplus of desire, i.e., desire ,S a surplusE the very sym)oli% ma%hine Chi%h /morti$ies/ the living )o#y pro#u%es )y the same token the opposite o$ morti$i%ation, the immortal #esire, the 9eal o$ /pure li$e/ Chi%h elu#es sym)oliFation, (o %lari$y this point, let us turn to an e5ample Chi%h, in a $irst approa%h, may seem to %on$irm Gooth)y<s thesisE 3agner Tristan und Isolde, 3hat pre%ise e$$e%t #oes the philtre provi#e# )y +sol#e<s $aith$ul mai# GrangZne have on the $uture loversK /3agner never inten#s to imply that the love o$ (ristan an# +sol#e is the physical conse6uence o$ the philtre, )ut only that the pair, having #runk Chat they imagine to )e the #raught o$ Death an# )elieving that they have looke# upon earth an# sea an# sky $or the last time, -1B9$eel themselves $ree to %on$ess, Chen the potion )egins its Cork Cithin them, the love they have so long $elt )ut have %on%eale# $rom ea%h other an# almost $rom themselves,/ 4 (he point is, there$ore, that a$ter #rinking the philtre, (ristan an# +sol#e $in# themselves in the #omain /)etCeen the tCo #eaths,/ alive, yet #elivere# o$ all sym)oli% ties, +nly in such a sub(ective position are they able to confess their love, +n other Cor#s, the /magi%al e$$e%t/ o$ the philtre is simply to suspen# the /)ig 8ther,/ the sym)oli% reality o$ so%ial o)ligations 1honors, voCs,,,2, Does this thesis not $ully a%%or# Cith Gooth)y<s vieC o$ the #omain /)etCeen the tCo #eaths/ as the spa%e Chere imaginary i#enti$i%ation, as Cell as the sym)oli% i#entities atta%he# to it, are all invali#ate#, so that the e5%lu#e# 9eal 1pure li$e-#rive2 %an emerge in all its $or%e, although in the $orm o$ its opposite, the #eath-#riveK "%%or#ing to 3agner himsel$, the passion o$ (ristan an# +sol#e e5presses the longing $or the /eternal pea%e/ o$ #eath, (he trap to )e avoi#e# here, hoCever, is %on%eiving o$ this pure li$e-#rive as a su)stantial entity su)sisting prior to its )eing %apture# in the sym)oli% netCorkE this /opti%al illusion/ ren#ers invisi)le hoC it is the very me#iation o$ the sym)oli% or#er that trans$orms the organi% /instin%t/ into an unDuen%ha)le longing Chi%h %an $in# sola%e only in #eath, +n

other Cor#s, this /pure li$e/ )eyon# #eath, this longing that rea%hes )eyon# the %ir%uit o$ generation an# %orruption, is it not the product o$ sym)oliFation, so that sym)oliFation itsel$ engen#ers the surplus Chi%h es%apes itK Gy %on%eiving o$ the sym)oli% or#er as an agen%y Chi%h $ills out the gap )etCeen the +maginary an# the 9eal opene# up )y the mirrori#enti$i%ation, Gooth)y avoi#s its %onstitutive para#o5E the Sym)oli% itsel$ opens up the Coun# it pro$esses to heal, 3hat one shoul# #o here, in the spa%e o$ a more #etaile# theoreti%al ela)oration, is to approa%h in a neC Cay the -a%an-0ei#egger relationship, +n the $i$ties, -a%an en#eavore# to rea# the /#eath-#rive/ against the )a%kgroun# o$ 0ei#egger<s /)eing-toCar#-#eath/ 1Sein7 4um7Tode2, %on%eiving o$ #eath as the inherent an# ultimate limit o$ sym)oliFation, Chi%h a%%ounts $or its irre#u%i)le temporal %hara%ter, 3ith -a%an<s shi$t toCar# the 9eal $rom the si5ties onCar#, it is the in#estru%ti)le li$e sprouting in the #omain /)etCeen the tCo #eaths/ that emerges as the ultimate o)je%t o$ horror, -a%an #elineates its %ontours toCar# the en# o$ %hapter 17, o$ his "our "undamental &oncepts of $sycho7,nalysis Chere he proposes his oCn myth, %onstru%te# upon the mo#el o$ "ristophanes< $a)le $rom Plato Symposium, the myth o$ l2hommelette 1little $emale-man-- omelette 49 2E -1 A3henever the mem)ranes o$ the egg in Chi%h the $oetus emerges on its Cay to )e%oming a neC-)orn are )roken, imagine $or a moment that something $lies o$$, an# that one %an #o it Cith an egg as easily as Cith a man, namely the hommelette, or the lamella, (he lamella is something e5tra-$lat, Chi%h moves like the amoe)a, +t is just a little more %ompli%ate#, Gut it goes everyChere, "n# as it is something,,,that is relate# to Chat the se5e# )eing loses in se5uality, it is, like the amoe)a in relation to se5e# )eings, immortal-- )e%ause it survives any #ivision, any s%issiparous intervention, "n# it %an run aroun#, 3ell@ (his is not very reassuring, Gut suppose it %omes an# envelopes your $a%e Chile you are Duietly asleep,,, + %an<t see hoC Ce Coul# not join )attle Cith a )eing %apa)le o$ these properties, Gut it Coul# not )e a very %onvenient )attle, (his lamella, this organ, Chose %hara%teristi% is not to e5ist, )ut Chi%h is nevertheless an organ,,,is the li)i#o, +t is the li)i#o, Dua pure li$e instin%t, that is to say, immortal li$e, or irrepressi)le li$e, li$e that has nee# o$ no organ, simpli$ie#, in#estru%ti)le li$e, +t is pre%isely Chat is su)tra%te# $rom the living )eing )y virtue o$ the $a%t that it is su)je%t to the %y%le o$ se5e# repro#u%tion, "n# it is o$ this that all the $orms o$ the ob(et a that %an )e enumerate# are the representatives, the eDuivalents, (he ob(ets a are merely its representatives, its $igures, (he )reast-- as eDuivo%al, as an element %hara%teristi% o$ the mammi$erous organiFation, the pla%enta $or e5ample-%ertainly represents that part o$ himsel$ that the in#ivi#ual loses at )irth, an# Chi%h may serve to sym)oliFe the most pro$oun# lost o)je%t, 3A 3hat Ce have here is an 8therness prior to intersu)je%tivityE the su)je%t<s /impossi)le/ relationship to this amoe)alike %reature is Chat -a%an is ultimately aiming at )y Cay o$ his $ormula L a, 31 (he )est Cay to %lari$y this point is perhaps to alloC ourselves the string o$ popular-%ulture asso%iations that -a%an<s #es%ription must evoke, +s not the alien $rom 9i#ley S%ott <s $ilm o$ the same title /lamella/ in its purestK "re not all the key elements o$ -a%an<s

myth %ontaine# in the $irst truly horri$ying s%ene o$ the $ilm Chen, in the Com)like %ave o$ the unknoCn planet, the /alien/ leaps $rom the egglike glo)e Chen its li# splits o$$ an# sti%ks to Hohn 0urt<s $a%eK (his amoe)alike, $lattene# %reature, Chi%h envelops the su)je%t<s $a%e, -1 1stan#s $or the irrepressi)le li$e )eyon# all the $inite $orms that are merely its representatives, its $igures 1later in the $ilm, the /alien/ is a)le to assume a multitu#e o$ #i$$erent shapes2, immortal an# in#estru%ti)le 1it su$$i%es to re%all the unpleasant thrill o$ the moment Chen a s%ientist %uts Cith a s%alpel into a leg o$ the %reature Chi%h envelops 0urt<s $a%eE the liDui# that #rips $rom it $alls onto the metal $loor an# %orro#es it imme#iately' nothing %an resist it2,
34

(he se%on# asso%iation Chi%h )rings us )a%k to 3agner is a #etail $rom Sy)er)erg $ilm version o$ Parsi$alE Sy)er)erg #epi%ts "m$ortas<s Coun# as e5ternaliFe#, %arrie# )y the servants on a pilloC in $ront o$ him, in the $orm o$ a vaginalike partial o)je%t out o$ Chi%h )loo# #rips in a %ontinuous $loC 1as, vulgari elo6uentia, a vagina in an unen#ing perio#2, (his palpitating opening-- an organ Chi%h is at the same time the entire organism 1let us just re%all a homologous moti$ in a series o$ s%ien%e $i%tion stories, like the giganti% eye living a li$e o$ its oCn2-- this opening epitomiFes li$e in its in#estru%ti)ilityE "m$ortas<s pain %onsists in the very $a%t that he is una)le to #ie, that he is %on#emne# to an eternal li$e o$ su$$ering' Chen, at the en#, Parsi$al heals his Coun# Cith /the spear that smote it,/ "m$ortas is $inally a)le to rest an# #ie, (his Coun# o$ "m$ortas<s, Chi%h persists outsi#e himsel$ as an undead thing, is the /o)je%t o$ psy%hoanalysis,/ 33

The 3agnerian ,erfor6ati7e

+$, then, The "lying *utchman ren#ers the $un#amental matri5 o$ 3agner<s universe-- man<s re#emption through Coman<s sel$-sa%ri$i%e-- $arsifal, his last opera, is to )e %on%eive# as the %on%lu#ing point o$ a series o$ variations, the same )liss$ul point o$ e5%eption as ;oFart 3agic "lute, 36 (he parallel )etCeen The 3agic "lute an# $arsifal is a %ommonpla%e, Su$$i%e it to re%all a ni%e #etail $rom Gergman $ilm version o$ (he FluteE #uring the )reak )etCeen a%ts 1 an# 4, the a%tor Cho sings Sarastro stu#ies the s%ore o$ $arsifal, +n )oth %ases, a youth$ul, initially ignorant hero, a$ter su%%ess$ully en#uring the test, takes the pla%e o$ the ol# ruler o$ the temple 1 Sarastro is repla%e# )y (amino an# "m$ortas )y Parsi$al2' Ha%Dues .hailley even %ompose# a uniDue narrative in Chi%h all Ce have to #o in or#er to o)tain the story o$ either The 3agic "lute or $arsifal is to insert the proper varia)lesE /1 Parsi$al R (amino2, a prin%e $rom the :ast, has le$t his 1mother R $ather2 in sear%h o$ the unknoCn 1knights R king#om2,/ et%, 37 3hat is even more %ru%ial than these parallels in the narrative %ontent is the initiatory %hara%-1 4ter o$ )oth operasE events Chi%h, at $irst glan%e, are nothing )ut meaningless peripeteias 1 Parsi$al<s )ringing #oCn o$ the sCan, (amino<s $ight Cith the #ragon, the momentary loss o$ %ons%iousness Chi%h $olloCs this %on$rontation' et%,2 )e%ome intelligi)le the moment Ce %on%eive o$ them as elements o$ an initiatory ritual, +n )oth The 3agic "lute an# $arsifal, the pri%e to )e pai# $or the reversal into )liss is thus the /transu)stantiation/ o$ the a%tionE e5ternal events %hange into mysterious signs to )e #e%iphere#, ;ost interpreters $all into this

trap o$ allegoriFation an# try to provi#e a se%ret %o#e $or the rea#ing o$ $arsifal 1 .hailley sees in it the staging o$ the Free ;asoni% initiatory ritual, Chile 9o)ert Donnington o$$ers a Hungian rea#ingE $arsifal is an allegory o$ the transmutations o$ the hero<s psy%he, o$ his inner journey $rom the initial )reaking out o$ the in%estuous %losure to the $inal re%on%iliation Cith the /eternally $eminine/' et%,2, 8ur aim, hoCever, is to resist the temptation o$ #e%o#ing, 0oC, then, are Ce to pro%ee#K 8ne Cay is o$$ere# )y the -Jvi-Straussian #i$$erential approa%hE our attention shoul# $o%us on those $eatures Chi%h #i$$erentiate $arsifal $rom 3agner<s previous operas, as Cell as $rom the tra#itional version o$ the Irail myth, (he #i$$eren%e $rom the *utchman is that here the su$$ering hero-- the Fisher *ing "m$ortas-- is #elivere# )y a /pure $ool,/ Parsi$al, not )y the Coman, 3hen%e the #i$$eren%e, the misogynist reversalK (he main enigma o$-- an# at the same time the key to-- 3agner $arsifal is that 3agner leaves une5ploite# the %ru%ial %omponent o$ the original legen# o$ Parsi$al, the so-%alle# Tuestion (est, "%%or#ing to the original legen#, Chen Parsi$al $irst Citnesses the Irail %eremony, he is perple5e# )y Chat he sees-- the maime# king, the #isplay o$ a strange, magi% vessel-- )ut out o$ respe%t an# %onsi#eration he a)stains $rom inDuiring a)out the meaning o$ it all, -ater, he learns that he there)y %ommitte# a $ate$ul mistakeE Cere he to ask "m$ortas Chat is Crong Cith him an# $or Chom the Irail is inten#e#, "m$ortas Coul# )e #elivere# $rom his torment, "$ter a series o$ or#eals, Parsi$al again visits the Fisher *ing, asks the proper Duestion, an# thus #elivers him, Furthermore, 3agner simpli$ies the Irail %eremony )y re#u%ing it to the #isplay o$ the Irail vessel, 0e leaves out the original legen#<s un%anny #reamlike s%ene in Chi%h a young sDuire $ranti%ally an# repeate#ly runs a%ross the hall o$ the Fisher *ing<s %astle #uring the #inner, #isplaying the lan%e Cith #rops o$ )loo# #ripping $rom its point an# thus provoking ritualisti% %ries o$ horror an# grie$ $rom the atten#ing knights, 3hat Ce have here is the %ompulsive-neuroti% ritual in its purest $orm, similar to that o$ a thirty-year-ol# marrie# Coman, note# )y Freu#E /She -1 3ran $rom her room into another neigh)ouring one, took up a parti%ular position there )esi#e a ta)le that stoo# in the mi##le, rang the )ell $or her housemai#, sent her on some in#i$$erent erran# or let her go Cithout one, an# then ran )a%k into her oCn room,/ 3> (he interpretationE #uring her Ce##ing night, her hus)an# ha# )een impotent' he ha# %ome running repeate#ly $rom his room into hers to try on%e more, ?e5t morning, out o$ shame that the housemai# Coul# not $in# tra%es o$ )loo# 1the sign o$ his su%%ess in #e$loCering the )ri#e2, he poure# some re# ink over the sheet, (he key to the present ritualisti% symptom is that on a ta)le )esi#e Chi%h the Coman statione# hersel$ Cas a )ig stain, Gy taking up this strange position, the Coman Cante# to prove to the 8ther<s gaFe 1epitomiFe# )y the housemai#2 that /the stain is there,/ i,e,, her aim Cas literally to attra%t the 8ther<s gaFe to a %ertain stain, a little $ragment o$ the real Chi%h proves the hus)an#<s se5ual poten%y, 1"t the time that the symptom o%%urre#, the Coman Cas in the pro%ess o$ o)taining a #ivor%e $rom her hus)an#E the aim o$ the symptom Cas to prote%t him $rom mali%ious gossip a)out the true %ause o$ the #ivor%e, i,e,, to prevent the 8ther $rom registering his impoten%e,2 "n#, perhaps, the %ompulsive #isplaying o$ the )lee#ing lan%e in the tra#itional version o$ the Parsi$al myth is to )e rea# along the same lines, as proo$ o$ the *ing<s poten%y 1i$ Ce a%%ept the interpretation o$ the )lee#ing lan%e as the %on#ensation o$ tCo opposing $eaturesE not only the Ceapon Chi%h #eals the Coun# an# thus %auses the *ing<s paralysis, )ut at the same time the phallus Chi%h, as is proven )y the )loo# on its tip, su%%ess$ully per$orme# the #e$loCering2,

Gy virtue o$ the Tuestion (est, $arsifal $un%tions as a %omplementary opposite to 3agner Lohengrin, the opera %entere# on the theme o$ the $or)i##en Duestion, i,e,, on the para#o5 o$ sel$-#estru%tive $emale %uriosity, +n Lohengrin, a nameless hero saves :lsa von Gra)ant an# marries her, )ut enjoins her not to ask him Cho he is or Chat his name is' as soon as she #oes so, he Cill )e o)lige# to leave her 1the $amous air %.ie solst du mich befragen% $rom a%t 12, Una)le to resist temptation, :lsa asks him the $ate$ul Duestion' so, in an even more $amous air 1 %In fernem Land,% a%t 32, -ohengrin tells her that he is a knight o$ the Irail, the son o$ Parsi$al $rom the %astle o$ ;ontsalvat, an# then #eparts on a sCan, Chile the un$ortunate :lsa $alls #ea#, 3B 0oC not to re%all here Superman or Gatman, Chere Ce $in# the same logi%E in )oth %ases, the Coman has a presentiment that her partner 1the %on$use# journalist in Superman, the e%%entri% millionaire in Gatman2 is really the mysterious pu)li% hero, )ut the partner puts o$$ as long -1 6as possi)le the moment o$ revelation, 3hat Ce have here is a kin# o$ $or%e# %hoi%e attesting to the #imension o$ %astrationE man is split, #ivi#e# into the Ceak every#ay $elloC Cith Chom a se5ual relation is possi)le an# the )earer o$ the sym)oli% man#ate, the pu)li% hero 1knight o$ the Irail, Superman, Gatman2, 3e are thus o)lige# to %hooseE i$ Ce are to maintain the possi)ility o$ se5ual relation, Ce have to a)stain $rom pro)ing into our partner<s /true i#entity/' as soon as Ce $or%e the se5ual partner to reveal his sym)oli% i#entity, Ce are )oun# to lose him, 3 0ere, it Coul# )e possi)le to arti%ulate a general theory o$ the /3agnerian per$ormative/ rea%hing $rom The "lying *utchman 1Chen, at its en#, the o$$en#e# unknoCn %aptain pu)li%ly announ%es that he is the /$lying Dut%hman/ Can#ering the o%eans $or %enturies in sear%h o$ a $aith$ul Ci$e, Senta throCs hersel$ $rom a %li$$ to her #eath2 to $arsifal 1Chen Parsi$al takes over the $un%tion o$ the king an# reveals the Irail, *un#ry #rops #ea#2, +n all these %ases, the per$ormative gesture )y means o$ Chi%h the hero openly assumes his sym)oli% man#ate, revealing his sym)oli% i#entity, proves in%ompati)le Cith the very )eing o$ Coman, (he para#o5 o$ $arsifal, hoCever, %on%erns its reversal o$ the Tuestion (est in LohengrinE the $ate$ul %onseDuen%es o$ a failure to ask the reDuire# Duestion, 39 0oC are Ce to interpret itK

(eyond the ,hallus

3hat Ce en%ounter in the Tuestion (est is a pure %ase o$ the logi% o$ the symptom in its relationship to the )ig 8ther Dua sym)oli% or#erE the )o#ily Coun#-- symptom-- %an )e heale# )y )eing put into Cor#s' i,e,, the sym)oli% or#er %an pro#u%e an e$$e%t upon the real, Parsi$al thus stan#s $or the )ig 8ther in its ignorant neutralityE the enun%iation o$ a simple /3hat<s Crong Cith youK/, someChat like Gugs Gunny<s $amous /3hat<s up, Do%K/, Coul# trigger the avalan%he o$ sym)oliFation an# the king<s Coun# Coul# )e heale# )y )eing integrate# into the sym)oli% universe, i,e,, )y Cay o$ its sym)oli% realiFation, 6A Perhaps a symptom, in its most elementary #e$inition, is not a Duestion Cithout an ansCer )ut rather an ansCer Cithout its Duestion, i,e,, )ere$t o$ its proper sym)oli% %onte5t, (his Duestion %annot )e aske# )y the knights themselves, it must %ome $rom outsi#e, $rom some)o#y Cho epitomiFes the )ig 8ther in its )lesse# ignoran%e, 8ne is tempte# to evoke an every#ay e5perien%eE a stu$$y atmosphere in a %lose# %ommunity Chere the tension is su##enly )roken on%e a stranger asks the naive Duestion a)out Chat is a%tually going on, 61 -1 7-

=et 3agner le$t this line une5ploite#E ChyK (he $irst, super$i%ial yet Duite a%%urate ansCer isE the se%on# a%t, (hat is to say, it Coul# )e easy to transpose the tra#itional myth into an opera in tCo a%ts' Chat takes pla%e )etCeen ;oFart an# 3agner is simply the se%on# a%tE )etCeen ;oFart<s tra#itional tCo a%ts 1the $ormula $olloCe# also )y Geethoven in "idelio2 %reeps in another a%t, an# it is here, in the se%on# a%t 1o$ Lohengrin, !alkyre, The Twilight of the ods, $arsifal,,,2, that the %ru%ial shi$t o%%urs, namely the step into /hysteri%iFation/ Chi%h %on$ers on the a%tion the /mo#ern/ tou%h, 64 8ne is thus even tempte# to arrange the inherent logi% o$ the three a%ts o$ $arsifal )y re$eren%e to -a%anian logi%al time, 63 (he $irst a%t involves the /instant o$ looking/E Parsi$al looks, Citnesses the ritual, )ut un#erstan#s nothing' the se%on# a%t marks the /time $or un#erstan#ing/E through meeting *un#ry, Parsi$al per%eives the meaning o$ "m$ortas<s su$$ering' the thir# a%t )rings a)out the /moment $or %on%lu#ing,/ the per$ormative #e%isionE Parsi$al #elivers "m$ortas $rom his su$$ering an# takes his pla%e, (he %ause o$ this interpolation o$ a supplementary a%t is a %ertain %hange in the status o$ the )ig 8ther, 66 +n 3agner, the /pure $ool/ Parsi$al is no longer a stan#-in $or the )ig 8ther, )ut-ChatK 0ere, a %omparison )etCeen $arsifal an# The 3agic "lute %an )e o$ some help, +n The 3agic "lute the ol# king Sarastro retires in $ull splen#or an# #ignity, Chereas in $arsifal, "m$ortas is maime# an# there$ore una)le to o$$i%iate, to per$orm his-- let us say-)ureau%rati% #uty' The 3agic "lute is a hymn to the )ourgeois %ouple in Chi%h, notCithstan#ing the numerous male-%hauvinist /Cis#oms,/ it is ultimately the Coman-Pamina-- Cho lea#s her man through the $ire-an#-Cater or#eal, Chereas in $arsifal Coman is reje%te#-- the hero<s %apa%ity to resist her is pre%isely Chat is at stake in the or#eal, 1"lso in The 3agic "lute, (amino<s %ru%ial test %on%erns his a)ility to keep his silen%e Chen $a%e# Cith Pamina<s #esperate pleas an# thus to en#ure her sym)oli% loss' yet this loss $un%tions as a step toCar# the %onstitution o$ the %ouple,2 67 +n $arsifal, the Coman is literally re#u%e# to a symptom o$ man-- she is %aught in a %atalepti% torpor, arouse# only )y her master<s voi%e or injun%tion, /3oman is a symptom o$ man/ seems to )e one o$ the most notoriously /anti$eminist/ theses o$ -a%an, Gut a $un#amental am)iguity arises $rom this thesis, re$le%ting the shi$t in the notion o$ the symptom Cithin -a%anian theory, +$ Ce %on%eive o$ the symptom as a ciphered message, then, o$ %ourse, Coman-symptom appears as the sign, the em)o#iment o$ ;an<s -1 >Fall, attesting to the $a%t that ;an /gave Cay as to his #esire,/ For Freu#, the symptom is a %ompromise-$ormationE in the symptom, the su)je%t gets )a%k, in the $orm o$ a %iphere#, unre%ogniFe# message, the truth a)out his #esire, the truth that he )etraye# or Cas not a)le to %on$ront, So, i$ Ce rea# the thesis /3oman is a symptom o$ man/ against this )a%kgroun#, Ce inevita)ly approa%h the position that Cas most $or%e$ully arti%ulate# )y 8tto 3eininger, Freu#<s %ontemporary, a notorious Uiennese anti$eminist an# anti-Semite $rom the turn o$ the %entury, Cho Crote the e5tremely in$luential )estseller Se8 and &haracter 6> an# then %ommitte# sui%i#e at the age o$ tCenty-$our, 3eininger<s position is that, a%%or#ing to her very ontologi%al status, Coman is nothing )ut a materialiFation o$ man<s SinE in hersel$, she #oesn<t e5ist, Chi%h is Chy the proper Cay to )e ri# o$ her is not to $ight her a%tively or to #estroy her' it is enough $or ;an to puri$y his #esire, to rise to pure spirituality, an#, automati%ally, Coman loses the groun# un#er her $eet, she #isintegrates, ?o Con#er, then, that 3agner $arsifal Cas the )asi% re$eren%e $or 3eininger an# that 3agner Cas $or him the greatest man a$ter .hristE Chen Parsi$al puri$ies his #esire an# reje%ts *un#ry, she loses her

spee%h, %hanges into a mute sha#oC an# $inally #rops #ea#-- proo$ that she e5iste# only inso$ar as she attra%te# the male gaFe, (his tra#ition, Chi%h may appear e5travagant an# out#ate#, reemerge# more re%ently in film noir, Chere the femme fatale also %hanges into a $ormless, mu%uous slime Cithout proper ontologi%al %onsisten%y the moment the har#-)oile# hero reje%ts her, i,e,, )reaks her spell upon him, 3itness the $inal %on$rontation o$ Sam Spa#e Cith Grigi# 8<Shaughnessy in 0ammett 3altese "alcon, 3e have thus the male Corl# o$ pure spirituality an# un#istorte# %ommuni%ation, %ommuni%ation Cithout %onstraint 1i$ Ce may )e permitte# to use this 0a)ermasian syntagm2, the universe o$ i#eal intersu)je%tivity, an# 3oman is not an e5ternal, a%tive %ause Chi%h lures ;an into Fall' she is just a conse6uence, a result, a materialiFation o$ ;an<s $all, So, Chen ;an puri$ies his #esire o$ the pathologi%al remain#ers, 3oman #isintegrates in pre%isely the same Cay as a symptom #issolves a$ter su%%ess$ul interpretation, a$ter Ce have sym)oliFe# its represse# meaning, Does not -a%an<s other notorious thesis-- the %laim that /3oman #oesn<t e5ist/-- point in the same #ire%tionK 3oman #oesn<t e5ist in hersel$, as a positive entity Cith $ull ontologi%al %onsisten%y, )ut only as a symptom o$ ;an, 3eininger Cas also Duite outspoken a)out the #esire %ompromise# or )etraye# Chen ;an $alls prey to a ComanE the #eath#rive, "$ter all the talk a)out man<s superior spirituality, Chi%h is ina%%essi-1 B)le to Comen, et%,, he proposes, in the last pages o$ Se8 and &haracter, %olle%tive sui%i#e as the only path o$ salvation open $or humanity, +$, hoCever, Ce %on%eive the symptom as it Cas arti%ulate# in -a%an<s last Critings an# seminars-- as, $or e5ample, Chen he speaks a)out /Hoy%ethe-symptom/-- namely, as a parti%ular signi$ying $ormation Chi%h %on$ers on the su)je%t its very ontologi%al %onsisten%y, ena)ling it to stru%ture its )asi%, %onstitutive relationship toCar# (ouissance, then the entire relationship )etCeen the symptom an# the su)je%t is reverse#E i$ the symptom is #issolve#, the su)je%t loses the groun# un#er his $eet, he #isintegrates, +n this sense, /3oman is a symptom o$ man/ means that 3an himself e8ists only through woman 6ua his symptomE all his ontologi%al %onsisten%y hangs on, is suspen#e# $rom, is /e5ternaliFe#/ in his symptom, +n other Cor#s, man literally e87sistsE his entire )eing lies /out there,/ in Coman, 3oman, on the other han#, #oes not e5ist, she insists, Chi%h is Chy she #oes not %ome to )e only through man, Something in her es%apes the relation to ;an, the re$eren%e to the phalli% enjoyment' an#, as is Cell knoCn, -a%an en#eavore# to %apture this e5%ess )y the notion o$ a /non7all% feminine (ouissance, 6B (his, hoCever, opens up the possi)ility o$ a #i$$erent rea#ing o$ $arsifalE Sy)er)erg Cas again right Chen, a$ter the %ru%ial moment o$ %onversion 1i,e,, a$ter Parsi$al re$uses *un#ry<s kiss2, he repla%e# the male a%tor playing Parsi$al Cith a Coman, 3oman is the symptom o$ man, %aught in the hysteri%al game o$ #eman#ing that he re$use her #eman#, pre%isely to the e5tent to Chi%h she is su)mitte# to the phalli% enjoyment, 3agner<s $un#amental matri5 appears there)y in a #i$$erent perspe%tiveE woman redeems man by renouncing phallic en(oyment, 6 13hat Ce have here is the e5a%t opposite to 3eininger Chere man re#eems-#estroys Coman )y over%oming his phalli%ity,2 (his is Chat 3agner Cas not a)le to %on$ront, an# the pri%e to )e pai# $or this avoi#an%e $ully to assume the /$eminiFation/ o$ Parsi$al a$ter he enters the #omain /)eyon# the phallus/ Cas the $all into perversion, 69

;ore pre%isely, Chat 3agner Cas not a)le to %on$ront is the /$eminine/ nature o$ Parsi$al<s i#enti$i%ation Cith "m$ortas at the moment o$ *un#ry<s kissE $ar $rom )eing re#u%i)le to a %ase o$ su%%ess$ul 1sym)oli%2 %ommuni%ation, this /%ompassion/ is $oun#e# on the i#enti$i%ation Cith the real o$ "m$ortas<s su$$ering' it involves the repetition o$ "m$ortas<s pain in the *ierkegaar#ian sense, 7A 8n that a%%ount, Sy)er)erg<s #e%ision to alternate tCo a%tors, a male an# a $emale, in the role o$ Parsi$al shoul# in no Cay trap us into the Hungian i#eology o$ hermaphro#itism a%%or#ing to Chi%h the $igure o$ mature Parsi$al stan#s $or the re%on%iliation )etCeen male an# -1 -

$emale /prin%iples,/ (his alternation $un%tions instea# as a %riti%al sting aime# at 3agner, a remin#er that $arsifal is not feasible as a uni6ue, psychologically %coherent% personalityE 71 he is split into himsel$ an# /Chat is in him more than himsel$,/ his su)lime sha#oCy #ou)le 1 Parsi$al-Coman $irst appears in the )a%kgroun# as the ethereal #ou)le o$ Parsi$al-man an# then gra#ually takes over his pla%e2, 74 +n the %ourse o$ this transmutation the voice remains the same 1 Parsi$al %ontinues to )e sung )y a tenor2' Ce thus o)tain a kin# o$ negative o$ ?orman-;rs, Gates $rom 0it%h%o%k $sychoE the monstrous apparition o$ an apatheti%ally %ol# Coman using a man<s voi%e 1the true opposite to the %ari%ature image o$ a transvestite, o$ a man #ressing up as a Coman an# imitating the heightene# $eminine voi%e2, Sy)er)erg<s Parsi$al-Coman is a man Cho has %ast o$$ the phalli% sem)lan%e, like a snake getting ri# o$ its skin, 3hat is su)verte# there)y is the i#eology o$ /$emininity as masDuera#e/ a%%or#ing to Chi%h man is /man as su%h,/ the em)o#iment o$ the human genus, Chereas Coman is a man $rom Chom something is missing 1Cho is /%astrate#/2 an# Cho resorts to masDuera#e in or#er to %on%eal this la%k, Gut, on the %ontrary, it is the phallus, the phalli% pre#i%ate, Chose status is that o$ a sem)lan%e, so that Chen Ce throC o$$ its mask, a Coman appears, 0ere, again, the key is provi#e# )y %omparison Cith the history o$ the operaE in Ilu%k, 8rpheus is sung )y a Coman, an# this se5ual am)iguity %ontinues up through ;oFart in Chose Le .o44e di "igaro the role o$ .heru)ino, the prin%ipal rival an# /o)stru%tionist/ o$ the .ount, this agent o$ pure se5uality, is sung )y a soprano, 73 Perhaps Ce %oul# %on%eive the %ouple "m$ortas-Parsi$al as the last permutation o$ the %ouple .ount.heru)inoE in Le .o44e, the %ounterpoint to the .ount 1to this helpless, yet in no Cay %ripple#, )ut Duite on the %ontrary prepotent ;aster2 is a man with a feminine voice, Chereas in $arsifal, the %ounterpoint to the maime# king "m$ortas is a woman with a masculine voice, (his %hange alloCs us to measure the histori%al shi$t that separates the en# o$ the eighteenth %entury $rom the en# o$ the nineteenth %enturyE the o)je%tal surplus Chi%h sti%ks out $rom the intersu)je%tive netCork is no longer the elusive sem)lan%e o$ pure phalli% se5uality 76 )ut rather the em)o#iment o$ the saintly-as%eti% (ouissance )eyon# phallus,

&afe:4ee<ing God?s )ouissan e

(he parallel )etCeen the gestures o$ Ira%e preventing the hero<s sui%i#e in The 3agic "lute an# in $arsifal shoul# there$ore not )lin# us to the %ru%ial -1 9#i$$eren%eE in $arsifal, the su)je%tiviFation is stri%tly perverse, it eDuals its opposite, namely sel$-o)je%tiviFation, %on%eiving onesel$ as an instrument o$ the (ouissance o$ the )ig 8ther, +t

is here, in this notion o$ the 8ther<s (ouissance, that Ce shoul# seek the roots o$ 3agner<s antiSemitismE Chat he resiste# Cas the i#ea o$ a $ormal, empty -aC, i,e,, the HeCish prohi)ition to $ill out Io#<s ?ame Cith a positive %ontent, "s -a%an put it, pre-HeCish, pagan Io#s )elong to the 9ealE Ce gain a%%ess to them only through sa%re# (ouissance 1ritualisti% orgies2' their #omain is that o$ the Unnamea)le, 3hat the HeCish religion a%%omplishes is the ra#i%al eva%uation o$ (ouissance $rom the #ivine #omain, the %ru%ial %onseDuen%e o$ Chi%h is a kin# o$ re$le%tive reversal o$ the prohi)itionE the prohi)ition to name the #ivinesa%re# 9eal is inverte# into the prohi)ition to $ill out Io#<s ?ame Cith a positive )earer, Cith 0is image, +n short, Chat is noC prohi)ite# is not naming the unnamea)le 9eal )ut atta%hing to the ?ame any positive realityE the .ame must remain empty, (his reversal %on%erns, among other things, the very notion o$ #emo%ra%yE as Cas shoCn )y .lau#e -e$ort, #emo%ra%y implies the #istin%tion )etCeen the empty sym)oli% lo%us o$ poCer an# the reality o$ those Cho, temporarily, e5er%ise poCer' $or #emo%ra%y to $un%tion, the lo%us o$ poCer must remain empty' no)o#y is alloCe# to present himsel$ as possessing the imme#iate, natural right to e5er%ise poCer, 77 "n# the i#ea o$ the Irail as the vessel %ontaining the )loo# o$ .hrist has to )e rea# against this )a%kgroun#E this )loo# Chi%h %ontinues to shine an# give li$e, Chat is it ultimately i$ not the /little piece of the real% which immediately legitimi4es power, i,e,, Chi%h /naturally/ )elongs to an# #e$ines the lo%us o$ poCerK (his part o$ .hrist Chi%h remaine# alive, Chi%h #i# not e5pire on the %ross, #esignates the surplus o$ the #ivine (ouissance, the part o$ it Chi%h Cas not eva%uate# $rom the #omain o$ the )ig 8ther, +n short, to spell out the theologi%al %onseDuen%es o$ su%h a vieCE 3agner<s ra#i%ally perverse i#ea Cas to /get .hrist #oCn $rom the .ross, or rather stop him $rom getting on it/E /+ have no #ou)t that 9o)ert 9aphael is right Chen he says that Parsi$al, <having noC re#eeme# himsel$ )y insight an# empathy, sym)oliFes a .hrist Cho does not have to die, )ut lives,< (he point a)out not having to #ie is that 3agner,,,is repelle# )y the i#ea o$ the Se%on# Person o$ the 0oly (rinity #ying in or#er that the First Person shoul# alloC man into 0eaven,/ 7> (his is Chat 3agner ultimately has in min# )y the /re#emption o$ the re#eemer/E .hrist #oes not have to #ie in or#er to re#eem us, +n .hristianity proper, .hrist re#eems us )y Cay o$ his #eath on the .ross, Chereas $or 3agner, the sour%e o$ re#emption is -19Apre%isely that part o$ .hrist Chi%h remaine# alive, Chi%h #i# not e5pire on the .ross, $arsifal thus )ears Citness to a #eep pertur)an%e in the /normal/ relationship o$ li$e an# #eathE the #enial o$ the Cill to li$e, yet simultaneously the phantasmagoria o$ a li$e )eyon# #eath, )eyon# the %ir%uit o$ generation an# %orruption, (he #eath toCar# Chi%h the 3agnerian hero ten#s is the /se%on# #eath,/ the #enial not o$ the /natural/ li$e-%ir%uit )ut o$ the /lamella,/ o$ the in#estru%ti)le li)i#o, (he gul$ separating 3agner $rom .hristianity is here e$$e%tively insurmounta)leE in .hristianity, eternal li$e is the li$e )eyon# #eath, the li$e in the 0oly Spirit, an# as su%h an o)je%t o$ a#oration' Chereas in 3agner, this in#estru%ti)le li$e entails a vision o$ en#less su$$ering, ?oC Ce %an see Chy, enrapture# )y the magi% o$ Ioo# Fri#ay, Parsi$al is a)le to per%eive the inno%en%e o$ natureE this nature, %aught in the simple %ir%uit o$ generation an# %orruption, is #elivere# $rom the pressure o$ the in#estru%ti)le #rive Chi%h persists )eyon# #eath, 7B (he politi%al %onseDuen%es o$ these seemingly a)stra%t ruminations a$$e%t us allE the repla%ement o$ "m$ortas )y Parsi$al is the repla%ement o$ the tra#itional patriar%hal authority )y the totalitarian o)je%t-instrument o$ the 8ther<s (ouissance, the sa$ekeeper o$ Io#<s :njoyment 1epitomiFe# )y the Irail2,

(his politi%al )a%kgroun# emerges in pre%isely those $eatures o$ $arsifal Chi%h pose su%h a pro)lem to tra#itional interpreters, sin%e they sti%k out as a kin# o$ un%anny surplus, #istur)ing the apparent symmetry )etCeen the tCo king#oms, the )right king#om o$ the Irail an# *lingsor<s king#om o$ the #ark, attesting to an o)s%ene, #ark o)verse o$ the king#om o$ the Irail itsel$, "%%or#ing to -u%y Ge%kett, $or e5ample, $arsifal tCi%e reverts to an in%omprehensi)le, out-o$-pla%e mor)i#ityE the %ruel, ine5ora)le pressure e5erte# )y the Irail knights on "m$ortas in the $inale o$ a%t 31they en%ir%le him as i$ he Cere a Coun#e# animal2, Chi%h runs %ounter to the pea%e$ul, )lesse# nature o$ the Irail %ommunity' the mor)i# #ialogue )etCeen "m$ortas an# his $ather (iturel in the $inale o$ a%t 11 (iturel #eman#s o$ "m$ortas that he per$orm the reDuire# ritual an# un%over the Irail in or#er that he )e a)le to survive-- (iturel Dua living #ea# no longer lives o$$ earthly $oo# )ut solely o$$ the enjoyment pro%ure# )y the sight o$ the Irail' "m$ortas #esperately proposes that (iturel himsel$ per$orm the ritual an# that he )e alloCe# to #ie2, (his #ialogue attests to the inherently anti-8e#ipal %hara%ter o$ the Irail king#omE 7 instea# o$ the son killing the $ather, Cho then returns as the ?ame, in the guise o$ the sym)oli% author-191ity o$ the #ea# $ather 1the stan#ar# 8e#ipal s%enario2 Ce have the son Cho Cants to #ie so that his $ather %an stay alive an# %ontinue to )athe in his enjoyment, +n (iturel, Ce thus have the purest personi$i%ation o$ the superegoE he is literally a living #ea#, lying in a %o$$in, kept alive )y the sight o$ the 9e#eemer<s )loo#, i,e,, )y the su)stan%e o$ pure enjoyment' never seen on stage, he is present as la voi8 acousmati6ue, a $ree-$loating voi%e Cithout a )earer 79 Chi%h perse%utes his son Cith the un%on#itional injun%tion, /"%%omplish your #uty@ Per$orm the ritual@/-- the injun%tion (iturel pronoun%es in order to procure his own en(oyment, (he o)s%enity o$ *lingsor<s /)la%k magi%/ has there$ore its stri%t %orrelative in the superegoo)s%enity o$ (iturel<s /Chite magi%/E (iturel is un#ou)te#ly the most o)s%ene $igure in $arsifal, a kin# o$ un#ea# $ather, parasiti% on his oCn son, >A (his mor)i#, %ruel si#e o$ the Irail<s temple is Chat .hristian interpreters Duite justly are leery o$, sin%e it mani$ests the true nature o$ $arsifalE a Cork Chose ultimate a%%omplishment is to %on$er upon a .hristian %ontent the $orm o$ pagan ritual, >1 3ith the neC notion o$ the hero-- an inno%ent, ignorant, pure $ool, Cho elu#es the splitting %onstitutive o$ su)je%tivity-- the %ir%le is in a Cay %lose#' Ce $in# ourselves again in the #omain o$ un%on#itional authorityE Parsi$al<s )e%oming king is not a result o$ his heroi% #ee#s, he is not Duali$ie# $or it )y any positive $eature' Duite the %ontrary, he Cas a)le to Cithstan# *un#ry<s a#van%es )e%ause, $rom the very )eginning, he Cas the .hosen 8ne, 0oCever, this neC authority #i$$ers $rom the tra#itional one in its relationship to the )ig 8ther o$ the -aCE the tra#itional authority a##resse# )y the hero<s entreaty, $rom ;ontever#i to ;oFart, Cas %apa)le o$ e$$e%tively stepping on its oCn shoul#ers an# suspen#ing its oCn -aC in the a%t o$ ;er%y, (hus the agen%y o$ the -aC %oin%i#es Cith the agen%y o$ its momentary suspension, i,e,, the 8ther is at the same time the 8ther o$ the 8ther, Chereas alrea#y in 3agner 0ing, the Io# 13otan2, interpellate# )y the tCo giants in 0hinegold as the guarantor o$ the so%ial %ontra%t, gets so entangle# in his oCn in%onsisten%ies that the only solution he %an envisage is an a%t o$ re#emption a%%omplishe# )y a totally ignorant hero Cho Cill have nothing to #o Cith the #omain o$ the Io#s, (herein %onsists 3agner<s %ru%ial shi$tE /the Coun# %an )e heale#/ only )y a $ree a%t Chi%h, in a ra#i%al sense, comes from the outside, i,e,, is not engen#ere# )y the sym)oli% system itsel$,

?agel re$ers to *ierkegaar#<s $amous rea#ing o$ ;oFart<s *on iovanni in or#er to )e a)le to jump imme#iately to mo#ern totalitarianism, via *ierkegaar#<s rea$$irmation o$ )lin#, un%on#itional authorityE -194"$ter *ierkegaar#, the #isa)le# sel$ survives the annihilation o$ the autonomous su)je%t, Chi%h it announ%es, )y e5%epting itsel$ 1as a politi%al theologian or mythologist2 $rom the %ommon $ateE to )e the sel$-appointe# spokesman o$ mute #omination, +t prophesies, propagates a neC Corl# o$ sa%ri$i%e, Chose mur#erous laC is impenetra)ility-- an# Chose mur#erous impenetra)ility Cill )e %alle# laC, Soon, FranF *a$ka<s tales an# .arl S%hmitt<s jurispru#en%e Cill mo%k the enlightene# #eman# $or %lear an# a%%essi)le laCs as li)eral hairsplitting' in#ee# su%h Duerulous %laims o$ the in#ivi#ual Cill %onstitute, $or the %ourt o$ mythi%al Cill$ulness, proo$ o$ his guilt, the very reason $or his %on#emnation, >4 3agner $arsifal thus provi#es the ansCer to the DuestionE Chat happens Chen the su)je%t takes upon himsel$ the sym)oli% gesture, the /prerogative o$ mer%y,/ Chi%h, in ;oFart an# Geethoven, still )elonge# to the )ig 8therK (he assumption o$ this gesture is pai# $or )y the loss o$ /a%tual/ poCerE all that is le$t to the su)je%t is the empty, $ormal a%t o$ assent, the tautologi%al per$ormative )y means o$ Chi%h he appoints himsel$ the /spokesman o$ mute #omination,/ 3hat is thus missing in ?agel<s a%%ount is the pla%e o$ 3agner as Chat $ills in the gap )etCeen the apotheosis o$ the )ourgeois %ouple in The 3agic "lute an# "idelio an# the totalitarian sym)oli% e%onomy #is%erni)le in the Corks o$ *a$ka an# S%hmitt,

The ,er7erse %oo<

"t the level o$ li)i#inal e%onomy, totalitarianism is #e$ine# )y a perverse sel$-o)je%tiviFation 1sel$-instrumentaliFation2 o$ the su)je%t, Gut Chat, then, is the #i$$eren%e )etCeen perversion an# the most elementary i#eologi%al a%t o$ sel$-legitimiFation in Chi%h Ce also en%ounter a kin# o$ /re#emption o$ the re#eemer/K -in%oln<s Iettys)urg "##ress is #eserve#ly so $amous )e%ause it a%%omplishes in an e5emplary Cay this a%t o$ sel$legitimiFation, +t $irst #e$ines its taskE Ce are here to %ommemorate the #ea# at the sa%re# pla%e o$ their #eath 1/3e have %ome to #e#i%ate a portion o$ that $iel# as a $inal resting pla%e $or those Cho here gave their lives that that nation might live/2, (hen it pro%ee#s to invoke the inherent impossi)ility o$ per$orming this taskE /in a larger sense/ Ce %annot #o it, sin%e those Cho #ie# here have alrea#y #one it Cith their glorious #ee#s in a Cay $ar superior to Chat Ce %an #o Cith mere Cor#s' their sa%ri$i%e has alrea#y #e#i%ate# this )attle$iel# an# it Coul# )e arrogant $or us even to -193preten# that Ce are in a position to #e#i%ate it 1/Gut in a larger sense Ce %an not #e#i%ate-- Ce %an not %onse%rate-- Ce %an not halloC-- this groun#, (he )rave men living an# #ea# Cho struggle# here have %onse%rate# it $ar a)ove our poor poCer to a## or #etra%t/2, 3hat then $olloCs is the %ru%ial re$le%tive inversion o$ su)je%t an# o)je%tE /it is $or us the living rather to )e #e#i%ate# here to the un$inishe# Cork Chi%h they Cho $ought here have thus $ar so no)ly a#van%e#,/ that is to say, to #e#i%ate ourselves to the task o$ %ontinuing their Cork, so that they /shall not have #ie# in vain,/ 1For that reason, it is not su$$i%ient here to #istinguish the tCo levels )y saying that /in a narroCer sense/ Ce #e#i%ate the )attle$iel#, Chereas /in a

larger sense/ Ce #e#i%ate ourselvesE this /larger sense/ is simply the sense tout court, i,e,, it is this very re$le5ive reversal Chi%h )rings a)out the sensee$$e%t,2 (he result o$ this inversion is a %ir%le o$ #e#i%ation Chere)y the tCo poles support ea%h otherE )y #e#i%ating ourselves to the task o$ su%%ess$ully )ringing to an en# the Cork o$ those Cho sa%ri$i%e# their lives, Ce Cill make sure that their sa%ri$i%e Cas not in vain, that they Cill %ontinue to live in our memory' in this Cay, Ce Cill e$$e%tively %ommemorate them' i$ Ce #o not a%%omplish this task o$ ours, they Cill )e $orgotten, they Cill have #ie# in vain, So, )y #e#i%ating the pla%e to their memory, Chat Ce a%tually #o is #e#i%ate, legitimiFe ourselves as the %ontinuators o$ their Cork-- Ce legitimiFe our oCn role, (his gesture o$ sel$-legitimiFation through the other is i#eology in its purestE the #ea# are our re#eemers, an# )y #e#i%ating ourselves to %ontinuing their Cork Ce re#eem the re#eemers, +n a sense, -in%oln makes himsel$ seen to the #ea#' his message to them is /here Ce are, rea#y to go on,,,/-- therein %onsists the ultimate sense o$ the Iettys)urg "##ress, =et is -in%oln $or all that a pervertK Does he %on%eive o$ himsel$ as an o)je%t-instrument o$ the (ouissance o$ the 8ther, i,e,, o$ the #ea# heroesK ?oE the %ru%ial point here is to maintain the #i$$eren%e )etCeen this tra#itional i#eologi%al vi%ious %ir%le an# the loop o$ the perverse sa%ri$i%e, -et us re%all our $irst e5ample o$ itE 8rpheus Cho looke# )a%k an# thus intentionally sa%ri$i%e# :uri#i%e in or#er to regain her as the su)lime o)je%t o$ poeti% inspiration, (his, then, is the logi% o$ perversionE it is Duite normal to say to the )elove# Coman, /+ Coul# love you even i$ you Cere Crinkle# an# mutilate#@/' a perverse person is the one Cho intentionally mutilates the Coman, #istorts her )eauti$ul $a%e, so that he %an then %ontinue to love her, there)y proving the su)lime nature o$ his love, "n e5emplary %ase o$ this short-%ir%uit is Patri%ia 0ighsmith<s early masterpie%e, the short story -196/0eroine,/ a)out a young governess e5tremely eager to prove her #evotion to the $amily Chose %hil# she is taking %are o$' sin%e her every#ay a%ts pass unnoti%e#, she en#s )y setting the house on $ire, so that she has the opportunity to save the %hil# $rom the $lames, (his %lose# loop is Chat #e$ines perversion, >3 "n# is not the same %lose# loop at Cork in the Stalinist sa%ri$i%ial pro#u%tion o$ enemiesE sin%e the Party $orti$ies itsel$ )y $ighting rightist an# le$tist #eviations, one is $or%e# to pro#u%e them in or#er to $orti$y Party unity, *ant himsel$ gets %aught in this %ir%le o$ perversion in his &riti6ue of $ractical 0easonE at the en# o$ Part 8ne, he asks himsel$ Chy Io# %reate# the Corl# in su%h a Cay that things in themselves are unknoCa)le to man, that the Supreme Ioo# is unattaina)le to him )e%ause o$ the propensity to ra#i%al :vil that pertains to human nature, *ant<s ansCer is that this impenetra)ility is the positive %on#ition o$ our moral a%tivityE i$ man Cere to knoC things in themselves, moral a%tivity Coul# )e%ome impossi)le an# super$luous at the same time, sin%e Ce Coul# $olloC moral %omman#s not out o$ #uty )ut out o$ simple insight into the nature o$ things, So, sin%e the ultimate goal o$ the %reation o$ the universe is morality, Io# ha# to a%t pre%isely like the heroine $rom the 0ighsmith story an# %reate man as a trun%ate#, split )eing, #eprive# o$ insight into the true nature o$ things, e5pose# to the temptation o$ :vil, >6 Perversion is simply the $ul$illment o$ this sa%ri$i%ial a%t Chi%h esta)lishes the %on#itions o$ Ioo#ness, (herein also lies the se%ret share# )y initiatory %ir%les like the Irail %ommunity at ;ontsalvatE the perverse reverse o$ .hristianity, the intentional killing o$ .hrist, ena)ling him to play the role o$ the 9e#eemer, >7

.onseDuently, Parsi$al<s /the Coun# is heale# only )y the spear that smote you/ amounts to something Duite #i$$erent $rom Chat this same phrase may have meant Cithin the horiFon o$ *ant an# 0egel, +nso$ar as, in *ant, the /Coun#/ %an only )e the ina%%essi)ility o$ the (hing an# its /healing/ the teleologi%al Schein, the point here is that Chat appears as /Coun#/ is a%tually a positive %on#ition o$ /healing/E the ina%%essi)ility o$ the (hing is a positive %on#ition o$ our $ree#om an# moral #ignity, =et $or that very reason, *ant is as $ar as possi)le $rom alloCing any $inite su)je%t to assume the role o$ the instrument Chi%h /smote you/ in or#er to ena)le realiFation o$ the Ioo#, This, however, is precisely what takes place in !agner, Chere Ce Citness the emergen%e o$ the perverse su)je%t Cho Cillingly assumes the /#ealing o$ the Coun#,/ a%%omplishing the %rime Chi%h paves the Cay $or the Ioo#, -197"n#-- to %on%lu#e-- it is pre%isely the re$eren%e to this logi% o$ perversion Chi%h ena)les us to throC some light on one o$ the most o)s%ure points o$ -a%anian theoryE Chat, pre%isely, is the role o$ ob(et petit a in the #rive, say, in the s%opi% #rive, as oppose# to #esireK (he key is provi#e# )y -a%an %lari$i%ation, in his "our "undamental &oncepts, that the essential $eature o$ the s%opi% #rive is /se faire voir/ 1making onesel$ seen2, >> 0oCever, as -a%an imme#iately points out, this /making onesel$ seen/ Chi%h %hara%teriFes the %ir%ularity, the %onstitutive loop, o$ the #rive, must not )e %on$use# Cith the nar%issisti% /looking at onesel$ through the other,/ i,e,, through the eyes o$ the )ig 8ther, $rom the point o$ the :go-+#eal in the 8ther, in the $orm in Chi%h + appear to mysel$ Corthy o$ loveE Chat is lost Chen + /look at mysel$ through the other/ is the ra#i%al heterogeneity o$ the o)je%t Dua gaFe to Chi%h + e5pose mysel$ in /making onesel$ seen,/ +n the i#eologi%al spa%e proper, an e5emplary %ase o$ this nar%issisti% satis$a%tion provi#e# )y /looking at onesel$ through the other/ 1:go-+#eal2 is the reporting on one<s oCn %ountry as seen through the $oreign gaFe 1e,g,, the o)session o$ the "meri%an me#ia to#ay Cith hoC "meri%a is per%eive#a#mire# or #espise#-- )y the 8therE the Hapanese, 9ussians,,,2, (he $irst e5emplary %ase, o$ %ourse, is "es%hylus< $ersians, Chere the Persian #e$eat is ren#ere# as seen through the eyes o$ the Persian royal %ourtE the amaFement o$ *ing Darius at Chat a magni$i%ent people the Ireeks are, et%,, provi#es #eep nar%issisti% satis$a%tion $or the Ireek spe%tators, =et-- again-this is not Chat /making onesel$ seen/ is a)out' Chat, then, does %onstitute itK -et us re%all 0it%h%o%k 0ear !indow, Chi%h is o$ten %ite# as an e5emplary staging o$ the s%opi% #rive, (hroughout most o$ the $ilm, the logi% o$ #esire pre#ominatesE this #esire is $as%inate#, propelle# )y its o)je%t-%ause, the #ark Cin#oC in the opposite %ourtyar# Chi%h gaFes )a%k at the su)je%t, 3hen, in the %ourse o$ the $ilm, #oes /the arroC %ome )a%k toCar# the su)je%t/K "t the moment, o$ %ourse, Chen the mur#erer in the house opposite Hames SteCart<s rear Cin#oC returns SteCart<s gaFe an# %at%hes him re#-han#e# in his a%t o$ voyeurismE at this pre%ise moment Chen Hames SteCart #oes not /see himsel$ seeing himsel$,/ )ut makes himself seen to the ob(ect of his seeing 1i,e,, to that stain Chi%h #reC his gaFe to the #ark room a%ross the %ourtyar#2, Ce pass $rom the register o$ #esire into that o$ #rive, (hat is to say, Ce remain Cithin the register o$ #esire as long as, )y Cay o$ assuming the merely inDuisitive attitu#e o$ a voyeur, Ce are looking $or the $as%inating M, $or some tra%e o$ Chat is hi##en /)ehin# the %urtain/' we -19>/change gear/ into the drive the moment we make ourselves seen to this stain in the picture, to this impervious foreign body in the frame, to this point which attracted our ga4e, (his

reversal is Chat #e$ines the #riveE inso$ar as + %annot see the point in the other $rom Chi%h +<m gaFe# at, the only thing that remains $or me to #o is to make mysel$ visi)le to that point, (he #i$$eren%e )etCeen this gaFe an# the nar%issisti% looking at onesel$ $rom the point o$ the :go+#eal is %learE in the %ase o$ the gaFe, the point to Chi%h the su)je%t makes himsel$ seen retains its traumati% heterogeneity an# nontransparen%y, it remains an o)je%t in a stri%t -a%anian sense, not a sym)oli% $eature, (his point to Chi%h + make mysel$ visi)le in my very %apa%ity o$ looking is the o)je%t o$ #rive, an# in this Cay, one %an perhaps %lari$y a little )it the #i$$eren%e )etCeen the status o$ ob(et a in #esire an# in #rive 1as Ce all knoC, Chen Ha%Dues-"lain ;iller asks -a%an a)out this point in the "our "undamental &oncepts, the ansCer he gets is %hiaros%uro, at )est2, 3hat %an $urther %lari$y this %ru%ial #istin%tion is another $eature o$ the $inal s%ene o$ 0ear !indow Chi%h stages in its purest this transmutation o$ #esire into #riveE the #esperate #e$ense o$ Hames SteCart Cho attempts to stop the mur#erer<s a#van%e )y setting o$$ multiple $lash-)ul)s, (his apparently nonsensi%al gesture must )e rea# pre%isely as a defense against the drive, against /making onesel$ seen/-- SteCart en#eavors $ranti%ally to )lin# the other<s gaFe, >B 1(he key to this s%ene o$ %on$rontation is that the mur#erer gives )o#y to the Duestion emanating $rom the 8ther-- /&he vuoiK/, 3hat #o you Cant $rom meK Gy repeate#ly asking Chat #oes SteCart Cant, Chat is his stake, his interest in this a$$air, the mur#erer %on$ronts SteCart Cith his oCn una%knoCle#ge# #esire, SteCart<s #e$ense is there$ore a #esperate attempt to elu#e the truth o$ his #esire,2 > 3hat )e$alls SteCart Chen the mur#erer throCs him through the Cin#oC is pre%isely the inversion Chi%h #e$ines #riveE )y $alling through the Cin#oC, he in a ra#i%al sense falls into his own picture, into the $iel# o$ his oCn visi)ility, +n -a%anian terms, he %hanges into a stain in his own picture, he makes himsel$ seen in it, i,e,, Cithin the spa%e #e$ine# as his oCn $iel# o$ vision, >9 (hose magni$i%ent s%enes toCar# the en# o$ 3ho Frame# 9oger 9a))it are another variation on the same moti$, Chere the har#-)oile# #ete%tive $alls into the universe o$ %artoonsE he is there)y %on$ine# to the #omain /)etCeen the tCo #eaths/ Chere there is no #eath proper, just unen#ing #evouring an# R or #estru%tion, =et another le$t-paranoia% variation on this theme is to )e $oun# in *reamscape, a s%i-$i movie a)out an "meri%an presi#ent trou)le# )y )a# #reams a)out the nu%lear %atastrophe he may -19Btrigger' the #ark militarist plotters try to %ir%umvent his pa%i$ist plans )y making use o$ a %riminal Cho %an transpose himsel$ into another person<s #ream an# a%t in it, (he i#ea is to s%are the Presi#ent so mu%h in his #ream that he #ies o$ a heart atta%k, +n the $inal s%ene o$ .haplin Limelight Ce also have the reversal o$ #esire into #rive' the apparent melo#ramati% simpli%ity o$ this s%ene shoul# not #e%eive us, +t is %entere# upon a magni$i%ent )a%kCar#s tra%king-shot, $rom the %lose-up o$ the #ea# %loCn .alvero )ehin# the stage to the esta)lishing shot o$ the entire stage Chere the young girl, noC a su%%ess$ul )allerina an# his great love, is per$orming, Hust )e$ore this s%ene, the #ying .alvero e5presses to the atten#ing #o%tor his #esire to see his love #an%ing' the #o%tor taps him gently on the shoul#ers an# %om$orts himE /=ou shall see her@/ (hereupon .alvero #ies, his )o#y is %overe# )y a Chite sheet, an# the %amera Cith#raCs so that the s%reen %omprises the #an%ing girl on the stage, Chile .alvero is re#u%e# to a tiny, )arely visi)le Chite stain in the )a%kgroun#, 3hat is here o$ spe%ial signi$i%an%e is the Cay the )allerina enters the $rameE $rom )ehin# the %amera, like the )ir#s in the $amous /Io#<s-vieC/ shot o$ Go#ega Gay in

0it%h%o%k The Birds-- yet another Chite stain Chi%h materialiFes out o$ the mysterious interme#iate spa%e separating the spe%tator $rom the #iegeti% reality on the s%reen, 3e en%ounter here the $un%tion o$ the gaFe Dua o)je%t-stain in its purestE the #o%tor<s $ore%ast is $ul$ille#, Pre%isely inso$ar as .alvero is #ea#, i,e,, inso$ar as he %annot see the young girl anymore, he looks at her, For that reason, the logi% o$ this )a%kCar#s tra%king-shot is thoroughly 0it%h%o%kianE )y Cay o$ it, a pie%e o$ reality is trans$orme# into an amorphous stain 1a Chite )lot in the )a%kgroun#2, yet a stain aroun# Chi%h the entire $iel# o$ vision turns, a stain Chi%h /smears over/ the entire $iel# 1as in the )a%kCar#s tra%kingshot in "ren4y2, +n other Cor#s, Chat %on$ers upon this s%ene its melo#ramati% )eauty is the spe%tator<s aCareness that without knowing that &alverois already dead, the ballerina is dancing for him, for that stain which he has become 1the melo#ramati% e$$e%t alCays hinges on su%h an ignoran%e o$ the agent2' it is this stain, this Chite smu#ge in the )a%kgroun#, Chi%h guarantees the sense o$ the s%ene, 3here, pre%isely, is the transmutation o$ #esire into #riveK 3e remain Cithin the register o$ #esire as long as the $iel# o$ vision is organiFe#, supporte#, )y .alvero<s #esire to see $or the last time his love #an%ing' Ce enter the register o$ #rive the moment .alvero is re#u%e# to a stain-o)je%t in his oCn pi%ture, For that pre%ise reason, it is not su$$i%ient to say that it is simply she, the )allerina, his love, Cho makes hersel$ seen to -19 him' the point is rather that, simultaneously, he a%Duires the presen%e o$ a stain, so that )oth o$ them appear Cithin the same $iel# o$ vision, BA S%opi% #rive alCays #esignates su%h a %losing o$ the loop Chere)y + get %aught in the pi%ture +<m looking at, lose #istan%e toCar# it' as su%h, it is never a simple reversal o$ #esire to see into a passive mo#e, /;aking onesel$ seen/ is inherent to the very a%t o$ seeingE #rive is the loop Chi%h %onne%ts them, (he ultimate e5empli$i%ations o$ #rive are there$ore the visual an# temporal para#o5es Chi%h materialiFe the nonsensi%al, /impossi)le/ vi%ious %ir%leE :s%her<s tCo han#s #raCing ea%h other or the Cater$all Chi%h runs in a %lose# perpetuum-mo)ile' the time-travel loop Chere)y + visit the past in or#er to %reate mysel$ 1to organiFe the %oupling o$ my parents2, Perhaps even )etter than )y the arroC invoke# )y -a%an, this /loop $orme# )y the outCar# an# return movement o$ the #rive/ %an )e e5empli$ie# )y the $irst $ree asso%iation Chi%h this $ormulation resus%itates, namely the )oomerang Chere /hitting the target/ %hanges over into /making onesel$ hit,/ (hat is to say, Chen + throC the )oomerang, its /goal,/ o$ %ourse, is to hit the target 1the animal2' yet the true art o$ throCing #epen#s upon )eing a)le to %at%h the )oomerang Chen, upon our missing the goal, the )oomerang $lies )a%k' the true aim is to miss the goal, so that the )oomerang returns to us 1the most #i$$i%ult part o$ learning hoC to han#le the )oomerang is there$ore mastering the art o$ %at%hing it properly, i,e,, o$ avoi#ing )eing hit )y it, o$ )lo%king the potentially sui%i#al #imension o$ throCing it2, (he han#ling o$ the )oomerang stages the elementary hysteri%al splittingE the su)je%t<s %at%hing o$ the )oomerang hin#ers the realiFation o$ the true aim o$ its throCing, the /making onesel$ hit/ as a #isplay o$ the #eath-#rive, (he )oomerang thus #esignates the very moment o$ the emergen%e o$ /%ulture,/ the moment Chen instin%t is trans$orme# into #riveE the moment o$ splitting )etCeen goal an# aim, the moment Chen the true aim is no longer to hit the goal )ut to maintain the very %ir%ular movement o$ repeate#ly missing it, -199-

B En0oy Your Nation as YourselfC

3hy Cas the 3est so $as%inate# )y the #isintegration o$ .ommunism in :astern :uropeK (he ansCer seems o)viousE Chat $as%inate# the 3estern gaFe Cas the reinvention of *emocracy, +t is as i$ #emo%ra%y, Chi%h in the 3est shoCs more an# more signs o$ #e%ay an# %risis an# is lost in )ureau%rati% routine an# pu)li%ity-style ele%tion %ampaigns, is )eing re#is%overe# in :astern :urope in all its $reshness an# novelty, (he $un%tion o$ this $as%ination is thus purely i#eologi%alE in :astern :urope, the 3est seeks $or its oCn lost origins, its oCn lost original e5perien%e o$ /#emo%rati% invention,/ +n other Cor#s, :astern :urope $un%tions $or the 3est as its :go+#eal 1Ich7Ideal2E the point $rom Chi%h 3est sees itsel$ in a lika)le, i#ealiFe# $orm, as Corthy o$ love, (he real o)je%t o$ $as%ination $or the 3est is thus the ga4e, namely the suppose#ly naive gaFe )y means o$ Chi%h :astern :urope stares )a%k at the 3est, $as%inate# )y its #emo%ra%y, +t is as i$ the :astern gaFe is still a)le to per%eive in 3estern so%ieties its oCn agalma, the treasure that %auses #emo%rati% enthusiasm an# that the 3est has long ago lost the taste o$, (he reality emerging noC in :astern :urope is, hoCever, a #istur)ing #istortion o$ this i#ylli% pi%ture o$ the tCo mutually $as%inate# gaFesE the gra#ual retreat o$ the li)eral-#emo%rati% ten#en%y in the $a%e o$ the groCth o$ %orporate national populism Chi%h in%lu#es all its usual elements, $rom 5enopho)ia to anti-Semitism, (o e5plain this une5pe%te# turn, Ce have to rethink the most elementary notions a)out national i#enti$i%ation-- an# here, psy%hoanalysis %an )e o$ help, -4AA-

The 8Theft of En0oy6ent8

(he element Chi%h hol#s together a given %ommunity %annot )e re#u%e# to the point o$ sym)oli% i#enti$i%ationE the )on# linking together its mem)ers alCays implies a share# relationship toCar# a (hing, toCar# :njoyment in%arnate#, 1 (his relationship toCar# the (hing, stru%ture# )y means o$ $antasies, is Chat is at stake Chen Ce speak o$ the mena%e to our /Cay o$ li$e/ presente# )y the 8therE it is Chat is threatene# Chen, $or e5ample, a Chite :nglishman is pani%ke# )e%ause o$ the groCing presen%e o$ /aliens,/ 3hat he Cants to #e$en# at any pri%e is not re#u%i)le to the so-%alle# set o$ values that o$$er support to national i#entity, ?ational i#enti$i%ation is )y #e$inition sustaine# )y a relationship toCar# the ?ation Dua (hing, (his ?ation-(hing is #etermine# )y a series o$ %ontra#i%tory properties, +t appears to us as /our (hing/ 1perhaps Ce %oul# say cosa nostra2, as something a%%essi)le only to us, as something /they,/ the others, %annot grasp' nonetheless it is something %onstantly mena%e# )y /them,/ +t appears as Chat gives plenitu#e an# viva%ity to our li$e, an# yet the only Cay Ce %an #etermine it is )y resorting to #i$$erent versions o$ the same empty tautology, "ll Ce %an ultimately say a)out it is that the (hing is /itsel$,/ /the real (hing,/ /Chat it really is a)out,/ et%, +$ Ce are aske# hoC Ce %an re%ogniFe the presen%e o$ this (hing, the only %onsistent ansCer is that the (hing is present in that elusive entity %alle# /our Cay o$ li$e,/ "ll Ce %an #o is enumerate #is%onne%te# $ragments o$ the Cay our %ommunity organiFes its $easts, its rituals o$ mating, its initiation %eremonies, in short, all the #etails )y Chi%h is ma#e visi)le the uniDue Cay a %ommunity organi4es its en(oyment, "lthough the $irst, so to speak, automati% asso%iation that arises here is o$ %ourse that o$ the rea%tionary sentimental Blut und Boden, Ce

shoul# not $orget that su%h a re$eren%e to the /Cay o$ li$e/ %an also have a #istin%tive /le$tist/ %onnotation, ?ote Ieorge 8rCell<s essays $rom the Car years, in Chi%h he attempte# to #e$ine the %ontours o$ an :nglish patriotism oppose# to the o$$i%ial, stu$$y imperialist version o$ it, 0is points o$ re$eren%e Cere pre%isely those #etails that %hara%teriFe the /Cay o$ li$e/ o$ the Corking %lass 1the evening gathering in the lo%al pu), et%,2, 4 +t Coul#, hoCever, )e erroneous simply to re#u%e the national (hing to the $eatures %omposing a spe%i$i% /Cay o$ li$e,/ (he (hing is not #ire%tly a %olle%tion o$ these $eatures' there is /something more/ in it, something that is present in these $eatures, that appears through them, ;em)ers o$ a %ommunity Cho partake in a given /Cay o$ li$e/ believe in their Thing, Chere -4A1this )elie$ has a re$le5ive stru%ture proper to the intersu)je%tive spa%eE /+ )elieve in the 1national2 (hing/ eDuals /+ )elieve that others 1mem)ers o$ my %ommunity2 )elieve in the (hing,/ (he tautologi%al %hara%ter o$ the (hing-- its semanti% voi# Chi%h limits Chat Ce %an say a)out the (hing to /+t is the real (hing,/ et%,-- is $oun#e# pre%isely in this para#o5i%al re$le5ive stru%ture, (he national (hing e5ists as long as mem)ers o$ the %ommunity )elieve in it' it is literally an e$$e%t o$ this )elie$ in itsel$, (he stru%ture is here the same as that o$ the 0oly Spirit in .hristianity, (he 0oly Spirit is the %ommunity o$ )elievers in Chi%h .hrist lives a$ter his #eathE to believe in #im e6uals believing in belief itself, i,e,, )elieving that +<m not alone, that +<m a mem)er o$ the %ommunity o$ )elievers, + #o not nee# any e5ternal proo$ or %on$irmation o$ the truth o$ my )elie$E )y the mere a%t o$ my )elie$ in others< )elie$, the 0oly Spirit is here, +n other Cor#s, the Chole meaning o$ the (hing turns on the $a%t that /it means something/ to people, (his para#o5i%al e5isten%e o$ an entity Chi%h /is/ only inso$ar as su)je%ts )elieve 1in the other<s )elie$2 in its e5isten%e is the mo#e o$ )eing proper to i#eologi%al %ausesE the /normal/ or#er o$ %ausality is here inverte#, sin%e it is the .ause itsel$ Chi%h is pro#u%e# )y its e$$e%ts 1the i#eologi%al pra%ti%es it animates2, Signi$i%antly, it is pre%isely at this point that the #i$$eren%e )etCeen -a%an an# /#is%ursive i#ealism/ emerges most $or%e$ullyE -a%an #oes not re#u%e the 1national, et%,2 .ause to a per$ormative e$$e%t o$ the #is%ursive pra%ti%es that re$er to it, (he pure #is%ursive e$$e%t #oes not have enough /su)stan%e/ to %ompel the attra%tion proper to a .ause-- an# the -a%anian term $or the strange /su)stan%e/ Chi%h must )e a##e# so that a .ause o)tains its positive ontologi%al %onsisten%y, the only su)stan%e a%knoCle#ge# )y psy%hoanalysis, is o$ %ourse en(oyment 1as -a%an states it e5pli%itly in :n%ore 3 2, " nation e5ists only as long as its spe%i$i% en(oyment %ontinues to )e materialiFe# in a set o$ so%ial pra%ti%es an# transmitte# through national myths that stru%ture these pra%ti%es, (o emphasiFe in a /#e%onstru%tionist/ mo#e that ?ation is not a )iologi%al or transhistori%al $a%t )ut a %ontingent #is%ursive %onstru%tion, an over#etermine# result o$ te5tual pra%ti%es, is thus mislea#ingE su%h an emphasis overlooks the remain#er o$ some real, non#is%ursive kernel o$ enjoyment Chi%h must )e present $or the ?ation Dua #is%ursive entity-e$$e%t to a%hieve its ontologi%al %onsisten%y, 6 ?ationalism thus presents a privilege# #omain o$ the eruption o$ enjoyment into the so%ial $iel#, (he national .ause is ultimately nothing )ut the Cay su)je%ts o$ a given ethni% %ommunity organiFe their enjoyment through national myths, 3hat is there$ore at stake in ethni% tensions is

-4A4alCays the possession o$ the national (hing, 3e alCays impute to the /other/ an e5%essive enjoymentE he Cants to steal our enjoyment 1)y ruining our Cay o$ li$e2 an#Ror he has a%%ess to some se%ret, perverse enjoyment, +n short, Chat really )others us a)out the /other/ is the pe%uliar Cay he organiFes his enjoyment, pre%isely the surplus, the /e5%ess/ that pertains to this CayE the smell o$ /their/ $oo#, /their/ noisy songs an# #an%es, /their/ strange manners, /their/ attitu#e to Cork, (o the ra%ist, the /other/ is either a Corkaholi% stealing our jo)s or an i#ler living on our la)or, an# it is Duite amusing to noti%e the haste Cith Chi%h one passes $rom reproa%hing the other Cith a re$usal to Cork to reproa%hing him $or the the$t o$ Cork, (he )asi% para#o5 is that our (hing is %on%eive# as something ina%%essi)le to the other an# at the same time threatene# )y him, "%%or#ing to Freu#, the same para#o5 #e$ines the e5perien%e o$ %astration, Chi%h, Cithin the su)je%t<s psy%hi% e%onomy, appears as something that /really %annot happen,/ )ut Ce are nonetheless horri$ie# )y its prospe%t, (he groun# o$ in%ompati)ility )etCeen #i$$erent ethni% su)je%t positions is thus not e5%lusively the #i$$erent stru%ture o$ their sym)oli% i#enti$i%ations, 3hat %ategori%ally resists universaliFation is rather the parti%ular stru%ture o$ their relationship toCar# enjoymentE 3hy #oes the 8ther remain 8therK 3hat is the %ause $or our hatre# o$ him, $or our hatre# o$ him in his very )eingK +t is hatre# o$ the enjoyment in the 8ther, (his Coul# )e the most general $ormula o$ the mo#ern ra%ism Ce are Citnessing to#ayE a hatre# o$ the parti%ular Cay the 8ther enjoys,,,, (he Duestion o$ toleran%e or intoleran%e is not at all %on%erne# Cith the su)je%t o$ s%ien%e an# its human rights, +t is lo%ate# on the level o$ toleran%e or intoleran%e toCar# the enjoyment o$ the 8ther, the 8ther as he Cho essentially steals my oCn enjoyment, 3e knoC, o$ %ourse, that the $un#amental status o$ the o)je%t is to )e alCays alrea#y snat%he# aCay )y the 8ther, +t is pre%isely this the$t o$ enjoyment that Ce Crite #oCn in shorthan# as minus Phi, the mathern o$ %astration, (he pro)lem is apparently unsolva)le as the 8ther is the 8ther in my interior, (he root o$ ra%ism is thus hatre# o$ my oCn enjoyment, (here is no other enjoyment )ut my oCn, +$ the 8ther is in me, o%%upying the pla%e o$ e5tima%y, then the hatre# is also my oCn, 7 3hat Ce %on%eal )y imputing to the 8ther the the$t o$ enjoyment is the traumati% $a%t that we never possessed what was allegedly stolen from usE the la%k 1/%astration/2 is originary, enjoyment %onstitutes itsel$ as /stolen,/ or, -4A3to Duote 0egel<s pre%ise $ormulation $rom his Science of Logic, it /only %omes to )e through )eing le$t )ehin#,/ > (he late =ugoslavia o$$ers a %ase stu#y o$ su%h a para#o5, in Chi%h Ce Citness a #etaile# netCork o$ /#e%antations/ an# /the$ts/ o$ enjoyment, :very nationality has )uilt its oCn mythology narrating hoC other nations #eprive it o$ the vital part o$ enjoyment the possession o$ Chi%h Coul# alloC it to live $ully, +$ Ce rea# all these mythologies together, Ce o)tain :s%her<s Cell-knoCn visual para#o5 o$ a netCork o$ )asins Chere, $olloCing the prin%iple o$ perpetuum mobile, Cater pours $rom one )asin into another until the %ir%le is %lose#, so that )y moving the Chole Cay #oCnstream, Ce $in# ourselves )a%k at our starting point, Slovenes are )eing #eprive# o$ their enjoyment )y /Southerners/ 1Ser)ians, Gosnians,,,2 )e%ause o$ their prover)ial laFiness, Galkan %orruption, #irty an# noisy enjoyment, an# )e%ause they #eman# )ottomless e%onomi% support, stealing $rom Slovenes their pre%ious a%%umulation o$ Cealth )y means o$ Chi%h Slovenia shoul# otherCise have alrea#y %aught up Cith 3estern :urope, (he Slovenes themselves, on the other han#,

allege#ly ro) the Ser)s )e%ause o$ Slovenian unnatural #iligen%e, sti$$ness, an# sel$ish %al%ulation, +nstea# o$ yiel#ing to li$e<s simple pleasures, the Slovenes perversely enjoy %onstantly #evising means o$ #epriving Ser)s o$ the results o$ their har# la)or )y %ommer%ial pro$iteering, )y reselling Chat they )ought %heaply in Ser)ia, (he Slovenes are a$rai# that Ser)s Cill /inun#ate/ them, an# that they Cill thus lose their national i#entity, ;eanChile, the Ser)s reproa%h Slovenes $or their /separatism,/ Chi%h means simply that Slovenes re$use to re%ogniFe themselves as a su)spe%ies o$ Ser), (o mark Slovenian #i$$eren%e $rom the /Southerners,/ re%ent Slovenian popular historiography is )ent on proving that Slovenes are not really o$ Slavi% )ut o$ :trus%an origin' Ser)s, on the other han#, e5%el in shoCing hoC Ser)ia Cas a vi%tim o$ a /Uati%an-*omintern %onspira%y/E their id5e fi8e is that a se%ret joint plan )etCeen .atholi%s an# .ommunists aims to #estroy Ser)ian statehoo#, (he )asi% premise o$ )oth Ser) an# Slovene is o$ %ourse /3e #on<t Cant anything $oreign, Ce just Cant Chat right$ully )elongs to us@/-- a relia)le sign o$ ra%ism, sin%e it %laims to #raC a %lear line o$ #istin%tion Chere none e5ists, +n )oth %ases, these $antasies are %learly roote# in hatre# o$ one<s oCn enjoyment, Slovenes, $or e5ample, repress their oCn enjoyment )y means o$ o)sessional a%tivity, an# it is this very enjoyment Chi%h returns in the real, in the $igure o$ the #irty an# easygoing /Southerner,/ B (his logi% is, hoCever, $ar $rom )eing limite# to the /)a%kCar#/ Galkan -4A6%on#itions, 0oC the /the$t o$ enjoyment/ 1or, to use a -a%anian te%hni%al term, imaginary %astration2 $un%tions as an e5tremely use$ul tool $or analyFing to#ay<s i#eologi%al pro%esses %an )e $urther e5empli$ie# )y a $eature o$ "meri%an i#eology o$ the eightiesE the o)sessive i#ea that there might still )e some "meri%an P83S alive in Uietnam, lea#ing a misera)le e5isten%e, $orgotten )y their oCn %ountry, (his o)session arti%ulate# itsel$ in a series o$ ma%ho-a#ventures in Chi%h a hero un#ertakes a solitary res%ue mission 1 9am)o ++, ;issing in "%tion2, (he un#erlying $antasy-s%enario is $ar more interesting, +t is as i$ #oCn there, $ar aCay in the Uietnam jungle, "meri%a ha# lost a pre%ious part o$ itsel$, ha# )een #eprive# o$ an essential part o$ its very li$e su)stan%e, the essen%e o$ its poten%y' an# )e%ause this loss )e%ame the ultimate %ause o$ "meri%a<s #e%line an# impoten%e in the post-Uietnam .arter years, re%apturing this stolen, $orgotten part )e%ame an element o$ the 9eaganesDue rea$$irmation o$ a strong "meri%a,

Ca<italis6 without Ca<italis6

3hat sets in motion this logi% o$ the /the$t o$ enjoyment/ is o$ %ourse not imme#iate so%ial reality-- the reality o$ #i$$erent ethni% %ommunities living %losely together-- )ut the inner antagonism inherent in these communities, +t is possi)le to have a multitu#e o$ ethni% %ommunities living si#e )y si#e Cithout ra%ial tensions 1like the "mish an# neigh)oring %ommunities in Pennsylvania2' on the other han#, one #oes not nee# a lot o$ /real/ HeCs to impute to them some mysterious enjoyment that threatens us 1it is a CellknoCn $a%t that in ?aFi Iermany, anti-Semitism Cas most $ero%ious in those parts Chere there Cere almost no HeCs' in to#ay<s e5-:ast Iermany, the anti-Semiti% Skinhea#s outnum)er HeCs )y ten to one2, 8ur per%eption o$ /real/ HeCs is alCays me#iate# )y a sym)oli%-i#eologi%al stru%ture Chi%h tries to %ope Cith so%ial antagonismE the real /se%ret/ o$ the HeC is our oCn antagonism, +n to#ay<s "meri%a, $or e5ample, a role resem)ling that o$ the HeC is playe# more an# more )y the Hapanese, 3itness the o)session o$ the "meri%an me#ia Cith the i#ea that Hapanese #on<t knoC hoC to enjoy themselves, (he reason $or the groCing Hapanese e%onomi% superiority

over the U,S,", is lo%ate# in the someChat mysterious $a%t that the Hapanese #on<t %onsume enough, that they a%%umulate too mu%h Cealth, +$ Ce look %losely at the logi% o$ this a%%usation, it soon )e%omes %lear that Chat "meri%an /spontaneous/ i#eology really reproa%hes the Hapanese $or is not simply their ina)ility to take pleasure )ut rather the $a%t that their very -4A7relationship )etCeen Cork an# enjoyment is strangely #istorte#, It is as if they find an en(oyment in their very renunciation of pleasure, in their Feal, in their ina)ility to /take it easy,/ rela5, an# enjoy-- an# it is this attitu#e Chi%h is per%eive# as a threat to "meri%an suprema%y, (hus the "meri%an me#ia report Cith su%h evi#ent relie$ hoC Hapanese are $inally learning to %onsume, an# Chy "meri%an (U #epi%ts Cith su%h sel$-satis$a%tion Hapanese tourists staring at the Con#ers o$ the "meri%an pleasure-in#ustryE $inally, they are /)e%oming like us,/ learning our Cay o$ enjoying, +t is too easy to #ispose o$ this pro)lemati% )y pointing out that Chat Ce have here is simply the transposition, the i#eologi%al #ispla%ement, o$ the e$$e%tive so%ioe%onomi% antagonisms o$ to#ay<s %apitalism, (he pro)lem is that, Chile this is un#ou)te#ly true, it is precisely through such a displacement that desire is constituted, 3hat Ce gain )y transposing the per%eption o$ inherent so%ial antagonisms into the $as%ination Cith the 8ther 1HeC, Hapanese,,,2 is the $antasy-organiFation o$ #esire, (he -a%anian thesis that enjoyment is ultimately alCays enjoyment o$ the 8ther, i,e,, enjoyment suppose#, impute# to the 8ther, an# that, %onversely, the hatre# o$ the 8ther<s enjoyment is alCays the hatre# o$ one<s oCn enjoyment, is per$e%tly e5empli$ie# )y this logi% o$ the /the$t o$ enjoyment,/ 9 3hat are $antasies a)out the 8ther<s spe%ial, e5%essive enjoyment-- a)out the )la%k<s superior se5ual poten%y an# appetite, a)out the HeC<s or Hapanese<s spe%ial relationship toCar# money an# Cork-- i$ not pre%isely so many ways, for us, to organi4e our own en(oymentK Do Ce not $in# enjoyment pre%isely in $antasiFing a)out the 8ther<s enjoyment, in this am)ivalent attitu#e toCar# itK Do Ce not o)tain satis$a%tion )y means o$ the very supposition that the 8ther enjoys in a Cay ina%%essi)le to usK Does not the 8ther<s enjoyment e5ert su%h a poCer$ul $as%ination )e%ause in it Ce represent to ourselves our oCn innermost relationship toCar# enjoymentK "n#, %onversely, is the anti-Semiti% %apitalist<s hatre# o$ the HeC not the hatre# o$ the e5%ess that pertains to %apitalism itsel$, i,e,, o$ the e5%ess pro#u%e# )y its inherent antagonisti% natureK +s %apitalism<s hatre# o$ the HeC not the hatre# o$ its oCn innermost, essential $eatureK For this reason, it is not su$$i%ient to point out hoC the ra%ist<s 8ther presents a threat to our i#entity, 3e shoul# rather inverse this propositionE the $as%inating image o$ the 8ther gives a )o#y to our oCn innermost split, to Chat is /in us more than ourselves/ an# thus prevents us $rom a%hieving $ull i#entity Cith ourselves, The hatred of the +ther is the hatred of our own e8cess of en(oyment, (he national (hing $un%tions thus as a kin# o$ /particular ,bsoluteresisting universali4ation/ -4A>resisting universaliFation, )estoCing its spe%ial /tonality/ upon every neutral, universal notion, +t is $or that reason that the eruption o$ the national (hing in all its violen%e has alCays taken )y surprise the #evotees o$ international soli#arity, Perhaps the most traumati% %ase Cas the #e)a%le o$ the international soli#arity o$ the Corker<s movement in the $a%e o$ /patrioti%/ euphoria at the out)reak o$ the First 3orl# 3ar, (o#ay, it is #i$$i%ult to imagine

Chat a traumati% sho%k it Cas $or the lea#ers o$ all %urrents o$ so%ial #emo%ra%y, $rom :#ouar# Gernstein to -enin, Chen the so%ial#emo%rati% parties o$ all %ountries 1Cith the e5%eption o$ the Golsheviks in 9ussia an# Ser)ia2 gave Cay to %hauvinist out)ursts an# /patrioti%ally/ stoo# )ehin# /their/ respe%tive governments, o)livious o$ the pro%laime# soli#arity o$ the Corking %lass /Cithout %ountry,/ (his sho%k, the powerless fascination $elt )y its parti%ipants, )ears Citness to an en%ounter Cith the 9eal o$ enjoyment, (hat is to say, the )asi% para#o5 is that these %hauvinist out)ursts o$ /patrioti% $eeling/ Cere $ar $rom une5pe%te#, =ears )e$ore the a%tual out)reak o$ the Car, so%ial #emo%ra%y alerte# Corkers to hoC imperialist $or%es Cere preparing $or a neC Corl# Car, an# Carne# them against yiel#ing to /patrioti%/ %hauvinism, :ven at the very out)reak o$ the Car, i,e,, in the #ays $olloCing the Sarajevo assassination, the Ierman so%ial #emo%rats %autione# Corkers that the ruling %lass Coul# use the assassination as an e5%use to #e%lare Car, Furthermore, the So%ialist +nternational a#opte# a $ormal resolution o)liging all its mem)ers to vote against Car %re#its in the %ase o$ Car, 3ith the out)reak o$ the Car, international soli#arity vanishe# into thin air, "n ane%#ote a)out hoC this overnight reversal took -enin )y surprise is signi$i%antE Chen he saC the #aily neCspaper o$ Ierman so%ial #emo%ra%y, announ%ing on its $ront page that the so%ial-#emo%rati% #eputies ha# vote# $or the Car %re#its, he Cas at $irst %onvin%e# that this issue Cas $a)ri%ate# )y Ierman poli%e to lea# Corkers astray@ "n# it is the same in to#ay<s :astern :urope, (he /spontaneous/ presupposition Cas that Chat is /represse#/ there, Chat Cill )urst $orth on%e the li# o$ /totalitarianism/ is remove#, Cill )e democratic desire in all its $orms, $rom politi%al pluralism to a $lourishing market e%onomy, 3hat Ce are getting instea#, noC that the li# is remove#, are more an# more ethni% %on$li%ts, )ase# upon %onstru%tions o$ #i$$erent /thieves o$ enjoyment/-- as i$, )eneath the .ommunist sur$a%e, glimmere# a Cealth o$ /pathologi%al/ $antasies, Caiting $or their moment to arrive-- a per$e%t e5empli$i%ation o$ the -a%anian notion o$ %ommuni%ation Chere the speaker gets )a%k $rom -4ABthe a##ressee his oCn message in its true, inverte# $orm, (he emergen%e o$ ethni% %auses )reaks the nar%issisti% spell o$ the 3est<s %ompla%ent re%ognition o$ its oCn values in the :astE :astern :urope is returning to the 3est the /represse#/ truth o$ its #emo%rati% #esire, "n# Chat Ce shoul# point out is again the powerless fascination o$ 1Chat remains o$ the %riti%al le$tist intelle%tuals Chen $a%e# Cith this out)urst o$ national enjoyment, (hey are, o$ %ourse, relu%tant to $ully em)ra%e the national .ause' they are #esperately trying to maintain a kin# o$ #istan%e $rom it, (his #istan%e is, hoCever, $alse, a #isavoCal o$ the $a%t that their #esire is alrea#y implied, %aught in the .ause, Far $rom )eing pro#u%e# )y the ra#i%al )reak o%%urring noC in :astern :urope, the o)sessive a#heren%e to the national .ause is pre%isely Chat remains the same throughout this pro%ess-Chat, $or e5ample, is share# in %ommon )y .eau[es%u an# the ra#i%al rightist-nationalist ten#en%ies gaining momentum in 9omania, 0ere Ce en%ounter the 9eal, that Chi%h /alCays returns to its pla%e/ 1 -a%an2, the kernel that persists un%hange# in the mi#st o$ the ra#i%al upheavals in the so%iety<s sym)oli% i#entity, +t is there$ore Crong to %on%eive o$ this rise o$ nationalism as a kin# o$ /rea%tion/ to the allege# .ommunist )etrayal o$ national roots-- the i#ea )eing that )e%ause .ommunist poCer rippe# apart the entire tra#itional $a)ri% o$ so%iety, the only remaining point on Chi%h to rally is national i#entity, +t Cas alrea#y the .ommunist poCer that pro#u%e# the %ompulsive atta%hment to the national .ause, (his atta%hment Cas all the more e5%lusive the more the poCer stru%ture Cas /totalitarian/' Ce $in# its e5treme

%ases in .eau[es%u<s 9omania, in the *hmer 9ouge o$ *ampu%hea, in ?orth *orea, an# in "l)ania, 1A (he ethni% .ause is thus the le$t-over that persists on%e the .ommunist i#eologi%al $a)ri% #isintegrates, 3e %an #ete%t this .ause in hoC the $igure o$ the :nemy is %onstru%te# in to#ay<s 9omania, $or e5ampleE .ommunism is treate# as a $oreign organism, as the intru#er Chi%h poisone# an# %orrupte# the soun# )o#y o$ the nation, as something that really %oul# not have its origins in the nation<s oCn ethni% tra#ition an# Chi%h there$ore must )e %ut out $or the health o$ the nation<s )o#y to )e restore#, (he anti-Semiti% %onnotation is here unmistaka)leE in the Soviet Union, the 9ussian nationalist organiFation Pamyat likes to %ount the num)er o$ HeCs in -enin<s Polit)ureau to prove its /non-9ussian/ %hara%ter, " popular pastime in :astern :urope is not anymore simply to put all the )lame on .ommunists )ut to play the game /Cho Cas behind the .ommunistsK/ 1HeCs $or 9ussians an# 9omanians, .roatians an# Slovenes $or Ser)s, -4A et%,2, (his %onstru%tion o$ the :nemy repro#u%es in its pure, so to speak, #istille# $orm the Cay the :nemy Cas %onstru%te# in the late .ommunist nationalist-totalitarian regimesE on%e Ce overthroC the .ommunist sym)oli% $orm, Chat Ce get is the un#erlying relation to the ethni% .ause, strippe# o$ this $orm, So, Chy this une5pe%te# #isappointmentK 3hy #oes the authoritarian nationalism oversha#oC the #emo%rati% pluralismK 3hy the %hauvinist o)session Cith the /the$t o$ enjoyment/ instea# o$ openness toCar# ethni% #iversityK Ge%ause, at this point, the stan#ar# analysis o$ the %auses o$ ethni% tensions in the /real so%ialist/ %ountries propose# )y the -e$t has prove# Crong, (he le$tist thesis Cas that ethni% tensions Cere instigate# an# manipulate# )y the ruling Party )ureau%ra%y as a means o$ legitimiFing the Party<s hol# on poCer, +n 9omania, $or e5ample, the nationalist o)session, the #ream o$ Ireat 9omania, the $or%e$ul assimilation o$ 0ungarian an# other minorities, %reate# a %onstant tension Chi%h legitimiFe# .eau[es%u<s hol# on poCer' in =ugoslavia, the tensions )etCeen Ser)s an# "l)anians, .roats an# Ser)s, Slovenes an# Ser)s, et%,, seeme# a shoC%ase o$ hoC %orrupte# lo%al )ureau%ra%ies %an prolong their poCer )y presenting themselves as the sole #e$en#ers o$ national interests, 0oCever, this hypothesis Cas re$ute# in a most spe%ta%ular Cay )y re%ent eventsE on%e the rule o$ the .ommunist )ureau%ra%ies Cas )roken, ethni% tensions emerge# even more $or%e$ully, So, Chy #oes this atta%hment to the ethni% .ause persist even a$ter the poCer stru%ture that pro#u%e# it has %ollapse#K 0ere, a %om)ine# re$eren%e to %lassi%al ;ar5ist theory o$ %apitalism an# to -a%anian psy%hoanalysis might )e o$ some help, (he elementary $eature o$ %apitalism %onsists o$ its inherent structural imbalance, its innermost antagonisti% %hara%terE the %onstant %risis, the %onstant revolutioniFing o$ its %on#itions o$ e5isten%e, .apitalism has no /normal,/ )alan%e# stateE its /normal/ state is the permanent pro#u%tion o$ an e5%ess' the only Cay $or %apitalism to survive is to e5pan#, .apitalism is thus %aught in a kin# o$ loop, a vi%ious %ir%le, that Cas %learly #esignate# alrea#y )y ;ar5E pro#u%ing more than any other so%ioe%onomi% $ormation to satis$y human nee#s, %apitalism nonetheless also pro#u%es even more nee#s to )e satis$ie#' the greater the Cealth, the greater the nee# to pro#u%e more Cealth, +t shoul# )e %lear, there$ore, Chy -a%an #esignate# %apitalism as the reign o$ the discourse of the hystericE 11 this vi%ious %ir%le o$ a #esire, Chose apparent satis$a%tion only Ci#ens the gap o$ its #issatis$a%tion, is Chat #e$ines hysteria, " kin# o$ stru%tural homology e5ists )etCeen %ap-4A9-

italism an# the Freu#ian notion o$ the superego, (he )asi% para#o5 o$ the superego also %on%erns a %ertain stru%tural im)alan%eE the more Ce o)ey its %omman#, the more Ce $eel guilty, so that renun%iation entails only a #eman# $or more renun%iation, repentan%e more guilt-- as in %apitalism, Chere an in%rease in pro#u%tion to $ill out the la%k only Ci#ens the la%k, +t is against this )a%kgroun# that Ce shoul# grasp the logi% o$ Chat -a%an %alls the 1#is%ourse o$ the2 3asterE its role is pre%isely to intro#u%e balance, to regulate the e8cess, Pre%apitalist so%ieties Cere still a)le to #ominate the stru%tural im)alan%e proper to the superego inso$ar as their #ominant #is%ourse Cas that o$ the ;aster, +n his last Corks, ;i%hel Fou%ault shoCe# hoC the an%ient ;aster em)o#ie# the ethi%s o$ sel$-mastery an# /just measure/E the entire pre%apitalist ethi%s aime# to prevent the e5%ess proper to the human li)i#inal e%onomy $rom e5plo#ing, 3ith %apitalism, hoCever, this $un%tion o$ the ;aster )e%omes suspen#e#, an# the vi%ious %ir%le o$ the superego spins $reely, ?oC, it shoul# also )e %lear Chere the %orporatist temptation %omes $rom, i,e,, Chy this temptation is the ne%essary reverse o$ %apitalism, -et us take the i#eologi%al e#i$i%e o$ $as%ist %orporatismE the $as%ist #ream is simply to have capitalism without its %e8cess,% without the antagonism that causes its structural imbalance, 3hi%h is Chy Ce have, in $as%ism, on one han#, the return to the $igure o$ the ;aster-- -ea#er-- Cho guarantees the sta)ility an# )alan%e o$ the so%ial $a)ri%, i,e,, Cho again saves us $rom so%iety<s stru%tural im)alan%e' Chile, on the other han#, the reason $or this im)alan%e is attri)ute# to the $igure o$ the HeC Chose /e5%essive/ a%%umulation an# gree# are the %ause o$ so%ial antagonism, (hus the #ream is that, sin%e the e5%ess Cas intro#u%e# $rom outsi#e, i,e,, is the Cork o$ an alien intru#er, its elimination Coul# ena)le us to o)tain again a sta)le so%ial organism Chose parts $orm a harmonious %orporate )o#y, Chere, in %ontrast to %apitalism<s %onstant so%ial displacement, every)o#y Coul# again o%%upy his own place, (he $un%tion o$ the ;aster is to #ominate the e5%ess )y lo%ating its %ause in a %learly #elimite# so%ial agen%yE /+t is they Cho steal our enjoyment, Cho, )y means o$ their e5%essive attitu#e, intro#u%e im)alan%e an# antagonism,/ 3ith the $igure o$ the ;aster, the antagonism inherent in the so%ial stru%ture is trans$orme# into a relationship o$ power, a struggle $or domination )etCeen us an# them, those Cho %ause antagonisti% im)alan%e, Perhaps this matri5 also helps us to grasp the reemergen%e o$ nationalist %hauvinism in :astern :urope as a kin# o$ /sho%k-a)sor)er/ against the su##en e5posure to the %apitalist openness an# im)alan%e, +t is as i$, in the -41Avery moment Chen the )on#, the %hain preventing $ree #evelopment o$ %apitalism, i,e,, a #eregulate# pro#u%tion o$ the e5%ess, Cas )roken, it Cas %ountere# )y a demand for a new 3aster Cho Cill rein it in, 3hat one #eman#s is the esta)lishment o$ a sta)le an# %learly #e$ine# so%ial )o#y Chi%h Cill restrain %apitalism<s #estru%tive potential )y %utting o$$ the /e5%essive/ element' an# sin%e this so%ial )o#y is e5perien%e# as that o$ a nation, the %ause o$ any im)alan%e /spontaneously/ assumes the $orm o$ a /national enemy,/ 3hen the #emo%rati% opposition Cas still $ighting against the .ommunist poCer, it unite# un#er the sign o$ /%ivil so%iety/ all /antitotalitarian/ elements, $rom the .hur%h to the le$tist intelle%tuals, 3ithin the /spontaneous/ e5perien%e o$ the unity o$ this $ight, the %ru%ial $a%t passe# unnoti%e#E the same Cor#s use# )y all parti%ipants re$erre# to tCo $un#amentally

#i$$erent languages, to tCo #i$$erent Corl#s, ?oC that the opposition has Con, this vi%tory ne%essarily assumes the shape o$ a splitE the enthusiasti% soli#arity o$ the $ight against .ommunist poCer has lost its mo)iliFing potential an# the $issure separating the tCo politi%al universes %annot )e %on%eale# anymore, (his $issure is o$ %ourse that o$ the Cell-knoCn %ouple Iemeins%ha$tRIesells%ha$tE the tra#itional, organi%ally linke# %ommunity versus the /alienate#/ so%iety Chi%h #issolves all organi% links, (he pro)lem o$ :astern :urope<s nationalist populism is that it per%eives .ommunism<s /threat/ $rom the perspe%tive o$ Iemeins%ha$t, as a $oreign )o#y %orro#ing the organi% te5ture o$ the national %ommunity' this Cay, nationalist populism a%tually imputes to .ommunism the %ru%ial $eature o$ %apitalism itsel$, +n its moralisti% opposition to the .ommunist /#epravity,/ the nationalist-populist ;oral ;ajority unknoCingly prolongs the thrust o$ the previous .ommunist regime toCar# State Dua organi% %ommunity, (he #esire at Cork in this symptomati% su)stitution o$ .ommunism $or %apitalism is a #esire $or %apitalism %um Iemeins%ha$t, a #esire $or %apitalism Cithout the /alienate#/ %ivil so%iety, Cithout the $ormal-e5ternal relations )etCeen in#ivi#uals, Fantasies a)out the /the$t o$ enjoyment,/ the reemergen%e o$ anti-Semitism, et%,, are the pri%e to )e pai# $or this impossi)le #esire,

The (lind &<ot of %i/eralis6

Para#o5i%ally, Ce %oul# say that Chat :astern :urope nee#s most noC is more alienationE the esta)lishment o$ an /alienate#/ State Chi%h Coul# maintain its #istan%e $rom the %ivil so%iety, Chi%h Coul# )e /$ormal,/ -411/empty,/ i,e,, Chi%h Coul# not em)o#y any parti%ular ethni% %ommunity<s #ream 1an# thus keep the spa%e open $or them all2, +s, then, the solution $or :astern :urope<s present Coes simply a larger #ose o$ li)eral #emo%ra%yK (he pi%ture Ce have presente# seems to point in this #ire%tionE :astern :urope %annot start to live in pea%e an# true pluralist #emo%ra%y )e%ause o$ the spe%ter o$ nationalism, i,e,, )e%ause the #isintegration o$ .ommunism opene# up the spa%e $or the emergen%e o$ nationalist o)sessions, provin%ialism, anti-Semitism, hatre# o$ all that %omes $rom a)roa#, i#eology o$ a threat to the nation, anti$eminism, an# a postso%ialist moral majority in%lusive o$ a pro-li$e movement-- in short, en(oyment in its entire /irrationality,/ =et Chat is #eeply suspi%ious a)out this attitu#e, a)out the attitu#e o$ an antinationalist, li)eral :astern :uropean intelle%tual, is the alrea#y-mentione# o)vious $as%ination e5erte# on him )y nationalismE li)eral intelle%tuals re$use it, mo%k it, laugh at it, yet at the same time stare at it Cith poCerless $as%ination, (he intelle%tual pleasure pro%ure# )y #enoun%ing nationalism is un%annily %lose to the satis$a%tion o$ su%%ess$ully e5plaining one<s oCn impoten%e an# $ailure 1Chi%h alCays Cas a tra#emark o$ a %ertain kin# o$ ;ar5ism2, 8n another level, 3estern li)eral intelle%tuals are o$ten %aught in a similar trapE the a$$irmation o$ their oCn auto%hthonous tra#ition is $or them a re#-ne%k horror, a site o$ populist proto$as%ism 1$or e5ample, in the U,S,",, the /)a%kCar#ness/ o$ the Polish, +talian, et%, %ommunities, the allege# )roo# o$ /authoritarian personalities/ an# similar li)eral s%are%roCs2, Chereas su%h intelle%tuals are at on%e rea#y to hail the auto%hthonous ethni%al %ommunities of the other 1"$ri%an "meri%ans, Puerto 9i%ans,,,2, :njoyment is goo#, on %on#ition that it not )e too %lose to us, on %on#ition that it remain the other<s enjoyment, "s to the ultimate ine$$i%ien%y o$ this /enlightene#,/ /so%ially %ons%ious/ %riti%al analysis, su$$i%e it to re%all .lint :astCoo#<s Dirty 0arry seriesE the $irst $ilm o$ the series una)ashe#ly stages an# there)y en#orses the rightCing, populist $antasy 1a lone avenger )reaking the

%orrupte#, ine$$i%ient laC in or#er to /get things #one,/ a maso%hist, se5ually am)iguous %riminal, et%,2, Chereas in the $olloCing installments, it seems as i$ :astCoo# somehoC in%orporate# a li)eral %riti%<s re$le%tions on the $irst $ilm, "lrea#y the $irst one to $olloC, ;agnum For%e, re)ukes the logi% o$ a /lone avenger/ an# insists on un%on#itional respe%t $or the letter o$ the -aC' Su##en +mpa%t gives the logi% o$ the lone avenger almost a $eminist tou%h, Cith 0arry setting $ree the $emale killer, a rape vi%tim, sin%e she Cas not a)le to o)tain justi%e $rom the male-%hauvinist legal system' (ightrope allu#es to the #ark -414parallelisms )etCeen the mur#erer an# the laC-en$or%ing inspe%tor, "n# yet in spite o$ this sel$-re$le%tive in%orporation o$ the li)eral, /so%ially %ons%ious/ ingre#ients, the fantasy remains thoroughly the same, its e$$i%ien%y in stru%turing our spa%e o$ #esire inta%t, (he truly ra#i%al %ritiDue o$ i#eology shoul# there$ore go )eyon# the sel$-%ongratulatory /so%ial analyses/ Chi%h %ontinue to parti%ipate in the $antasy that sustains the o)je%t o$ their %ritiDue an# to sear%h $or Cays to sap the $or%e o$ this un#erlying $antasy-$rame itsel$-- in short, to per$orm something akin to the -a%anian /going-through the $antasy,/ 14 (he general lesson to )e #raCn $rom it Cith re$eren%e to hoC i#eology Corks %on%erns the gap that separates i#eology Dua #is%ursive $ormation $rom its $antasy-supportE an i#eologi%al e#i$i%e is o$ %ourse su)mitte# to in%essant retroa%tive restru%turations, the sym)oli%#i$$erential value o$ its elements shi$ting all the time, )ut $antasy #esignates the har# kernel Chi%h resists sym)oli% /perla)oration,/ i,e,, Chi%h as it Cere an%hors an i#eology in some /su)stantial/ point an# thus provi#es a %onstant $rame $or the sym)oli% interplay, +n other Cor#s, it is on a%%ount o$ $antasy that an i#eology %annot )e re#u%e# to a netCork o$ elements Chose value Cholly #epen#s on their respe%tive #i$$erential position Cithin the sym)oli% stru%ture, (he positive e5pression o$ this am)ivalen%e toCar# the other<s $antasmati% enjoyment is the o)sessive attitu#e that one %an easily #ete%t in Chat is usually re$erre# to as /P.,/ politi%al %orre%tnessE the %ompulsive e$$ort to un%over ever neC, ever more re$ine# $orms o$ ra%ial an#Ror se5ual violen%e an# #omination 1it is not P. to say that the presi#ent /smokes a pea%epipe/ sin%e this involves a patroniFing irony toCar# ?ative "meri%ans, et%,, et%,2, (he pro)lem, here, is simply /hoC %an one )e a Chite, heterose5ual male an# still retain a %lear %ons%ien%e/K "ll other positions %an a$$irm their spe%i$i%ity, their spe%i$i% mo#e o$ enjoyment, only the Chite-male-heterose5ual position must remain empty, must sa%ri$i%e its enjoyment, (he Ceak point o$ the P. attitu#e is thus the Ceak point o$ the neuroti% %ompulsionE the pro)lem is not that it is too severe, too $anati%, )ut Duite on the %ontrary that it is not severe enough, (hat is to say, at $irst glan%e, the P. attitu#e involves the e5treme sel$-sa%ri$i%e, the renun%iation o$ everything that soun#s se5ist an# ra%ist, the unen#ing e$$ort to unearth tra%es o$ se5ism an# ra%ism in onesel$, an e$$ort not unCorthy o$ the early .hristian saint Cho #e#i%ate# his li$e to #is%overing in himsel$ ever neC layers o$ sin, 13 =et all this e$$ort shoul# not #upe us' it is ultimately a stratagem Chose $un%tion is to %on%eal the $a%t that the P. type is not rea#y to renoun%e Chat really -413mattersE /+<m prepare# to sa%ri$i%e everything but that/-- )ut ChatK (he very gesture o$ sel$sa%ri$i%e, +n other Cor#s, the P. attitu#e implies the same antagonism )etCeen the enun%iate# %ontent an# the position o$ enun%iation that 0egel #enoun%e# apropos o$ the as%eti% sel$humiliationE it %on%eals a patroniFing elevation over those Chose injuries $rom #is%rimination are allege#ly %ompensate#, +n the very a%t o$ emptying the Chitemale-heterose5ual position o$

all positive %ontent, the P. attitu#e retains it as a universal $orm o$ su)je%tivity, "s su%h, the P. attitu#e is an e5emplary %ase o$ the Sartrean mauvaise foi o$ the intelle%tualsE it provi#es neC an# neCer ansCers in order to keep the problem alive, 3hat this attitu#e really $ears is that the pro)lem Cill #isappear, i,e,, that the Chite-maleheterose5ual $orm o$ su)je%tivity Cill a%tually %ease to e5ert its hegemony (he guilt #isplaye# )y the P. attitu#e, the apparent #esire to get ri# o$ /in%orre%t/ elements, is there$ore the $orm o$ appearan%e o$ its e5a%t oppositeE it )ears Citness to the in$le5i)le Cill to sti%k to the Chite-maleheterose5ual $orm o$ su)je%tivity, 8r, to put it in %lear, ol#-$ashione# politi%al termsE $ar $rom )eing a #isguise# e5pression o$ the e5treme -e$t, the P. attitu#e is the main i#eologi%al prote%tive shiel# o$ the )ourgeois li)eralism against a genuine le$tist alternative, 16 3hat truly #istur)s li)erals is there$ore en(oyment organiFe# in the $orm o$ sel$-su$$i%ient ethni% %ommunities, +t is against this )a%kgroun# that Ce shoul# %onsi#er the am)iguous %onseDuen%es o$ the politi%s o$ s%hool )using in the U,S,",, $or e5ample, +ts prin%ipal aim, o$ %ourse, Cas to surmount ra%ist )arriersE %hil#ren $rom )la%k %ommunities Coul# Ci#en their %ultural horiFons )y partaking in the Chite Cay o$ li$e, %hil#ren $rom Chite %ommunities Coul# e5perien%e the nullity o$ ra%ial preju#i%es )y Cay o$ %onta%ts Cith )la%ks, et%, =et, ine5tri%a)ly, another logi% Cas entCine# in this proje%t, espe%ially Chere s%hool )using Cas e5ternally impose# )y the /enlightene#/ state )ureau%ra%yE to #estroy the enjoyment o$ the %lose# ethni% %ommunities )y a)rogating their )oun#aries, For this reason, s%hool )using-inso$ar as it Cas e5perien%e# )y the %on%erne# %ommunities as impose# $rom outsi#e-rein$or%e# or to some e5tent even generate# ra%ism Chere previously there Cas a #esire o$ an ethni% %ommunity to maintain the %losure o$ its Cay o$ li$e, a #esire Chi%h is not in itsel$ /ra%ist/ 1as li)erals themselves a#mit through their $as%ination Cith e5oti% /mo#es o$ li$e/ o$ others2, 17 3hat one shoul# #o here is to %all into Duestion the entire theoreti%al apparatus that sustains this li)eral attitu#e, up to its Frank$urt-s%hool-psy%hoanalyti%al piCce de r5sistance, the theory o$ -416the so-%alle# /authoritarian personality/E the /authoritarian personality/ ultimately #esignates that $orm o$ su)je%tivity Chi%h /irrationally/ insists on its spe%i$i% Cay o$ li$e an#, in the name o$ its sel$-enjoyment, resists li)eral proo$s o$ its suppose# /true interests,/ (he theory o$ the /authoritarian personality/ is nothing )ut an e5pression o$ the ressentiment o$ the le$tli)eral intelligentsia apropos o$ the $a%t that the /non-enlightene#/ Corking %lasses Cere not prepare# to a%%ept its gui#an%eE an e5pression o$ the intelligentsia<s ina)ility to o$$er a positive theory o$ this resistan%e, 1> (he impasses o$ s%hool )using also ena)le us to #elineate the inherent limitation o$ the li)eral politi%al ethi% as it Cas arti%ulate# in Hohn 9aCls<s theory o$ #istri)utive justi%e, 1B (hat is to say, s%hool )using $ully meets the %on#itions o$ #istri)utive justi%e 1it stan#s the trial o$ Chat 9aCls %alls the /veil o$ ignoran%e/2E it pro%ures a more just #istri)ution o$ so%ial goo#s, it eDualiFes the %han%es $or su%%ess o$ the in#ivi#uals $rom #i$$erent so%ial strata, et%, =et the para#o5 is that everyone, in%lu#ing those #eeme# to pro$it most )y )using, somehoC $elt %heate# an# Cronge#-- ChyK (he #imension in$ringe# upon Cas pre%isely that o$ fantasy, (he 9aClsian li)eral-#emo%rati% i#ea o$ #istri)utive justi%e ultimately relies on /rational/ in#ivi#uals Cho are a)le to a)stra%t their parti%ular position o$ enun%iation, to look upon themselves $rom a neutral pla%e o$ pure /metalanguage/ an# thus per%eive their /true interests,/ Su%h in#ivi#uals are the suppose# su)je%ts o$ the so%ial %ontra%t Chi%h esta)lishes the %oor#inates o$ justi%e, 3hat is there)y a priori le$t out o$ %onsi#eration is the $antasy-

spa%e Cithin Chi%h a %ommunity organiFes its /Cay o$ li$e/ 1its mo#e o$ enjoyment2E Cithin this spa%e, Chat /Ce/ #esire is ine5tri%a)ly linke# to 1Chat Ce per%eive as2 the other<s #esire, so that Chat /Ce/ #esire may turn out to )e the very #estru%tion o$ our o)je%t o$ #esire 1i$, in this Cay, Ce #eal a )loC to the other<s #esire2, +n other Cor#s, human #esire, inso$ar as it is alCaysalrea#y me#iate# )y $antasy, %an never )e groun#e# in 1or translate# )a%k into2 our /true interests/E the ultimate assertion o$ our #esire, sometimes the only Cay to assert its autonomy in the $a%e o$ a /)enevolent/ other provi#ing $or our Ioo#, is to a%t against our Ioo#, 1 :very /enlightene#/ politi%al a%tion legitimiFe# )y the re$eren%e to /true interests/ en%ounters sooner or later the resistan%e o$ a parti%ular $antasy-spa%eE in the guise o$ the logi% o$ /envy,/ o$ the /the$t o$ enjoyment,/ :ven su%h a %lear-%ut issue like the ;oral ;ajority pro-li$e movement is in this respe%t more am)iguous than it may seemE one aspe%t o$ it is also the rea%tion to the en#eavor o$ the /enlightene#/ upper-mi##le-%lass -417i#eology to penetrate the loCer-%lass %ommunity li$e, "n#, on another level, Cas not the same attitu#e at Cork in the uneasiness o$ the Ci#e %ir%le o$ :nglish le$tist-li)eral intelle%tuals apropos o$ the great miner<s strike in 19 K 8ne Cas Dui%k to renoun%e the strike as /irrational,/ an /e5pression o$ an out#ate# Corking-%lass $un#amentalism,/ et%,' Chile all this Cas un#ou)te#ly true, the $a%t remains that this strike Cas also a #esperate $orm o$ resistan%e $rom a %ertain tra#itional Corking-%lass Cay o$ li$e, "s su%h, it Cas perhaps more /postmo#ern,/ on a%%ount o$ the very $eatures per%eive# )y its %riti%s as /regressive,/ than the usual /enlightene#/ li)eralle$tist %riti%ism o$ it, 19 (he $ear o$ /e5%essive/ i#enti$i%ation is there$ore the $un#amental $eature o$ the late-%apitalist i#eologyE the :nemy is the /$anati%/ Cho /overi#enti$ies/ instea# o$ maintaining a proper #istan%e toCar# the #isperse# plurality o$ su)je%t-positions, +n shortE the elate# / #e%onstru%tionist/ logoma%hy $o%use# on /essentialism/ an# /$i5e# i#entities/ ultimately $ights a straC-man, Far $rom %ontaining any kin# o$ su)versive potentials, the #isperse#, plural, %onstru%te# su)je%t haile# )y postmo#ern theory 1the su)je%t prone to parti%ular, in%onsistent mo#es o$ enjoyment, et%,2 simply #esignates the form of sub(ectivity that corresponds to late capitalism, Perhaps the time has %ome to resus%itate the ;ar5ian insight that .apital is the ultimate poCer o$ /#eterritorialiFation/ Chi%h un#ermines every $i5e# so%ial i#entity, an# to %on%eive o$ /late %apitalism/ as the epo%h in Chi%h the tra#itional $i5ity o$ i#eologi%al positions 1patriar%hal authority, $i5e# se5ual roles, et%,2 )e%omes an o)sta%le to the un)ri#le# %ommo#i$i%ation o$ every#ay li$e,

&<ino;is6, or, the Ideology of %ate Ca<italis6

"s to this i#eologi%al matri5 o$ late %apitalism, it is reCar#ing to rerea# the last pages o$ -a%an<s Seminar DI, in Chi%h he provi#es a %on%ise a%%ount o$ the SpinoFist positionE /3hat, Duite Crongly, has )een thought o$ in SpinoFa as pantheism is simply the re#u%tion o$ the $iel# o$ Io# to the universality o$ the signi$ier, Chi%h pro#u%es a serene, e5%eptional #eta%hment $rom human #esire,,,, OSpinoFaP institutes this #esire in the ra#i%al #epen#en%e o$ the universality o$ the #ivine attri)utes, Chi%h is possi)le only through the $un%tion o$ the signi$ier,/ 4A (hat is to say, Chat #oes this SpinoFist /universality o$ the signi$ier/ %onsist o$K

+n -a%anian terms, SpinoFa a%%omplishes a kin# o$ leveling o$ the signi$ying %hain, he gets ri# o$ the gap that separates S 4 , the %hain o$ knoCle#ge, $rom S 1 , the signi$ier o$ -41>injun%tion, o$ prohi)ition, o$ .+<E the SpinoFist su)stan%e #esignates universal *noCle#ge as having no nee# $or support in a ;aster-Signi$ier, i,e,, as )eing the metonymi%al universe o$ /pure positivity/ prior to the intervention o$ the negativiFing %ut o$ the paternal metaphor, (he attitu#e o$ the SpinoFist /Cis#om/ is there$ore #e$ine# )y the re#u%tion o$ #eontology to ontology, o$ injun%tion to rational knoCle#ge, an#, in terms o$ spee%ha%ts-theory, o$ per$ormative to %onstative, "n e5emplary %ase is SpinoFa<s treatment o$ Io#<s Carning to "#am an# :ve, /Don<t eat the apple $rom the tree o$ knoCle#ge@/E this pronoun%ement appears as a prohi)ition only to the $inite min# una)le to grasp the %hain o$ %auses Chi%h lie )ehin# its message' injun%tions an# prohi)itions are justi$ie# only Chere Ce have to #eal Cith primitive min#s Chi%h la%k rational insight, " min# Chi%h has a%%ess to rational truth un#erstan#s Io#<s announ%ement not as a prohi)ition )ut as an insight into the state o$ thingsE this apple has properties injurious to health, Chi%h is Chy it is not a#visa)le to eat it, (he %ontemporary version o$ SpinoFa<s rea#ing o$ Io#<s message Coul# there$ore run as $olloCsE /3arning@ (his apple %an )e harm$ul to your health, sin%e the tree Cas sprinkle# Cith pesti%i#es,/ 41 (his is then Chat o)serving phenomena sub specie aeternitatis ultimately amounts toE )y Cay o$ surmounting the b5ance o$ our $initu#e, Ce %on%eive phenomena as the elements o$ a universal sym)oli% netCork, (his netCork is universal in the pre%ise sense that it has no use $or the e5%eptional element that -a%an )aptiFe# the /;aster-Signi$ier/E that element Chi%h )rings a)out the %losure o$ an i#eologi%al $iel# )y Cay o$ #esignating the Supreme Ioo# 1Io#, (ruth, ?ation, et%,2, "%%or#ing to SpinoFa, this e5%eptional element %onveys no positive knoCle#ge o$ %ausal %onne%tionsE the imaginary glitter, the poCer o$ $as%ination that pertains to this $igure, simply gives )o#y to the voi# o$ our ignoran%e, /Io#,/ un#erstoo# as a trans%en#ent sovereign imposing his aims on the Corl#, )ears Citness to our ina)ility to grasp the Corl# in its immanent ne%essity, *ant, on the %ontrary, a$$irms the prima%y o$ pra%ti%al over theoreti%al reason, Chi%h means that the fact of in(unction is irreducibleE Ce, as $inite su)je%ts, %annot ever assume the %ontemplative position Chi%h Coul# ena)le us to re#u%e imperative to %onstative, (his opposition )etCeen SpinoFa an# *ant, o$ %ourse, has ra#i%al %onseDuen%es $or the status o$ the su)je%t, (he SpinoFean %ontemplation o$ the universe sub specie acternitatis implies an attitu#e Chi%h -a%an, in his $irst tCo seminars, Crongly attri)utes to the 0egelian /a)solute knoCle#ge/E an attitu#e a%hieve# through the su)je%t<s sel$-annihilation, )y means o$ -41BChi%h the universe appears to )e a sel$-su$$i%ient me%hanism that %an )e %ontemplate# in supreme )eatitu#e, sin%e Ce are relieve# o$ all responsi)ility $or it, +n %ontrast to this universe o$ pure positivity in Chi%h nothing is to )e punishe# an# only %ausal links are to )e graspe#, *ant intro#u%es the ra#i%al responsi)ility o$ the su)je%tE + am ultimately responsi)le $or everything' even those $eatures Chi%h may seem to )e part o$ my inherite# nature Cere %hosen )y me in a timeless, trans%en#ental a%t, 44

"n# it seems as i$ to#ay Ce live in an age o$ neC SpinoFismE the i#eology o$ late %apitalism is, at least in some o$ its $un#amental $eatures, /SpinoFist,/ Su$$i%e it to re%all the pre#ominant attitu#e Chi%h repla%es punishment an# responsi)ility Cith illumination o$ the %auses o$ our so%ially una%%epta)le )ehavior 1/guilt/ is nothing )ut an o)solete term $or my ignoran%e o$ the %auses Chi%h #rove me into #estru%tive )ehavior2' or %onsi#er the la)els on $oo# %ans $ull o$ pseu#os%ienti$i% #ata-- this soup %ontains so mu%h %holesterol, so many %alories, so mu%h $at,,,1 -a%an, o$ %ourse, Coul# #is%ern )ehin# this repla%ement o$ #ire%t injun%tion )y the allege#ly neutral in$ormation the superego-imperative /9n(oy</2, 3e shoul# not )e le# astray here )y the inspire# argumentation o$ %ontemporary SpinoFists 1 DeleuFe, $or e5ample2 Cho en#eavor to unearth in SpinoFa a theory o$ %ommuni%ation that )reaks %ompletely Cith the .artesian pro)lemati% o$ %onta%t )etCeen sel$-%ons%ious mona#i% in#ivi#ualsE in#ivi#uals #o not $orm a %ommunity through the mutual re%ognition o$ the ego an# its 8ther, )ut through the me%hanism o$ a$$e%tive i#enti$i%ation, through the intermi5ture o$ partial a$$e%ts Chere one /passion/ e%hoes another an# thus rein$or%es its intensivity-- a pro%ess la)ele# )y SpinoFaaffectum imitatio, Far $rom )eing an autonomous )earer o$ this pro%ess, the su)je%t is rather a pla%e, a passive groun# $or the netCork o$ partial lateral linksE communication does not take place between sub(ects, but directly between affects, /+/ re%ogniFe mysel$ as an autonomous, sel$-su$$i%ient Su)je%t pre%isely inso$ar as + overlook-misre%ogniFe-- this netCork o$ partial o)je%tal i#enti$i%ations-imitations Chi%h #etermine me an# traverse the )oun#aries o$ my sel$-i#entity, 43 "ll this may appear very /su)versive,/ i$ measure# )y the stan#ar# o$ the %lassi%al i#eologi%al notion o$ /autonomous su)je%t/-- )ut isn<t this very SpinoFist me%hanism at Cork in Chat Ce %all the /postin#ustrial so%iety o$ %onsumption/' i,e,, isn<t the so-%alle# /postmo#ern su)je%t/ the passive groun# traverse# )y partial a$$e%tive links, rea%ting to images Chi%h regulate his or her /passions,/ una)le to e5ert %ontrol over this me%hanismK +n her arti%le /?u%lear Su)lime,/ Fran%es Ferguson 46 registere# the -41 groCing %laustropho)ia #isplaye# )y a series o$ $eatures in our every#ay li$eE $rom the aCareness o$ hoC smoking en#angers not just smokers themselves )ut nonsmokers in their %ompany, through the o)session Cith %hil# a)use, up to the revival o$ the theory o$ se#u%tion in 1the %ritiDue o$2 psy%hoanalysis 1 ;asson<s The ,ssault on Truth2, 47 3hat lurks in the )a%kgroun# o$ these $eatures is the SpinoFist i#ea that, imper%epti)ly, at a presu)je%tive level, Ce are entangle# in a netCork )y Cay o$ Chi%h others en%roa%h upon usE ultimately, the very presen%e o$ others as su%h is per%eive# as violen%e, 0oCever, in or#er $or this enhan%e# aCareness o$ hoC others threaten us, o$ hoC Ce are totally /e5pose#/ to them, to emerge, a %ertain solipsist shi$t ha# to o%%ur Chi%h #e$ines the /postmo#ern/ su)je%tE this su)je%t has as it Cere Cith#raCn $rom the )ig 8ther, maintaining a protopsy%hoti% #istan%e toCar# the 8ther' i,e,, this su)je%t per%eives himsel$ as an out--aC, la%king the %ommon groun# share# Cith others, "n# $or this reason, every %onta%t Cith others is per%eive# an# e5perien%e# as a violent en%roa%hment, (he so-%alle# /$un#amentalism/ on Chi%h to#ay<s mass me#ia more an# more %on$er the role o$ the :nemy par e5%ellen%e 1in the guise o$ sel$#estru%tive /ra#i%al :vil/E Sa##am 0ussein, the nar%o-%artels,,,2 is to )e graspe# as a rea%tion to the ruling SpinoFism, as its inherent 8ther, (he result is sa# enough, although theoreti%ally very instru%tiveE it is as i$ to#ay the usual opposition o$ Ioo# Dua unyiel#ing ethi%al attitu#e, the rea#iness to risk all rather than

%ompromise one<s sense o$ justi%e, an# o$ :vil Dua opportunist giving Cay un#er the pressure o$ %ir%umstan%es, is inverte# an# thus attains its hi##en truth, (o#ay, /$anati%ism,/ any rea#iness to put everything at stake, is as su%h suspi%ious, Chi%h is Chy a proper ethical attitude survives only in the guise of %radical 9vil,/ (he only true #ilemma to#ay is Chether or not the late-%apitalist SpinoFism is our ultimate horiFonE is all that seems to resist this SpinoFism mere /remain#ers o$ the past,/ simply limite#, /passive/ knoCle#ge, una)le to %ontemplate the .apitalSu)stan%e sub specie aeternitatis, as a sel$-su$$i%ient ma%hinery, or %an Ce e$$e%tively %all this SpinoFism into DuestionK

$rea6s of Nationalis6, E.<lained /y the $rea6 of Radi al E7il

3here, then, are Ce to look $or the Cay out o$ this vi%ious %ir%le o$ late%apitalist SpinoFismK ?ee#less to stress, Ce are $ar $rom a#vo%ating that $un#amentalist overi#enti$i%ation is /anti%apitalist/E the point is pre%isely -419that the %ontemporary $orms o$ /paranoia%/ overi#enti$i%ation are the inherent reverse o$ .apital<s universalism, an inherent rea%tion to it, The more the logic of &apital becomes universal, the more its opposite will assume features of %irrational fundamentalism,/ +n other Cor#s, there is no Cay out as long as the universal #imension o$ our so%ial $ormation remains #e$ine# in terms o$ .apital, (he Cay to )reak out o$ this vi%ious %ir%le is not to $ight the /irrational/ nationalist parti%ularism )ut to invent $orms o$ politi%al pra%ti%e that %ontain a #imension o$ universality )eyon# .apital' their e5emplary %ase to#ay, o$ %ourse, is the e%ologi%al movement, "n# Chere #oes this leave us Cith regar# to :astern :uropeK (he li)eral point o$ vieC Chi%h opposes li)eral-#emo%rati% /openness/ to nationalistorgani% /%losure/-- the vieC sustaine# )y the hope that a /true/ li)eral#emo%rati% so%iety Cill arise on%e Ce get ri# o$ the proto$as%ist nationalisti% %onstraints-- $alls short, sin%e it $ails to take into a%%ount the Cay the suppose#ly /neutral/ li)eral-#emo%rati% $rameCork pro#u%es nationalist /%losure/ as its inherent opposite, 4> (he only Cay to prevent the emergen%e o$ proto$as%ist nationalist hegemony is to %all into Duestion the very stan#ar# o$ /normality,/ the universal $rameCork o$ li)eral-#emo%rati% %apitalism-- as Cas #one, $or a )rie$ moment, )y the /vanishing me#iators/ in the passage $rom so%ialism into %apitalism, +n the ethni% tensions emerging in :astern :urope, the 3estern gaFe upon the :ast en%ounters its oCn un%anny reverse usually Duali$ie# 1an# )y the same token #isDuali$ie#2 as /$un#amentalism/E the en# o$ %osmopolitanism, li)eral #emo%ra%y<s impoten%e in the $a%e o$ this return o$ tri)alism, +t is pre%isely here that, $or the sake o$ #emo%ra%y itsel$, one has to gather strength an# repeat the e5emplary heroi%al gesture o$ Freu#, Cho ansCere# the threat o$ Fas%ist anti-Semitism )y #epriving HeCs o$ their $oun#ing $atherE 3oses and 3onotheism is Freu#<s ansCer to ?aFism, 3hat Freu# #i# Cas there$ore the e5a%t opposite o$ "rnol# S%hoen)erg, $or e5ample, Cho s%orn$ully #ismisse# ?aFi ra%ism as a pale imitation o$ the sel$-%omprehension o$ the HeCs as the ele%te# peopleE )y Cay o$ an almost maso%histi% inversion, Freu# targete# HeCs themselves an# en#eavore# to prove that their $oun#ing $ather, ;oses, Cas :gyptian, ?otCithstan#ing the histori% 1in2a%%ura%y o$ this thesis, Chat really matters is its #is%ursive strategyE to #emonstrate that HeCs are alrea#y in themselves

/#e%entere#,/ that their /originality/ is a )ri%olage, (he #i$$i%ulty #oes not resi#e in HeCs )ut in the trans$eren%e o$ the anti-Semite Cho thinks that HeCs /really possess it,/ agalma, the se%ret o$ their poCerE the anti-Semite is the one -44ACho /)elieves in the HeC,/ so the only Cay e$$e%tively to un#ermine antiSemitism is to %onten# that =ews do not possess %it,/ 4B +n a similar move, one has to #ete%t the $laC o$ li)eral #emo%ra%y Chi%h opens up a spa%e $or /$un#amentalism,/ (hat is to say, there is ultimately only one Duestion Chi%h %on$ronts politi%al philosophy to#ayE is li)eral #emo%ra%y the ultimate horiFon o$ our politi%al pra%ti%e, or is it possi)le e$$e%tively to %omprise its inherent limitationK (he stan#ar# neo%onservative ansCer here is to )emoan the /la%k o$ roots/ that allege#ly pertains to li)eral #emo%ra%y, to this king#om o$ the ?ietFs%hean /last man/ Chere no pla%e is le$t $or ethi%al heroism, Chere Ce are more an# more su)merge# in the i#ioti% routine o$ every#ay li$e regulate# )y the pleasure-prin%iple, et%,E Cithin this perspe%tive, /$un#amentalism/ is a simple rea%tion to this /loss o$ roots,/ a perverte#, yet #esperate sear%h $or neC roots in an organi% %ommunity, =et this neo%onservative ansCer $alls short )y $ailing to #emonstrate hoC the very proje%t o$ $ormal #emo%ra%y, %on%eive# in its philosophi%al $oun#ing gesture, opens up the spa%e $or /$un#amentalism,/ (he stru%tural homology )etCeen *antian $ormalism an# $ormal #emo%ra%y is a %lassi%al toposE in )oth %ases, the starting point, the $oun#ing gesture, %onsists o$ an a%t o$ ra#i%al emptying, eva%uation, 3ith *ant, Chat is eva%uate# an# le$t empty is the lo%us o$ the Supreme Ioo#E every positive o)je%t #estine# to o%%upy this pla%e is )y #e$inition /pathologi%al,/ marke# )y empiri%al %ontingen%y, Chi%h is Chy the moral -aC must )e re#u%e# to the pure Form )estoCing on our a%ts the %hara%ter o$ universality, -ikeCise, the elementary operation o$ #emo%ra%y is the eva%uation o$ the lo%us o$ PoCerE every preten#er to this pla%e is )y #e$inition a /pathologi%al/ usurper' /no)o#y %an rule inno%ently,/ to Duote Saint-Hust, "n# the %ru%ial point is that /nationalism/ as a spe%i$i%ally mo#ern, post*antian phenomenon #esignates the moment Chen the ?ation, the national (hing, usurps, $ills out, the empty pla%e o$ the (hing opene# up )y *ant<s /$ormalism,/ )yis re#u%tion o$ every /pathologi%al/ %ontent, (he *antian term $or this $illing-out o$ the voi#, o$ %ourse, is the $anati%ism o$ S%hCZrmereiE #oes not /nationalism/ epitomiFe $anati%ism in politi%sK +n this pre%ise sense, it is the very /$ormalism/ o$ *ant Chi%h, )y Cay o$ its #istin%tion )etCeen negative an# in#e$inite ju#gment, opens up the spa%e $or the /un#ea#/ an# similar in%arnations o$ some monstrous ra#i%al :vil, +t Cas alrea#y the /pre-%riti%al/ *ant Cho use# the #reams o$ a ghostseer to e5plain the metaphysi%al #ream' 4 to#ay, one shoul# re$er to the #ream o$ the /un#ea#/ monsters to e5plain nationalism, (he $illing-out o$ -441the empty pla%e o$ the (hing )y the ?ation is perhaps the para#igmati% %ase o$ the inversion Chi%h #e$ines ra#i%al :vil, "s to this link )etCeen philosophi%al $ormalism 1the emptying o$ the /pathologi%al/ %ontent2 an# nationalism, *ant presents a uniDue pointE)y #is%erning the empty pla%e o$ the (hing, he e$$e%tively %ir%ums%ri)es the spa%e o$ nationalism, yet at the same time prohi)its us $rom taking the %ru%ial step into it 1this Cas #one later )y Cay o$ the /aesthetiFation/ o$ the *antian ethi%, in S%hiller, $or e5ample2, +n other Cor#s, the status o$

nationalism is ultimately that o$ the trans%en#ental illusion, the illusion o$ a #ire%t a%%ess to the (hing' as su%h, it epitomiFes the prin%iple o$ $anati%ism in politi%s, *ant remains a /%osmopolite/ pre%isely inso$ar as he Cas not yet rea#y to a%%ept the possi)ility o$ /#ia)oli%al/ :vil, o$ :vil as an ethi%al attitu#e, (his para#o5 o$ $illing-out the empty pla%e o$ the Supreme Ioo# #e$ines the mo#ern notion o$ ?ation, (he am)iguous an# %ontra#i%tory nature o$ the mo#ern nation is the same as that o$ vampires an# other living #ea#E they are Crongly per%eive# as /le$tovers $rom the past/' their pla%e is %onstitute# )y the very )reak o$ mo#ernity, (his pathologi%al /stain/ also #etermines the #ea#lo%ks o$ to#ay<s li)eral #emo%ra%y, (he pro)lem Cith the li)eral #emo%ra%y is that a priori, $or stru%tural reasons, it %annot )e universaliFe#, 0egel sai# that the moment o$ vi%tory o$ a politi%al $or%e is the very moment o$ its splittingE the triumphant li)eral-#emo%rati% /neC Corl# or#er/ is more an# more marke# )y a $rontier separating its /insi#e/ $rom its /outsi#e/-- a $rontier )etCeen those Cho manage to remain /Cithin/ 1the /#evelope#,/ those to Chom the rules o$ human rights, so%ial se%urity, et%,, apply2 an# the others, the e5%lu#e# 1the main %on%ern o$ the /#evelope#/ apropos o$ them is to %ontain their e5plosive potential, even i$ the pri%e to )e pai# $or su%h %ontainment is the negle%t o$ elementary #emo%rati% prin%iples2, 49 (his opposition, not the one )etCeen the %apitalist an# the so%ialist /)lo%,/ is Chat #e$ines the %ontemporary %onstellationE the /so%ialist/ )lo% Cas the true /thir# Cay,/ a #esperate attempt at mo#erniFation outsi#e the %onstraints o$ %apitalism, 3hat is e$$e%tively at stake in the present %risis o$ postso%ialist states is pre%isely the struggle $or one<s pla%e, noC that the illusion o$ the /thir# Cay/ has evaporate#E Cho Cill )e a#mitte# /insi#e,/ integrate# into the #evelope# %apitalist or#er, an# Cho Cill remain e5%lu#e# $rom itK :5-=ugoslavia is perhaps the e5emplary %aseE every a%tor in the )loo#y play o$ its #isintegration en#eavors to legitimiFe its pla%e /insi#e/ )y presenting itsel$ as the last )astion o$ :uropean %iviliFation 1the -444%urrent i#eologi%al #esignation $or the %apitalist /insi#e/2 in the $a%e o$ oriental )ar)arism, For the right-Cing nationalist "ustrians, this imaginary $rontier is *aravanke, the mountain %hain )etCeen "ustria an# SloveniaE )eyon# it, the rule o$ Slavi% hor#es )egins, For the nationalist Slovenes, this $rontier is the river *olpa, separating Slovenia $rom .roatiaE Ce are 3itteleuropa, Chile .roatians are alrea#y Galkan, involve# in the irrational ethni% $eu#s Chi%h really #o not %on%ern us' Ce are on their si#e, Ce sympathiFe Cith them, yet in the same Cay one sympathiFes Cith a thir# Corl# vi%tim o$ aggression, For .roatians, the %ru%ial $rontier, o$ %ourse, is the one )etCeen them an# Ser)ians, i,e,, )etCeen the 3estern .atholi% %iviliFation an# the :astern 8rtho#o5 %olle%tive spirit Chi%h %annot %omprehen# the values o$ 3estern in#ivi#ualism, Ser)ians, $inally, %on%eive o$ themselves as the last line o$ #e$ense o$ .hristian :urope against the $un#amentalist #anger )o#ie# $orth )y ;uslim "l)anians an# Gosnians, 1+t shoul# )e %lear, noC, Cho, Cithin the spa%e o$ e5-=ugoslavia, e$$e%tively )ehaves in the %iviliFe# /:uropean/ CayE those at the very )ottom o$ this la##er, e5%lu#e# $rom all-- "l)anians an# ;uslim Gosnians,2 (he tra#itional li)eral opposition )etCeen /open/ pluralist so%ieties an# /%lose#/ nationalist-%orporatist so%ieties $oun#e# on the e5%lusion o$ the 8ther has thus to )e )rought to its point o$ sel$-re$eren%eE the li)eral gaFe itsel$ $un%tions a%%or#ing to the same logi%, inso$ar as it is $oun#e# upon the e5%lusion o$ the 8ther to Chom one attri)utes the $un#amentalist nationalism, et%, 8n that a%%ount, events in e5-=ugoslavia e5empli$y per$e%tly the properly #iale%ti%al reversalE something Chi%h $irst appeare# Cithin the given set o$ %ir%umstan%es as the most )a%kCar# element, a le$t-over o$ the past, all o$ a su##en, Cith the shi$t in the general $rameCork, emerges as the element o$ the $uture in the

present %onte5t, as the premonition o$ Chat lies ahea#, (he out)ursts o$ Galkan nationalism Cere $irst #ismisse# as the #eath throes o$ .ommunist totalitarianism #isguise# in neC nationalist %lothes, as a ri#i%ulous ana%hronism that truly )elongs to the nineteenth%entury age o$ nation-states, not to our present era o$ multinationals an# Corl# integration' hoCever, it su##enly )e%ame %lear that the ethni% %on$li%ts o$ e5-=ugoslavia o$$er the $irst %lear taste o$ the tCenty-$irst %entury, the prototype o$ the post-%ol# Car arme# %on$li%ts, (his antagonisti% splitting opens up the $iel# $or the *hmer 9ouge, Sen#ero, -uminoso, an# other similar movements Chi%h seem to personi$y /ra#i%al :vil/ in to#ay<s politi%sE i$ /$un#amentalism/ $un%tions as a kin# o$ /negative ju#gment/ on li)eral %apitalism, as an inherent negation o$ the -443universalist %laim o$ li)eral %apitalism, then movements su%h as Sen#ero -uminoso ena%t an /in$inite ju#gment/ on it, +n his $hilosophy of 0ight, 0egel %on%eives o$ the /ra))le/ 1$Ebel2 as a ne%essary pro#u%t o$ the mo#ern so%ietyE a nonintegrate# segment in the legal or#er, prevente# $rom partaking o$ its )ene$its, an# $or this very reason #elivere# $rom any responsi)ilities toCar# it-- a ne%essary stru%tural surplus e5%lu#e# $rom the %lose# %ir%uit o$ so%ial e#i$i%e, +t seems that only to#ay, Cith the a#vent o$ late %apitalism, has this notion o$ /ra))le/ a%hieve# its a#eDuate realiFation in so%ial reality, through politi%al $or%es Chi%h para#o5i%ally unite the most ra#i%al in#igenist antimo#ernism 1the re$usal o$ everything that #e$ines mo#ernityE market, money, in#ivi#ualism,,,2 Cith the eminently mo#ern proje%t o$ e$$a%ing the entire sym)oli% tra#ition an# )eginning $rom a Feropoint 1in the %ase o$ *hmer 9ouge, this meant a)olishing the entire system o$ e#u%ation an# killing intelle%tuals2, 3hat, pre%isely, %onstitutes the /shining path/ o$ the Sen#eristas i$ not the i#ea to reins%ri)e the %onstru%tion o$ so%ialism Cithin the $rame o$ the return to the an%ient +n%a empireK (he result o$ this #esperate en#eavor to surmount the antagonism )etCeen tra#ition an# mo#ernity is a #ou)le negationE a ra#i%ally anti%apitalist movement 1the re$usal o$ integration into the Corl# market2 %ouple# Cith a systemati% #issolution o$ all tra#itional hierar%hi%al so%ial links, )eginning Cith the $amily 1at the level o$ /mi%ro-poCer, / the *hmer9ouge regime $un%tione# as an /anti-8e#ipal/ regime in its purest, i,e,, as the /#i%tature o$ a#oles%ents,/ instigating them to #enoun%e their parents2, (he truth arti%ulate# in the para#o5 o$ this #ou)le negation is that %apitalism %annot repro#u%e itsel$ Cithout the support o$ pre%apitalist $orms o$ so%ial links, +n other Cor#s, $ar $rom presenting a %ase o$ e5oti% )ar)arism, the /ra#i%al :vil/ o$ the *hmer 9ouge an# the Sen#eristas is %on%eiva)le only against the )a%kgroun# o$ the %onstitutive antagonism o$ to#ay<s %apitalism, (here is more than a %ontingent i#iosyn%rasy in the $a%t that, in )oth %ases, the lea#er o$ the movement is an intelle%tual Cell skille# in the su)tleties o$ 3estern %ulture, 1Prior to )e%oming a revolutionary, Pol Pot Cas a pro$essor at a Fren%h ly%Je in Phnom Penh, knoCn $or his su)tle rea#ings o$ 9im)au# an# ;allarmJ' ")imael IuFman, /presi#enteIonFalo,/ the lea#er o$ the Sen#eristas, is a philosophy pro$essor Chose pre$erre# authors are 0egel an# 0ei#egger an# Chose #o%toral thesis Cas on *ant<s theory o$ spa%e,2 For this reason, it is too simple to %on%eive o$ these movements as the last em)o#iment o$ the millenarist ra#i%alism Chi%h stru%tures so%ial spa%e as the e5%lusive antagonism )etCeen /us/ an# /them,/ -446alloCing $or no possi)le $orms o$ me#iation' instea#, these movements represent a #esperate attempt to avoi# the im)alan%e %onstitutive o$ %apitalism Cithout seeking support in some

previous tra#ition suppose# to ena)le us mastery o$ this im)alan%e 1the +slami% $un#amentalism Chi%h remains Cithin this logi% is $or that reason ultimately a perverte# instrument o$ mo#erniFation2, +n other Cor#s, )ehin# Sen#ero -uminoso<s en#eavor to erase an entire tra#ition an# to )egin $rom the Fero-point in an a%t o$ %reative su)limation, there is the %orre%t insight into the %omplementary relationship o$ mo#ernity an# tra#itionE any true return to tra#ition is to#ay a priori impossi)le, its role is simply to serve as a sho%k-a)sor)er $or the pro%ess o$ mo#erniFation, (he *hmer 9ouge an# the Sen#eristas there$ore $un%tion as a kin# o$ /in$inite ju#gment/ on late %apitalism in the pre%ise *antian sense o$ the termE they are to )e lo%ate# in a thir# #omain )eyon# the inherent antagonism that #e$ines the late-%apitalist #ynami% 1the antagonism )etCeen the mo#ernist #rive an# the $un#amentalist )a%klash2, sin%e they ra#i%ally reje%t )oth poles o$ the opposition, "s su%h, they are-- to put it in 0egelese-- an integral part o$ the notion o$ late %apitalismE i$ one Cants to %omprise %apitalism as a Corl#system, one must take into a%%ount its inherent negation, the /$un#amentalism,/ as Cell as its a)solute negation, the in$inite ju#gment on it, +t is against this )a%kgroun# that one must ju#ge the signi$i%an%e o$ the reneCe# 1sym)oli% an# real2 violen%e against /$oreigners/ in the #evelope# 3estern %ountries, "propos o$ the Fren%h 9evolution, *ant Crote that its Corl#-histori%al signi$i%an%e is not to )e sought in Chat a%tually happene# on the streets o$ Paris, )ut in the enthusiasm this en#eavor to realiFe $ree#om arouse# in the e#u%ate#, enlightene# pu)li%E it may Cell )e true that Chat a%tually took pla%e in Paris Cas horri$ying, that the most repulsive passions Cere let loose, yet the rever)erations o$ these events Cithin the enlightene# pu)li% all aroun# :urope )ear Citness not only to the possi)ility o$ $ree#om, )ut also to the very a%tuality o$ the ten#en%y toCar# $ree#om Dua anthropologi%al $a%t, 3A (he same step-- the shi$t $rom the event<s imme#iate reality to the mo#ality o$ its ins%ription into the )ig 8ther epitomiFe# )y passive o)servers-is to )e repeate# apropos o$ the anti-immigrant violent out)ursts in Iermany in the summer o$ 1994 1in 9osto%k an# other %ities in the e5-:ast Iermany2E the true meaning o$ these events is to )e sought in the $a%t that the neo-?aFi pogroms met Cith approval or at least /un#erstan#ing/ in the silent majority o$ o)servers--447even some top So%ial Demo%rati% politi%ians use# them as an argument $or re%onsi#ering Ierman li)eral immigrant poli%ies, (his shi$t in the Feitgeist is Chere the real #anger lurksE it prepares the groun# $or the possi)le hegemony o$ an i#eology Chi%h per%eives the presen%e o$ /aliens/ as a threat to national i#entity, as the prin%ipal %ause o$ antagonisms that #ivi#e the politi%al )o#y, 3hat Ce must )e parti%ularly attentive to is the #i$$eren%e )etCeen this /postmo#ern/ ra%ism Chi%h noC rages aroun# :urope an# the tra#itional $orm o$ ra%ism, (he ol# ra%ism Cas #ire%t an# raC-- /they/ 1HeCs, )la%ks, "ra)s, :astern :uropeans,,,2 are laFy, violent, plotting, ero#ing our national su)stan%e, et%,, Chereas the neC ra%ism is /re$le%te#,/ as it Cere sDuare# ra%ism, Chi%h is Chy it %an Cell assume the $orm o$ its opposite, o$ the $ight against ra%ism, :tienne Gali)ar hit the mark )y )aptiFing it /metara%ism,/ 31 0oC #oes a /postmo#ern/ ra%ist rea%t to the out)ursts in 9osto%kK 0e o$ %ourse )egins )y e5pressing his horror an# repulsion at the neo?aFi violen%e, yet he is Dui%k to a## that these events, #eplora)le as they are, must )e seen in their %onte5tE they are a%tually a perverte#, #istorte# e5pression an# e$$e%t o$ a true pro)lem, namely that in %ontemporary Ga)ilon the e5perien%e o$ )elonging to a Cell-#e$ine#

ethni% %ommunity Chi%h gives meaning to the in#ivi#ual<s li$e is losing groun#' in short, the true %ulprits are %osmopoliti% universalists Cho, in the name o$ /multi%ulturalism,/ mi5 ra%es an# there)y set in motion natural sel$-#e$ense me%hanisms, 34 "parthei# is thus legitimiFe# as the ultimate $orm o$ antira%ism, as an en#eavor to prevent ra%ial tensions an# %on$li%ts, 3hat Ce have here is a palpa)le e5ample o$ Chat -a%an has in min# Chen he insists that /there is no metalanguage/E the #istan%e o$ metara%ism toCar# ra%ism is voi#' metara%ism is ra%ism pure an# simple, all the more #angerous $or posing as its opposite an# a#vo%ating ra%ist measures as the very $orm o$ $ighting ra%ism,

The Eastern Euro<ean 8Vanishing +ediators8

(his %riti%ism o$ the usual 3estern li)eral attitu#e opens up the Cay $or a #i$$erent, supplementary Cay to e5plain the $as%inating $or%e e5erte# )y nationalism in :astern :uropeE the pe%uliarity o$ the /transition/ $rom real so%ialism to %apitalism, -et us take the %ase o$ Slovenia, +$, in the re%ent #isintegration o$ the /real so%ialism/ in Slovenia, there Cere politi%al agents Chose role $ully #eserves the #esignation /tragi%,/ these Cere the Slove-44>nian .ommunists Cho live# up to their promise to make possi)le the pea%e$ul, nonviolent transition into pluralist #emo%ra%y, From the very )eginning they Cere %aught in the Freu#ian para#o5 o$ the superegoE the more they gave Cay to the #eman#s o$ the 1then2 opposition an# a%%epte# #emo%rati% rules o$ the game, the more violent )e%ame the opposition<s a%%usations a)out their /totalitarianism,/ the more they Cere suspe%te# o$ a%%epting #emo%ra%y only /in Cor#s/ Chile a%tually preparing #emoni% plots against it, (he para#o5 o$ su%h a%%usations emerge# in its purest Chen, $inally, a$ter many %laims that the .ommunists< #emo%rati% %ommitments Cere not to )e taken seriously, it )e%ame %lear that they /meant it/E $ar $rom )eing perple5e#, the opposition simply %hange# the %harge an# a%%use# the .ommunists o$ /unprin%iple# )ehavior/-- hoC %an you trust some)o#y Cho )etraye# shamelessly his ol# revolutionary past an# a%%epte# #emo%rati% )ehaviorK (he #eman# o$ the opposition #is%erni)le in this para#o5 is an ironi% repetition o$ the goo# ol# Stalinist #eman# at Cork in the politi%al monster-trials Chere the a%%use# Cere $or%e# to a#mit their guilt an# %laim supreme punishment $or themselvesE $or the anti.ommunist opposition, the only goo# .ommunist Coul# )e the one Cho Coul# $irst organiFe $ree multiparty ele%tions an# then voluntarily assume in them the role o$ the s%apegoat, o$ a representative o$ totalitarian horrors Cho has to )e )eaten, +n short, .ommunists Cere e5pe%te# to assume the impossi)le position o$ pure metalanguage an# to say, /3e %on$ess, Ce are totalitarian, Ce #eserve to lose the ele%tions@/ like the vi%tim o$ the Stalinist trials Cho %on$esses guilt an# #eman#s the harshest possi)le punishment, (his shi$t in the pu)li% per%eption o$ Slovenian #emo%rati% .ommunists Cas truly enigmati%E up to the /point o$ no return/ on the Cay to #emo%ra%y, the pu)li% trum)le# $or them, %ounting on them to en#ure the pressure o$ the true anti#emo%rati% $or%es 1=ugoslav army, Ser)ian populism, ol# har#-liners, et%,2 an# to organiFe $ree ele%tions' yet on%e it )e%ame %lear that $ree ele%tions Coul# take pla%e, these same .ommunists su##enly )e%ame the :nemy, (he logi% o$ this shi$t, $rom the /open/ %on#ition )e$ore ele%tions into its /%losure/ a$ter ele%tions, %an )e %on%eive# o$ )y means o$ the term /vanishing me#iator/ ela)orate# )y Fre#ri% Hameson, 33 " system rea%hes its eDuili)rium, i,e,, it esta)lishes itsel$ as a syn%hronous totality, Chen-- in 0egelese-- it /posits/ its e5ternal presuppositions as its inherent moments

an# thus o)literates the tra%es o$ its traumati% origins, 3hat Ce have here is the tension )etCeen the /open/ situation Chen a neC so%ial pa%t is generate#, -44Ban# its su)seDuent /%losure/-- to re$er to *ierkegaar#<s terms, the tension )etCeen possi)ility an# ne%essityE the %ir%le is %lose# Chen the neC so%ial pa%t esta)lishes itsel$ in its ne%essity an# ren#ers invisi)le its /possi)ility,/ the open, un#e%i#e# pro%ess that engen#ere# it, 36 +n )etCeen, Chen the so%ialist regime Cas alrea#y #isintegrating, yet )e$ore the neC regime %oul# sta)iliFe itsel$, Ce Citnesse# a kin# o$ opening' things Cere $or a moment visi)le Chi%h imme#iately therea$ter )e%ame invisi)le, (o put it in a ru#e Cay, those Cho triggere# the pro%ess o$ #emo%ratiFation an# $ought its heaviest )attles are not those Cho to#ay enjoy its reCar#s-- not )e%ause o$ any usurpation or #e%eption on the part o$ the present Cinners, )ut )e%ause o$ a #eeper histori%al logi%, 8n%e the pro%ess o$ #emo%ratiFation ha# rea%he# its peak, it )urie# its #etonators, 3ho e$$e%tively triggere# this pro%essK ?eC so%ial movements, punk, the ?eC -e$t, "$ter the vi%tory o$ #emo%ra%y, all these impulses su##enly an# enigmati%ally lost groun# an# more or less #isappeare# $rom the s%ene, .ulture itsel$, the set o$ %ultural pre$eren%es, %hange# ra#i%allyE $rom punk an# 0ollyCoo# to national poems an# Duasi-$olklori% %ommer%ial musi% 1in %ontrast to the usual i#ea a%%or#ing to Chi%h the universal "meri%an-3estern %ulture oversha#oCs authenti% national roots2, 3hat Ce ha# Cas a true /primitive a%%umulation/ o$ #emo%ra%y, a %haoti% array o$ punkers, stu#ents Cith their sit-ins, %ommittees $or human rights, et%,, Chi%h literally became invisible the moment the neC system esta)lishe# itsel$ an# thereCith its oCn myth o$ origins, (he same people Cho, a %ouple o$ years ago, a)use# the neC so%ial movements $rom the position o$ party har#liners, noC, as mem)ers o$ the ruling anti-.ommunist %oalition, a%%use their representatives o$ /proto%ommunism,/ (his #iale%ti%s is espe%ially interesting in its theoreti%al aspe%t, 9oughly, Ce %oul# say that in the last tCo #e%a#es tCo philosophi%al orientations #ominate# intelle%tual li$e in SloveniaE 0ei#eggerianism among the opposition an# Frank$urt-s%hool ;ar5ism among the /o$$i%ial/ Party %ir%les, So one Coul# have e5pe%te# the main theoreti%al $ight to have taken pla%e )etCeen these tCo orientations, Cith the thir# )lo%k-- -a%anians an# "lthusserians-- in the role o$ inno%ent )ystan#ers, =et as soon as polemi%s )roke out, )oth major orientations $ero%iously atta%ke# the same parti%ular third author, "lthusser, 1"n#, to make the surprise even )igger, the tCo main proponents o$ this polemi%s, a 0ei#eggerian an# a then Frank$urt ;ar5ist, Cere later )oth mem)ers o$ the ruling anti-.ommunist %oalition,2 +n the seventies, "lthusser a%tually $un%tione# as a kin# o$ symptomati% point, a -44 name apropos o$ Chi%h all the /o$$i%ial/ a#versaries, 0ei#eggerians an# Frank$urt-;ar5ists in Slovenia, Pra5is-philosophers an# .entral .ommittee i#eologues in Xagre) an# Gelgra#e, suddenly started to speak the same language, pronoun%ing the same a%%usations, From the very )eginning, the starting point o$ the Slovene -a%anians Cas this o)servation o$ hoC the name /"lthusser/ triggere# an enigmati% uneasiness in all %amps, 8ne is even tempte# to suggest that the un$ortunate event in "lthusser<s private li$e 1his strangling o$ his Ci$e2 playe# the role o$ a Cel%ome prete5t, o$ a /little pie%e o$ reality/ ena)ling his theoreti%al a#versaries to repress the real trauma represente# )y his theory 1/0oC %an a theory o$ some)o#y Cho strangle# his Ci$e )e taken seriouslyK/2, +t is perhaps more than a mere %uriosity that, in =ugoslavia, "lthusserians 1an# more generally those a#opting a /stru%turalist/ or

/poststru%turalist/ orientation2 Cere the only ones Cho remaine# /pure/ in the $ight $or #emo%ra%yE all other philosophi%al s%hools at some point or other sol# themselves to the regime, (he analyti%al philosophers Cere sen#ing the regime the message /(rue, Ce<re not ;ar5ists, )ut Ce<re also not #angerous' our thought is pure apoliti%al pro$essional apparatus, so you not only have nothing to $ear in us, )ut )y leaving us alone you %an even gain a reputation $or alloCing non-;ar5ism Cithout risking your hol# on politi%al poCer,/ (he message Cas re%eive#' they Cere le$t alone, +n the repu)li% o$ Gosnia, the Frank$urt s%hool enjoye# a hal$o$$i%ial status in the seventies, Chereas in .roatia an# partially in Ser)ia /o$$i%ial/ 0ei#eggerians thrive#, espe%ially in the army %ir%les, so that %ases arose Chere, in the university purges, someone lost his jo) $or not un#erstan#ing the su)tleties o$ negative #iale%ti%s 1as it Cas put in the justi$i%ation a$ter the $a%t2, or the so%ialist arme# $or%es su)mitte# apologies Critten in the purest 0ei#eggerian style 1/the essen%e o$ the sel$-#e$ense o$ our so%iety is the sel$-#e$ense o$ the essen%e o$ our so%iety,/ et%,2, (he resistan%e to "lthusser %on$irme# hoC it Cas pre%isely the "lthusserian theory-o$ten #e$ame# as protoStalinist-- Chi%h serve# as a kin# o$ /spontaneous/ theoreti%al tool $or e$$e%tively un#ermining the .ommunist totalitarian regimesE his theory o$ the +#eologi%al State"pparatuses assigne# the %ru%ial role in the repro#u%tion o$ an i#eology to /e5ternal/ rituals an# pra%ti%es Cith regar# to Chi%h /inner/ )elie$s an# %onvi%tions are stri%tly se%on#ary, "n# is it ne%essary to %all attention to the %entral pla%e o$ su%h rituals in /real so%ialism/K 3hat %ounte# in it Cas e5ternal o)e#ien%e, not /inner %onvi%tion,/ +bedience coincided with the semblance of obedience, Chi%h is Chy the only Cay to )e truly /su)versive/ Cas to a%t /naively,/ to make -449the system /eat its oCn Cor#s,/ i,e,, to un#ermine the appearance o$ its i#eologi%al %onsisten%y, (his #isappearan%e o$ the /vanishing me#iator,/ o$ %ourse, is not a pe%uliarity o$ Slovenia, +s not the most spe%ta%ular e5ample the role o$ .eues "orum in :ast IermanyK "n inherently tragical ethi%al #imension pertains to its $ateE it presents a point at Chi%h an i#eology /takes itsel$ literally/ an# %eases to $un%tion as an /o)je%tively-%yni%al/ 1 ;ar52 legitimiFation o$ the e5isting poCer relations, .eues "orum %onsiste# o$ groups o$ passionate intelle%tuals Cho /took so%ialism seriously/ an# Cere prepare# to put everything at stake in or#er to #estroy the %ompromise# system an# repla%e it Cith the utopian /thir# Cay/ )eyon# %apitalism an# /really e5isting/ so%ialism, (heir sin%ere )elie$ an# insisten%e that they Cere not Corking $or the restoration o$ 3estern %apitalism, o$ %ourse, prove# to )e nothing )ut an insu)stantial illusion' hoCever, Ce %oul# say that pre%isely as su%h 1as a thorough illusion Cithout su)stan%e2 it Cas stricto sensu nonideologicalE it #i#n<t /re$le%t/ in an inverte#-i#eologi%al $orm any a%tual relations o$ poCer, "t this point, Ce shoul# %orre%t the ;ar5ist vulgateE %ontrary to the %ommonpla%e a%%or#ing to Chi%h an i#eology )e%omes /%yni%al/ 1a%%epts the gap )etCeen /Cor#s/ an# /a%ts,/ #oesn<t /)elieve in itsel$/ anymore, isn<t e5perien%e# anymore as truth )ut treats itsel$ as pure instrumental means o$ legitimiFing poCer2 in the perio# o$ the /#e%a#en%e/ o$ a so%ial $ormation, it %oul# )e sai# that pre%isely the perio# o$ /#e%a#en%e/ opens up to the ruling i#eology the possi)ility o$ /taking itsel$ seriously/ an# e$$e%tively opposing its oCn so%ial )asis, 13ith Protestantism, .hristian religion oppose# $eu#alism as its so%ial )asis, the same as Cith .eues "orum, Chi%h oppose# the e5isting so%ialism in the name o$ /true so%ialism,/2 +n this Cay, unknoCingly, the /vanishing me#iators/ un%haine# the $or%es o$ their oCn $inal #estru%tionE on%e their jo) Cas #one, they Cere /overrun )y history/ 1.eues "orum s%ore# 3 per%ent at the ele%tions2 an# a neC

/s%oun#rel time/ sets in, Cith people in poCer Cho Cere mostly silent #uring the .ommunist repression an# Cho nonetheless noC in#i%t .eues "orum as /%rypto-.ommunists,/ (he general theoreti%al lesson to )e #raCn $rom these e5amples is that the %on%ept o$ i#eology must )e #isengage# $rom the /representationalist/ pro)lemati%E ideology has nothing to do with %illusion,/ Cith a Crong, #istorte# representation o$ its so%ial %ontent, (o put it su%%in%tlyE a politi%al stan#point %an )e Duite a%%urate 1/true/2 as to its o)je%tive %ontent an# yet thoroughly i#eologi%al, an# vi%e versa' the i#ea a politi%al stan#point gives -43Ao$ its so%ial %ontent %an prove totally Crong, an# yet there is a)solutely nothing /i#eologi%al/ a)out it, 3ith regar# to the /$a%tual truth,/ the position o$ .eues "orum-- taking the #isintegration o$ the .ommunist regime as the opening-up o$ a Cay to invent some neC $orm o$ so%ial spa%e that Coul# rea%h )eyon# the %on$ines o$ %apitalism-- Cas #ou)tless illusory, 8pposing .eues "orum Cere $or%es Cho put all their )ets on the Dui%kest possi)le anne5ation to 3est Iermany, i,e,, on the in%lusion o$ their %ountry into the Corl# %apitalist system' $or them, the people aroun# .eues "orum Cere nothing )ut a )un%h o$ heroi% #ay#reamers, (his position prove# a%%urate-- yet it was nonetheless thoroughly ideological, 3hyK (he %on$ormist a#option o$ the 3est Ierman mo#el implie# the i#eologi%al )elie$ in the unpro)lemati%, nonantagonisti% $un%tioning o$ the late%apitalist /so%ial state,/ Chereas the $irst stan%e, although illusory as to its $a%tual %ontent 1its /enun%iate#/2, )y means o$ its /s%an#alous/ an# e5or)itant position o$ enun%iation atteste# to an aCareness o$ the antagonism that pertains to late %apitalism, (his is one o$ the Cays to %on%eive o$ the -a%anian thesis a%%or#ing to Chi%h truth has the stru%ture o$ a $i%tionE in those %on$use# months o$ the passage o$ /really e5isting so%ialism/ into %apitalism, the fiction of a %third way% was the only point at which social antagonism was not obliterated, 0erein lies one o$ the tasks o$ the /postmo#ern/ %ritiDue o$ i#eologyE to #esignate the elements Cithin an e5isting so%ial or#er Chi%h-- in the guise o$ /$i%tion,/ i,e,, o$ the /utopian/ narratives o$ possi)le )ut $aile# alternative histories-- point toCar# the system<s antagonisti% %hara%ter an# thus /estrange/ us $rom the sel$-evi#en%e o$ its esta)lishe# i#entity,

Colla<se of the 8(ig "ther8

3hat, then, $orms the link )etCeen this /vanishing me#iator/ an# the rise o$ nationalismK (he #emo%rati% .ommunists an# neC so%ial movements in general represent the moment o$ the /vanishing me#iator,/ o$ Chat must #isappear, )e%ome invisi)le, $or the neC or#er to esta)lish its i#entityCith-itsel$, (he agent Cho initially triggere# the pro%ess must %ome to )e per%eive# as its main impe#iment, or, to use the terms o$ Propp<s stru%tural analysis o$ $airy tales, 37 the #onor must appear as the male$a%tor, like la#y .atherine #e Gourgh in Hane "usten<s $ride and $re(udice, Cho, in the guise o$ the evil impe#iment to Dar%y<s an# :liFa)eth<s marriage, e$$e%tively maneuvers the han# o$ #estiny, thus ena)ling the happy out%ome, / ?a-431tion/ as the su)stantial support is, on the other han#, Chat the neC ruling i#eology sees so that it %an not see, so that it %an overlook, the /vanishing me#iator/E /nation/ is a $antasy Chi%h $ills out the voi# o$ the vanishing me#iator, +$ one is to avoi# the histori%ist trap, one must

there$ore learn the materialist lesson o$ anti-evolutionist %reationism, Chi%h resolves the %ontra#i%tion )etCeen the literal meaning o$ the S%ripture 1a%%or#ing to Chi%h the universe Cas %reate# %a, 7,AAA years ago2 an# irre$uta)le proo$s o$ its greater age 1million-year-ol# $ossils, et%,2 not )y in#ulging in the usual allegori%al rea#ings o$ the S%ripture 1/"#am an# :ve are not really the $irst %ouple )ut a metaphor $or the early stages o$ humanity,,,/2, )ut )y sti%king to the literal truth o$ the S%riptureE the universe Cas %reate# re%ently, i,e,, only 7,AAA years ago, yet with built7in false traces of the past 1Io# #ire%tly %reate# $ossils, et%,2, 3> (he past is alCays stri%tly /syn%hronous,/ it is the way a synchronous universe thinks its antagonism, +t su$$i%es to re%all the in$amous role o$ the /remnants o$ the past/ in a%%ounting $or the #i$$i%ulties o$ the /%onstru%tion o$ so%ialism,/ +n this sense, the tale o$ ethni% roots is $rom the very )eginning the /myth o$ the 8rigins/E Chat is /national heritage/ i$ not a kin# o$ i#eologi%al $ossil %reate# retroa%tively )y the ruling i#eology in or#er to )lur its present antagonismK +n other Cor#s, instea# o$ marveling Cith traumati% #isorientation at the sho%king sCi$tness o$ this reversal into nationalism, it Coul# perhaps )e more appropriate to a%%omplish a kin# o$ 0egelian reversal an# to transpose this sho%k into the /thing itsel$,/ i,e,, to %on%eive o$ this traumati% #isorientation not as a pro)lem )ut rather as a key to the solutionE the re%ourse to nationalism emerge# in or#er to prote%t us $rom the traumati% #isorientation, $rom the loss o$ the groun# un#er our $eet, %ause# )y the #isintegration o$ the /really e5isting so%ialism,/ (hat is to say, the )reak#oCn o$ so%ialism is not to )e un#erestimate#, as is usually the %ase Chen one %on%eives o$ /real so%ialism/ as an e5ternally impose# system Chi%h oppresse# some original national li$e-$or%e, (rue, /real so%ialism/ Cas ultimately a so%iety o$ /pure appearan%e/' the system $un%tione# so that no)o#y /)elieve# in it/-- yet it is here that its true enigma emerges, (his appearan%e Cas Chat 0egel %alle# /an essential appearan%e,/ in Chi%h, $or us, to#ay, it is easy to re%ogniFe the %ontours o$ the -a%anian )ig 8therE Chat #isintegrate# in :astern :urope Cas le grand ,utre, the ultimate guarantor o$ the so%ial pa%t, 3B ' +$ one #isposes o$ enough in$ormation, this #isintegration o$ the )ig 8ther %an )e pinne# #oCn to a pre%ise point in time an# spa%e' 9ysFar# *apus%inski #i# it in an e5emplary Cay apropos o$ -434the +ranian revolution o$ 19B9E the /)eginning o$ the en#/ o$ the Shah<s regime took pla%e at a %ertain (eheran %rossroa# Chere a %ommon %itiFen re$use# to o)ey a poli%eman<s or#er to go aCay, (he neCs sprea# like $ire an#, all o$ a su##en, people %ease# to /)elieve in the )ig 8ther,/ 3hat Ce have here, o$ %ourse, is a retroa%tive re%onstru%tionE the event in Duestion %annot )e sai# simply to /)e/ the /)eginning o$ the en#/' it is rather something that, in vieC o$ later events, /Cill have )een/ it' yet $or all that, it is nonetheless the tiny snoC)all Chi%h set in motion the avalan%heE ?oC the most important moment, the moment that Cill #etermine the $ate o$ the %ountry, the Shah, an# the revolution, is the moment Chen one poli%eman Calks $rom his post toCar# one man on the e#ge o$ the %roC#, raises his voi%e, an# or#ers the man to go home, (he poli%eman an# the man on the e#ge o$ the %roC# are or#inary, anonymous people, )ut their meeting has histori% signi$i%an%e, (hey are )oth a#ults, they have )oth live# through %ertain events, they have )oth ha# their in#ivi#ual e5perien%es, (he poli%eman<s e5perien%eE +$ + shout at someone an# raise my trun%heon, he Cill $irst go num) Cith terror an# then take to his heels, (he e5perien%e o$ the man at the e#ge o$ the %roC#E "t the sight o$ an approa%hing poli%eman + am seiFe# )y $ear an# start running, 8n the )asis o$ these e5perien%es Ce %an ela)orate a s%enarioE (he poli%eman shouts, the man runs, others take $light, the sDuare

empties, Gut this time everything turns out #i$$erently, (he poli%eman shouts, )ut the man #oesn<t run, 0e just stan#s there, looking at the poli%eman, +t<s a %autious look, still tinge# Cith $ear, )ut at the same time tough an# insolent, So that<s the Cay it is@ (he man on the e#ge o$ the %roC# is looking insolently at uni$orme# authority, 0e #oesn<t )u#ge, 0e glan%es aroun# an# sees the same look on other $a%es, -ike his, their $a%es are Cat%h$ul, still a )it $ear$ul, )ut alrea#y $irm an# unrelenting, ?o)o#y runs though the poli%eman has gone on shouting' at last he stops, (here is a moment o$ silen%e, 3e #on<t knoC Chether the poli%eman an# the man on the e#ge o$ the %roC# alrea#y realiFe Chat has happene#, (he man has stoppe# )eing a$rai#-- an# this is pre%isely the )eginning o$ the revolution, 0ere it starts, Until noC, Chenever these tCo men approa%he# ea%h other, a thir# $igure instantly intervene# )etCeen them, (hat thir# $igure Cas $ear, Fear Cas the poli%eman<s ally an# the man in the %roC#<s $oe, Fear interpose# its rules an# #e%i#e# everything, ?oC -433tCo men $in# themselves alone, $a%ing ea%h other, an# $ear has #isappeare# into thin air, Until noC their relationship Cas %harge# Cith emotion, a mi5ture o$ aggression, s%orn, rage, terror, Gut noC that $ear has retreate#, this perverse, hate$ul union has su##enly )roken up' something has )een e5tinguishe#, (he tCo men have noC groCn mutually in#i$$erent, useless to ea%h other' they %an go their oCn Cays, "%%or#ingly, the poli%eman turns aroun# an# )egins to Calk heavily )a%k toCar# his post, Chile the man on the e#ge o$ the %roC# stan#s there looking at his vanishing enemy, 3 (here is, hoCever, one point at Chi%h this $ormi#a)le #es%ription has to )e set right or, rather, supplemente#E *apus%inski<s all too naive, imme#iate use o$ the notion o$ $ear, (he /thir# $igure/ Chi%h intervenes )etCeen us or#inary %itiFens an# the poli%eman is not #ire%tly $ear )ut the )ig 8therE Ce $ear the poli%eman inso$ar as he is not just himsel$, a person like us, sin%e his a%ts are the a%ts o$ poCer, that is to say, inso$ar as he is e5perien%e# as the stan#-in $or the )ig 8ther, $or the so%ial or#er, +t Coul# )e o$ great interest to pursue this analysis an# to i#enti$y, in the re%ent history o$ ea%h o$ :astern :urope<s e5-.ommunist %ountries, the pre%ise %oor#inates o$ this moment Chen the )ig 8ther %ease# to e5ist, Chen /the appearan%e Cas )roken,/ Sometimes, this moment Cas literally a moment, lasting a %ouple o$ se%on#s, +n 9omania, $or e5ample, /the spell Cas )roken/ the moment Chen, at the mass rally in Gu%harest %onvoke# )y .eau[es%u a$ter the #emonstrations in (imisoara in or#er to prove that he still enjoye# popular support, the %roC# starte# to shout at .eau[es%u, Cho then raise# his han#s in a tragi%omi% an# )eCil#ere# #isplay o$ impotent paternal love, as i$ Canting to em)ra%e them all, (his moment #esignates the reversal )y means o$ Chi%h a #issi#ent-- a pariah, an outlaC Cith Chom Ce /or#inary/ people $oun# it somehoC em)arrassing to so%ialiFe, although, o$ %ourse, Ce #i# not /)elieve in poCer/-- mira%ulously %hanges into an o)je%t o$ a#miration an# i#enti$i%ation, (he $eature %ommon to all these moments o$ the )ig 8ther<s %ollapse is their utter unpre#i%ta)ilityE nothing really great happene#, yet su##enly the spell Cas )roken, /nothing Cas the same as )e$ore,/ reasons Chi%h a moment ago Cere per%eive# as reasons for 1o)eying the PoCer2, noC $un%tion as reasons against, 3hat a moment ago evoke# in us a mi5ture o$ $ear an# respe%t is noC e5perien%e# as a rather #i$$erent mi5ture o$ ri#i%ulous imposture an# )rutal, illegitimate #isplay o$ $or%e, +t is %lear, there$ore, hoC this shi$t is o$ a purely sym)oli% natureE it -436-

#esignates neither a %hange in so%ial reality 1there, the )alan%e o$ poCer remains e5a%tly the same2 nor a /psy%hologi%al/ %hange, )ut a shi$t in the sym)oli% te5ture Chi%h %onstitutes the so%ial )on#, 39 +t is pre%isely this )elie$ in the e5isten%e o$ the )ig 8ther Chi%h ena)les us to a%%ount $or a para#o5 note# alrea#y )y De -a GoJtie in his treatise on servitude volantaireE 6A the reason people are rea#y to renoun%e their $ree#om %annot )e sought in their /pathologi%al/ motivations, $ear o$ #ying, gree#, lust $or material goo#s, et%,, sin%e-- i$ their $anati%ism is properly arouse#-they are prepare# to sa%ri$i%e everything, in%lu#ing o$ their li$e, $or the #espot Chom they o)ey, 3hy, then, #o + $in# it so #i$$i%ult to put at stake my li$e in the $ight against the #espot, Chen-- un#er %ertain %on#itions, at least-- + am rea#y to lose everything $or the #espotK 3hat, e5a%tly, is the #i$$eren%e )etCeen the tCo sa%ri$i%esK Do Ce not $in# ourselves here in a vi%ious %ir%le %hara%teristi% o$ o)sessional neurosisE + am rea#y to #o anything, in%lusive o$ M 1in this %ase sel$-sa%ri$i%e2, only to avoi# MK 61 +n sa%ri$i%ing mysel$ $or the #espot, + retain my pla%e in the )ig 8ther, Chereas risking one<s li$e against the #espot entails the loss o$ my support in the )ig 8ther, i,e,, my e5%lusion $rom the %ommunity, $rom the so%ial or#er epitomiFe# )y the #espot<s name, (he %ommon man $rom (eheran $oun# enough %ourage to openly oppose the #espot only Chen the #espot himsel$ ha# lost his support in the )ig 8ther an# Cas per%eive# as a violent impostor, 3hat + am running aCay $rom Chen + voluntarily take re$uge in servitu#e is thus the traumati% %on$rontation Cith the )ig 8ther<s ultimate impoten%e an# imposture, (he same para#o5 a%%ounts $or the mi5ture o$ $as%ination an# $ear arouse# )y the /en%ounters o$ the thir# kin#,/ i,e,, Cith e5traterrestrial intelligent )eings, "%%or#ing to the so-%alle# /UF8 %onspira%y theorists,/ the PoCer is hushing up in$ormation on spa%e inva#ersE ?"S" allege#ly possesses not only irre$uta)le #ata a)out :( Uisits to :arth )ut also evi#en%e o$ their remain#ers 1#ea# )o#ies, parts o$ the alien spa%eships,,,2, =et ?"S" persistently #enies any knoCle#ge o$ su%h things-- ChyK (he ultimate groun# o$ the $ear o$ /aliens/ is that they are usually %on%eive# o$ as a $or%e against Chi%h there is no possi)le #e$ense' here, hoCever, one has to )e more pre%iseE those Cho are helpless against the /aliens/ are not us )ut those in poCer, "n en%ounter Cith /aliens/ Coul# lay open the ultimate imposture o$ the ;aster, it Coul# sap our 1un%ons%ious2 )elie$ in the PoCer<s omnipoten%e, (his e5perien%e o$ hoC /the throne is empty/ 1o$ hoC the )ig 8ther #oes not e5ist2 is )oun# to trigger pani%, Chi%h is Chy -437the reason usually impute# to the PoCer $or not a%knoCle#ging any /en%ounters o$ the thir# kin#/ is that they Cant to /prevent pani%,/ +t is pre%isely inso$ar as /aliens/ threaten to lay )are the )ig 8ther<s imposture an# impoten%e that they provi#e the %learest em)o#iment o$ the -a%anian &he vuoi), /3hat #o you Cant $rom meK/, i,e,, o$ the enigma, impenetra)ility, o$ the 8ther<s #esireE Chat makes aliens so un%anny is that Ce %an never )e Duite %ertain a)out their aims, a)out Chat they see in us, a)out Chat they Cant $rom us, (he ultimate root o$ our $ear o$ /aliens/ is not their physi%al mena%e as su%h )ut their ultimate motives an# intentions, Chi%h remain %ompletely impenetra)le an# unknoCn to us, +n to#ay<s /enlightene#/ Corl#, su%h a )elie$ in the PoCer<s omnipoten%e seems out o$ #ate, i$ not outright ri#i%ulous' hoCever, the PoCer, in its $un%tioning, relies on this very split )etCeen our %ons%ious knoCle#ge o$ the PoCer<s impoten%e, our ironi%al #istan%e toCar# it, an# our un%ons%ious )elie$ in its omnipoten%e' i,e,, it relies on the $a%t that Ce #o not )elieve in our oCn un%ons%ious )elie$ in the PoCer<s omnipoten%e, /3ol$;an/ himsel$, Freu#<s most

$amous analysan#, Calke# into this trapE in the summer o$ 1971, Chen "ustria Cas still o%%upie# )y "llie# $or%es, Chile painting a hal$-a)an#one# )uil#ing in the su)ur)s o$ Uienna, he Cas arreste# )y 9ussian sol#iers $or espionage 1the )uil#ing Cas a military station2' the 9ussians Duestione# him, sear%he# him thoroughly, an# a%%use# him o$ national treason 1sin%e his $amily name Cas 9ussian2, "t last they let him go, yet or#ere# him )a%k in tCentyone #ays, During all this time, the 3ol$-;an Cas tormente# )y $eelings o$ guilt an# #elusions o$ perse%ution' hoCever, Chen, a$ter three Ceeks, he reporte# to the 9ussian military station, the o$$i%er in %harge Cho ha# Duestione# him )e$ore Cas not even there, "nother o$$i%er took %harge Cho kneC nothing a)out him' he even e5presse# interest in 3ol$-;an<s painting, they talke# ami%a)ly $or some time a)out art, an# then the 9ussian let him go, 64 (his ra#i%al os%illation-this passing $rom one e5treme into another, Chere poCer, a$ter #isplaying its /irrational/ %ruelty an# %ulpa)iliFing us to the e5treme, all o$ a su##en /%hanges the tune,/ shoCs its $rien#ly $a%e, Con#ers at our $right an# en#eavors to make us $eel easier-- provi#es the elementary superego-matri5 o$ its manipulation, "nyone Cho has #one military servi%e knoCs per$e%tly the logi% o$ this impossi)le %hoi%eE i$ you #o not $olloC promptly the or#er o$ a %orporal, you are )oun# to meet Cith his rage an# threats' i$, hoCever, you #o %arry out the or#er as reDuire#, he sneers at you $or your overFealous attitu#e, $or your taking things seriously Chere a proper #istan%e o$ taking-it-easy is appropriate, -43>(his para#o5 o$ the impossi)le %hoi%e points toCar# the insu$$i%ien%y o$ those theories Chi%h i#enti$y the per$ormative Cith the me%hanism o$ poCer, o$ esta)lishing a poCer relationship, an# there$ore a#vo%ate the strategy o$ ironi%al sel$-#estru%tive imitation o$ the per$ormativeE the logi% o$ the impossi)le %hoi%e is pre%isely the logi% o$ a /pragmati% para#o5,/ o$ a sel$%ontra#i%ting per$ormative, +n or#er to $un%tion properly, poCer #is%ourse must )e inherently split, it must /%heat/ per$ormatively, to #isavoC its oCn un#erlying per$ormative gesture, Sometimes, there$ore, the only truly su)versive thing to #o Chen %on$ronte# Cith a poCer #is%ourse is simply to take it at its word, (he %ru%ial, hitherto un#erestimate# i#eologi%al impa%t o$ the %oming e%ologi%al %risis Cill )e pre%isely to make the /%ollapse o$ the )ig 8ther/ part o$ our every#ay e5perien%e, i,e,, to sap this un%ons%ious )elie$ in the /)ig 8ther/ o$ poCerE alrea#y the .herno)yl %atastrophe ma#e ri#i%ulously o)solete su%h notions as /national sovereignty,/ e5posing the poCer<s ultimate impoten%e, 8ur /spontaneous/ i#eologi%al rea%tion to it, o$ %ourse, is to have re%ourse to the $ake premo#ern $orms o$ relian%e on the /)ig 8ther/ 1/?eC "ge %ons%iousness/E the )alan%e# %ir%uit o$ ?ature, et%,2, Perhaps, hoCever, our very physi%al survival hinges on our a)ility to %onsummate the a%t o$ assuming $ully the /none5isten%e o$ the 8ther,/ o$ tarrying with the negative, -43B-

Notes
Introdu tion
1, (here is also an opposite Cay to un#ermine the #omination o$ a ;aster-Signi$ier, ;onuments are usually /phalli%/E toCers, spires, something that protru#es an# /stan#s out,/ For that reason, the monument at the university %ampus in ;e5i%o .ity is uniDueE a large jagge# ring o$ %on%rete en%ir%les the $ormless )la%k un#ulating sur$a%e o$ lava, 3hat Ce have here is a true monument to the (hing, to %oagulate# (ouissance, su)stan%e o$ enjoyment -- the reverse o$ the hole in the $lag Chi%h sets in motion our su)lime enthusiasm, +nso$ar as Chat Ce per%eive through the hole in the $lag is the empty sky, Ce might say that the relationship )etCeen the hole in the $lag an# the %oagulate# lava points toCar# the 0ei#eggerian antagonism o$ :arth an# Sky, See %hapter ++ o$ Ha%Dues -a%an, Le s5ninaire, book F? Le transfert : $aris? 9ditions du Seuil, GHHG;. See Fre#ri% Hameson, /(he :5isten%e o$ +taly,/ in /Signatures o$ the Uisi)le/ 1 ?eC =orkE 9outle#ge, 199A2, See 9o#olphe Ias%hJ, The Tain of the 3irror 1 .am)ri#geE 0arvar# University Press, 19 >2, See Gernar# Gaas, /Le d5sir pur,/ in /8rni%arK 3 / 1 Paris 19 72, See Ha%Dues -a%an, Le s5minaire, book GI? L2envers de la psychanalyse : $aris? 9ditions du Seuil, GHHG;. See "lain Ga#iou, 3anifeste pour la philosophie 1 ParisE :#itions #u Seuil, 19 92, Basic Instinct also, in a very spe%i$i% Cay, )ears Citness to a $un#amental %hange in the logi% an# $un%tion o$ narrative $rameE a #e%a#e or tCo ago, the e$$e%t o$ the su##en shi$t -439in the last shot 1the tra%king $rom the love-making %ouple on the )e# to a %lose-up o$ the i%e-pi%k, the mur#erous tool, un#er the )e#2 Coul# )e shattering, it Coul# %ause a vertiginous turna)out %ompelling us to reinterpret the entire previous %ontent' to#ay, hoCever, it loses its #ramati% impa%t an# )asi%ally leaves us in#i$$erent, +n short, the /0it%h%o%kian o)je%t,/ a /little pie%e o$ the real/ %on#ensing an intense intersu)je%tive relationship, is to#ay no longer possi)le, 1"s to this /0it%h%o%kian o)je%t,/ see ;la#en Dolar , /0it%h%o%k<s 8)je%ts,/ in Slavo \BDiek, 9verything Aou ,lways !anted to 1now about Lacan 1 But !ere ,fraid to ,sk #itchcock2 O -on#onE Uerso, 1994 P,2 +n /Gla#e 9unner/ as Cell as in /"ngel 0eart/, this /alien/ element is #ete%ta)le )y Cay o$ a stain in the eye 1an#roi#s are i#enti$ie# through their unnaturally #ilate# irises' Chen the Devil #is%loses his true nature, his eyes take on an un%anny )lue glare2, (his stain in the eye #esignates the le$t-over o$ something Chi%h ha# to )e e5%lu#e# so that Chat Ce e5perien%e as /reality/ gaine# its %onsisten%y, +ts reemergen%e there$ore va%illates the very %oor#inates o$ /reality,/ "lrea#y in "rankenstein, the impenetra)le gaFe o$ /#epthless eyes/ is the $eature Chi%h #istinguishes the monster, Su$$i%e it to Duote ;ary Shelley<s oCn /hi#eous phantasm/ Chi%h Cas at the origin o$ her )ookE /0e sleeps' )ut he is aCakene#' he opens his eyes' )ehol#, the horri# thing stan#s at his )e#si#e, opening his %urtains an# looking on him Cith yelloC, Catery, )ut spe%ulative eyes/ 1 ;ary Shelley, "rankenstein O 0armon#sCorthE Penguin, 1994 P, p, 92, (he nontransparent, /#epthless/ eye )lo%ks our a%%ess to the /soul,/ to the in$inite a)yss o$ the /person,/ thus turning it into a soulless monsterE not simply a nonsu)je%tive ma%hine, )ut rather an

4, 3, 6, 7, >, B, 1,

! 8I or He or It 1the Thing2 3hi h Thin4s8

4,

3, 6, 7, >,

B, ,

un%anny su)je%t that has not yet )een su)mitte# to the pro%ess o$ /su)je%tiviFation/ Chi%h %on$ers upon it the #epth o$ /personality,/ (he version release# in 1994 as /#ire%tor<s %ut/ is a %ompromise, not yet the true #ire%tor<s %utE it #rops the voi%eover an# the im)e%ile happy-en#ing, yet it a)stains $rom #is%losing De%kar# oCn repli%ant-status, See ;i%hel Fou%ault, The +rder of Things 1 ?eC =orkE Uintage, 19B32, "ll Duotes $rom &riti6ue of $ure 0eason :&$0; are $rom ?orman *emp Smith translation 1 -on#onE ;a%millan, 19942, (he same para#o5 %oul# also )e $ormulate# )y Cay o$ the am)iguous ontologi%al status o$ possi)ility Chi%h, in its very %apa%ity o$ a /mere possi)ility/ as oppose# to a%tuality, possesses an a%tuality o$ its oCnE the *antian trans%en#ental apper%eption #esignates a pure possi)ility o$ sel$-%ons%iousness Chi%h, 6ua possi)ility, pro#u%es a%tual e$$e%ts, i,e,, #etermines the a%tual status o$ the su)je%t, 8n%e this possi)ility is a%tualiFe#, Ce are not #ealing anymore Cith the sel$-%ons%iousness o$ the pure 1, )ut Cith the empiri%al %ons%iousness o$ the Sel$ 6ua phenomenon, part o$ reality, "nother Cay to $ormulate this #i$$eren%e is via the gap that separates /+/ $rom /me/E the *antian trans%en#ental apper%eption #esignates the + o$ /+ think,/ Chereas Des%artes surreptitiously su)stantialiFes the /je pense/ 1+ think2 into %moi 6ui pense% 1me Cho thinks2, Ha%Dues -a%an, 9crits? , Selection 1 ?eC =orkE ?orton, 19BB2, p, 316, 3hi%h is Chy the e5pression /sel$-in-itsel$/ use# )y some interpreters o$ *ant 1 H, ?, Fin#lay, $or e5ample -- see his 1ant and the Transcendental +b(ect O 85$or#E .laren#on Press, 19 1 P2 seems inherently nonsensi%alE inso$ar as Ce %on%eive Sel$ as an intelligi)le (hing, it loses the very $eature that #e$ines it, namely its trans%en#ental /spontaneity/ -46Aan# autonomy Chi%h )elong to it only Cithin the horiFon o$ $initu#e, i,e,, o$ the split )etCeen intelligi)le an# intuitive, 1(his is ultimately %on$irme# )y *ant himsel$, Cho alCays insiste# on leaving open the possi)ility that $ree human a%tivity is a%tually regulate# )y some ina%%essi)le intelligi)le ?ature -- Io#<s Provi#en%e, $or e5ample -Chi%h makes use o$ us $or the realiFation o$ its un$athoma)le plan,2 +n a supreme tCist o$ irony, the title o$ the su)#ivision in Chi%h *ant arti%ulates this uniDue status o$ the pure + o$ apper%eption as neither a phenomenon nor a noumenon is /8$ the Iroun# o$ the Division o$ "ll 8)je%ts into Phenomena an# ?oumena,/ "n# my -- 0egelian -- point is here that the /+ think/ stan#s in e5a%tly the same relationship to the (hing-in-itsel$ it #esignates a hole, a gap, in it an# as su%h it opens up, Cithin the #omain o$ (hings Chi%h only /truly e5ist/ 1i,e,, Chi%h e5ist in themselves as oppose# to a mere phenomenal e5isten%e2, the spa%e Chere phenomena %an emerge, the spa%e o$ our phenomenal e5perien%e, +n other Cor#s, through the /+ think,/ the (hing-initsel$ is as it Cere split an# )e%omes ina%%essi)le to itsel$ in the guise o$ phenomena, (his is the Duestion *ant #oes not askE hoC #oes the trans%en#ental $a%t o$ pure apper%eption, the /+ think,/ %on%ern (hings-in-themselvesK (he truly 0egelian pro)lem is not to penetrate $rom the phenomenal sur$a%e into (hings-in-themselves, )ut to e5plain hoC, Cithin (hings, something akin to phenomena %oul# have emerge#, 0enry :, "llison, 1ant2s Transcendental Idealism 1 ?eC 0avenE =ale University Press, 19 >2, p, 4 9, +)i#,, pp, 4 9-9A, (oCar# the en# o$ part one o$ &riti6ue of $ractical 0eason, the same logi% reemerges at the ethi%al levelE i$ + Cere to have a #ire%t insight into Io#<s nature, this Coul# a)rogate the very notion o$ ethi%al a%tivity, See +mmanuel *ant, &riti6ue of $ractical 0eason

9, 1A,

11, 14, 13,

1 ?eC =orkE ;a%millan, 197>2, pp, 171-73E %+f the !ise ,daptation of 3an2s &ognitive "aculties to #is $ractical /ocation.% 16, Geatri%e -onguenesse, #egel et la criti6ue de la m5taphysi6ue 1 ParisE Urin, 19 12, p, 46, (herein %onsists the gap that separates the trans%en#ental o)je%t $rom the (hingE the (hing is the unattaina)le su)stratum Chi%h a$$e%ts our senses, i,e,, Cith regar# to it, Ce are mere passive re%ipients, Chereas the trans%en#ental o)je%t is an o)je%t totally #evoi# o$ any positive, intuitive, %ontent, o$ any /stu$$/ originating in the trans%en#ent (hing' it is an o)je%t Chi%h is in its entirety trans%en#entally /posite#/ )y the su)je%t, (he a5is that separates the (hing an# the trans%en#ental o)je%t is there$ore that o$ positing an# presupposingE the (hing is the pure presupposition, Chereas the trans%en#ental o)je%t is purely posite#' an# the ultimate i#entity o$ the (hing an# the trans%en#ental o)je%t o$$ers another e5ample o$ the 0egelian %oin%i#en%e o$ the pure presupposition Cith positing, 17, 0oC are Ce to ren#er palpa)le the link )etCeen ob(et petit a, i,e,, the plus7de7(ouir, surplusenjoyment, an# the ;ar5ian surplus-valueK Perhaps a re$eren%e to one o$ the $avore# 0it%h%o%k<s ane%#otes 1retol#, among others, )y (ru$$aut in his #itchcock2 %oul# )e o$ some help, For .orth7by7.orthwest, so the story goes, 0it%h%o%k planne# the $olloCing s%ene Chi%h Cas never shotE Chile engage# in a %onversation, .ary Irant an# his partner Calk along the assem)ly line o$ a %ar $a%tory, moving Cith the same pa%e as the assem)ling o$ a %ar in the )a%kgroun#, so that )ehin# them Ce %an %learly o)serve in one -461%ontinuous shot the entire pro%ess o$ manu$a%turing a %ar -- Ce see all parts that enter into its %omposition, "t the en# o$ the line, Irant turns toCar# the %ar, opens its #oor, an# out o$ it $alls a )loo#y %orpse, (he %orpse is here ob(et petit aE the pure sem)lan%e, the surplus Chi%h magi%ally emerges /out o$ noChere,/ an# simultaneously the surplus o$ the pro#u%tion pro%ess over the elements Chi%h Cent into it, "s it Cas #emonstrate# )y "llison, 1ant2s Transcendental Idealism, p, 467, 3hat then is the e5a%t relationship )etCeen trans%en#ental o)je%t an# su)je%tK +n or#er to provi#e an ansCer, one has to )ear in min# the #ou)le nature o$ the (hing-in-itsel$ in *antE the (hing #esignates the totality o$ phenomena 1ina%%essi)le to us 6ua $inite su)je%ts2 as Cell as their noumenal support, the unknoCa)le M Chi%h a$$e%ts us, So, the trans%en#ental o)je%t is metonymi%al' it stan#s $or the in$inite series o$ phenomena, o$ the o)je%ts o$ possi)le intuition, Chereas the su)je%t o)eys the logi% o$ metaphor, i,e,, its voi# hol#s the pla%e o$ the ina%%essi)le noumenal /(hing-Chi%h-thinks,/ See 9o)ert Pippin, #egel2s Idealism 1 .am)ri#geE .am)ri#ge University Press, 19 2, "#orno arti%ulates in an e5emplary Cay this move $rom *ant to 0egel apropos o$ the $aile# me#iation )etCeen so%iology an# psy%hology 1see his %Jum /erhaeltnis von So4iologie und $sychologie,% in / eseltschaftstheorie und 1ulturkritik/ O Frank$urtE Suhrkamp, 19B7 P2, +n *antian terms, their relationship is stri%tly antinomi%alE one %an en#eavor to #e#u%e so%iology $rom psy%hology, i,e,, to %on%eive the struggle o$ /anonymous/ so%ial $or%es as an /o)je%tiviFation/ o$ /%on%rete/ interpersonal relationships, in#ivi#ual e5istential /proje%ts,/ et%, 1the ultimate aim o$ various phenomenologi%al approa%hes, up to Sartre<s &riti6ue of *ialectical 0eason Cith its key notion o$ /pra%ti%ainerte/2' on the other han#, one %an %on%eive the psy%hologi%al sel$e5perien%e as a mere imaginary e$$e%t-re$le%tion o$ o)je%tive so%ial stru%tures an# pro%esses 1the ultimate aim o$ $un%tionalist-stru%turalist approa%hes, up to the early "lthusser, )e$ore the re$eren%e to /%lass-struggle/ assume# the %ru%ial role in his theoreti%al e#i$i%e2, +n )oth %ases, the synthesis is $alse, an# the attempts to )ri#ge the

1>, 1B,

1 , 19,

gap 1via notions like /so%ial %hara%ter,/ et%,2, )y means o$ their ultimate $ailure, #o nothing )ut )ear Citness to its persisten%e, +nso$ar as Ce remain Cithin the *antian horiFon, the looke#-$or unity o$ psy%hology an# so%iology 1Chi%h Ce somehoC $eel is the ne%essary ingre#ient o$ any /true/ theory o$ the so%ial spa%e2 is thus #ispla%e# into the unattaina)le Geyon#, i,e,, it a%Duires the status o$ a (hing-in-itsel$, (he 0egelian #iale%ti%al approa%h, on the %ontrary, alloCs us to grasp hoC, in this very $ailure o$ our en#eavor to #evelop a %onsistent theoreti%al synthesis o$ psy%hology an# so%iology, Ce /tou%h the real/' this a)yss that $orever separates the /rei$ie#/ $iel# o$ so%ial $or%es $rom the psy%hologi%al sel$-e5perien%e is the $un#amental $eature o$ the mo#ern so%iety, 8ur very epistemologi%al $ailure thus throCs us into the /thing itsel$,/ sin%e it registers an antagonism that pertains to the very kernel o$ the o)je%t itsel$, 4A, "s to this notion, see /+ntro#u%tion/ to I, 3, F, 0egel, $henomenology of Spirit 1 85$or#E 85$or# University Press, 19BB2, 41, "s to this opposition in *ant an# 0egel, see .hapter 3 o$ the present )ook, 44, (his %hapter %ulminates in the moti$ o$ money, taken over later )y ;ar5E the reign o$ #isintegration -- a so%iety in Chi%h the sta)ility an# $irmness o$ opposites 1Ioo#-:vil, (ruth--ie, et%,2 are un#ermine# an# in Chi%h every opposite in%essantly passes into its -464other 1Ioo# is reveale# as hypo%riti%al mask o$ :vil, et%,2 -- emerges as the reign o$ money, ;oney is the /e5isting ?otion,/ the $or%e o$ negativity assuming the rei$ie# $orm o$ a parti%ular, e5ternal o)je%t, i,e,, the para#o5 o$ something Chi%h is in itsel$ a mere #ispensa)le o)je%t, a little pie%e o$ metal or paper in my han#, )ut Chi%h nonetheless possesses the poCer to overturn every $irm #etermination, to provi#e mo)ility $or the $ootless, )eauty $or the hi#eous, et%, 0egel, $henomenology of Spirit, p, 3>4, "n# Chat *ant o)literates is pre%isely this ra#i%al /#e%entering/ at Cork hereE the agen%y Chi%h %ompels the su)je%t to a%t morally, to $olloC the ethi%al imperative 1/the voi%e o$ %ons%ien%e/2, is a parasiti%al ob(ect, a $oreign )o#y in his very %enter, See *arl ;ar5, $re7&apitalist 9conomic "ormations 1 -on#onE -aCren%e an# 3ishart, 19>62, See Ieorg -ukS%s, #istory and &lass &onsciousness 1 -on#onE ?eC -e$t Gooks, 19>92, See 0elmut 9ei%helt, Jur logischen Struktur des 1apitalbegriffis bei 1arl 3ar8 1 Frank$urtE Suhrkamp Uerlag, 19BA2, 0egel an# *ierkegaar# are here $ar %loser than may appear, (he e5%hange o$ /something $or nothing/ )y Cay o$ Chi%h the su)je%t Dua L emerges is namely the very a%t o$ a)yssalRnone%onomi%al sa%ri$i%e Chi%h, in *ierkegaar#, #e$ines the religious stageE the a)ility to a%%omplish this move is Chat #istinguishes the /knight o$ $aith/E /(he person Cho #enies himsel$ an# sa%ri$i%es himsel$ $or #uty gives up the $inite in or#er to grasp on to the in$inite' he is se%ure enough, (he tragi% hero gives up Chat is %ertain $or Chat is still more %ertain, an# the eye o$ the )ehol#er rests %on$i#ently upon him, Gut the person Cho gives up the universal to grasp something still higher that is not the universal, Chat #oes he #oK/ 1 S]ren *ierkegaar#, "ear and Trembling O 0armon#sCorthE Penguin, 19 7 P v p, 92, See Grian 9otman, Signifying .othing 1 -on#onE ;a%millan, 19 B2, +)i#,, p, 46, +)i#,, p, 47, "t the level o$ so%ial i#entity, the same shi$t #esignates the so-%alle# naturaliFation o$ immigrantsE as long as they per%eive themselves as Ireeks, +talians, et%,, Cho %ame to

43, 46, 47, 4>, 4B, 4 ,

49, 3A, 31, 34,

live in "meri%a, their i#entity remains parti%ular, i,e,, /"meri%an/ remains an a)stra%tuniversal pre#i%ate' the %ru%ial reversal takes pla%e Chen they start to per%eive themselves as "meri%ans Chose %ontingent ethni% roots are Ireek or +talian, 33, 8ne o$ the stan#ar# reproa%hes to 0egel is that he ventures the illegitimate leap $rom the thought o$ the $inite su)je%t into the thought o$ the ")solute itsel$ *ant<s trans%en#ental logi% remains the re$le%tive insight into the a priori $orms that outline the horiFon o$ the $inite su)je%t, Chereas 0egel<s logi% is the re$le%tion o$ the ")solute itsel$ Chi%h appears to itsel$ in the thought o$ the 1$inite2 su)je%t, 0oCever, /everything turns on grasping an# e5pressing the (rue, not only as Substance, )ut eDually as /Su)je%t/ 1 $henomenology of Spirit, p, 1A2, (his #oes not mean that the ")solute itsel$ is a Su)je%t playing Cith us, $inite humans, i,e,, that, in the movement o$ a)solute re$le%tion, Ce, $inite humans, make ourselves into the instrument, the me#ium through Chi%h the ")solute %ontemplates itsel$ -- this Coul# )e a simple perverse position, 3hat 0egel has in min# is that the split )etCeen us an# the ")solute 1the split on a%%ount o$ Chi%h Ce are su)je%ts2 is at the same time the sel$-split o$ the ")solute itsel$, we participate at the ,bsolute not on account of -463our e8alted contemplation of it, but by means of the very gap which forever separates us from it -as in *a$ka<s novels Chere the $as%inate# gaFe o$ the su)je%t is alrea#y in%lu#e# in the $un%tioning o$ the trans%en#ent, unapproa%ha)le agen%y o$ -aC 1the %ourt, the %astle2, See Ha%Dues -a%an, 9crits? , Selection, p, A, +n this respe%t, Pierre -iver 0efle8ivit5 et e8t5riorit5 dans la Logi6ue de #egel 1 ,rchives de $hilosophie, books KI and KF, $aris, GHFK; is very instructive in its endeavor to grasp #egel2s dialectic as an ambiguous attempt to combine two ultimately incompatible logics? the logic of self7relating :of reapplying a logical operator onto the same ob(ect or onto itself 77 the %negation of negation,% etc.;, which points forward, in the direction of contemporary formal logic, and the logic of sub(ectivity :%substance as sub(ect,% etc.;, which points backward, to the problematic inherited from 1ant :%transcendental apperception% as the guarantee of the unity of thought and being, as well as the locus of %spontaneity% of the sub(ective constitution of reality;. ,ccording to Livet, the first logic leads to the splitting, self7decentering process, a process by means of which the inherent logical structure gives rise to its e8ternality- whereas the second logic forces this e8ternality back into the frame of the traditional philosophical problematic of the %e8ternali4ation of sub(ectivity.% !hat Livet does not take into account :and what the Lacanian logic of the signifier enables us to conceptuali4e; is a notion of the sub(ect at work in the very process of reflective self7relating? Livet tacitly assumes the identity of the #egelian sub(ect with the traditional notion of the %sub(ect,% thereby imputing to #egel a duality which simply is not there. The #egelian sub(ect emerges precisely by way of the reflective, self7relating, reapplication of a logical operator, as in the worn7out (oke on the cannibal who ate the last cannibal in the tribe. 0egel is here oppose# )y *ierkegaar#, a%%or#ing to Chom, in the eyes o$ the universal pu)li% -aC, the a%t o$ the religious suspension o$ the :thi%al 1 ")raham killing o$ his son, $or e5ample2 remains a %rime' its religious signi$i%an%e #is%loses itsel$ only $rom the stan#point o$ the in#ivi#ual<s pure inCar#ness, 0egel, The $hilosophy of #istory 1 ?eC =orkE Dover, 197>2, p, 33, See Ha%Dues -a%an, Le s5minaire, book GI? L2envers de la psychanalyse : $aris? 9ditions du Seuil, GHHG;.

36, 37,

3>,

3B, 3 ,

39, (hings are $urther %ompli%ate# )y the $a%t that, a%%or#ing to -a%an, the very emergen%e o$ philosophi%al #is%ourse in Plato results $rom a transmutation o$ the hysteri%al position into the position o$ a ;asterE So%rates, Plato<s /;aster,/ is not yet a ;aster, his position is )etCeen a hysteri% an# an analyst, 6A, "s to the notion o$ the /in$initeRin#e$inite ju#gment,/ see .hapter 3 o$ the present )ook, 61, (he passage in Chi%h 0egel %ompares the #i$$eren%e )etCeen /naive/ an# spe%ulative rea#ing o$ the proposition /Spirit is a )one/ to that )etCeen the urinating an# the $e%un#ating $un%tion o$ one an# the same organ 1penis2 is $ar more am)iguous than it may appear, (hat is to say, 0egel<s point is in no Cay that Ce have to reje%t the /naive/ rea#ing 1the Cay phrenology %on%eive# o$ itsel$, Spirit is this inert o)je%t, the skull' its %hara%teristi%s are to )e #e#u%e# $rom the skull<s sCellings an# holloCs2 an# to take into a%%ount only the spe%ulative meaning 1Spirit is strong enough to em)ra%e, to me#iate entire reality, in%lusive o$ the most inert o)je%tivity2E this spe%ulative meaning emerges -466only Chen Ce yiel# unreserve#ly to the /naive/ rea#ing an# there)y e5perien%e its inherent nonsense, its a)sur# sel$-%ontra#i%tion, (his ra#i%al #is%or#, in%ompati)ility, this a)solute /negative relationship/ )etCeen the tCo terms 1Spirit an# )one2 is Spirit 6ua poCer o$ negativity, +n other Cor#s, in the choice between %naive% and speculative reading, one has first to make the wrong choice if one is to arrive at the speculative truth, (his e5ample %oul# serve a more general purpose o$ Carning us hoC not to rea# 0egel, i,e,, hoC the very imme#iate %ounter-position o$ non#iale%ti%al /Un#erstan#ing/ an# #iale%ti%al /9eason/ )elongs to Un#erstan#ingE Cith regar# to 0egel<s phalli% %omparison, Ce remain stu%k to the level o$ /urnaing/pre%isely Chen Ce en#eavor #ire%tly to %omprehen# the penis in its $e%un#ating $un%tion, "n# the same goes $or the relationship o$ *ant to 0egelE i$ there is a philosopher Cho 1vieCe# $rom the 0egelian perspe%tive2 pro#u%es spe%ulative truths in an unre$le%te# $orm, that is, Cho /alrea#y speaks on $e%un#ation Chile %ontinuing to re$er to urination,/ this philosopher is *ant, +n all %ru%ial passages o$ his system, *ant misre%ogniFes the spe%ulative #imension o$ his oCn #is%overy, presenting it in the guise o$ its oppositeE in *ant<s philosophy, the a)stra%tive poCer o$ a)solute negativity, the Spirit<s poCer to /rear asun#er Chat naturally )elongs together,/ i,e,, to )reak apart the su)stantial /%hain o$ )eing/ an# to treat non)eing 1appearan%e2 as possessing the ontologi%al Ceight o$ )eing, is misper%eive# as its impoten%e, as its ina)ility to attain the trans%en#ent (hing-in-itsel$' et%, Pre%isely at this point, hoCever, Ce shoul# not yiel# to the temptation o$ opposing the *antian /rigi#/ Di$$eren%es to their 0egelian spe%ulative ;e#iation, (he moment Ce #o so, Ce regress to a point )e$ore *ant, )a%k into pre-%riti%al /#ogmati%/ attitu#e, 3hat Ce must #o, on the %ontrary, is to persist in )eing /more *antian than *ant himsel$/ an# to assume $ully the in%onsisten%ies o$ the *antian position, (his is also hoC Ha%Dues-"lain ;iller, in his unpu)lishe# seminar on /e5timitJ/ $rom 19 7-19 >, #e$ines ob(et petit aE as the /+n-itsel$ Chi%h is $or us,/ "s to this am)iguity, see %hapter 7 o$ Slavoj iek, The Sublime +b(ect of ldeology 1 -on#onE Uerso, 199A2, +n this sense, -a%an interprets the primor#ial $ather, $Cre7(ouissance, as a neurotic2s myth sustained by the belief that, prior to the $rohibition, there really was a father to whom uninhibited en(oyment was accessible. (he reproa%h o$ ;oniDue Davi#-;enar# -- see her Lafolie dans la raison pure 1 ParisE Urin, 19912, Fou%ault<s pen#ulum 1Chi%h, )y Cay o$ its irregular sCinging, #emonstrates that the earth

64, 63, 66, 67, 6>,

itsel$ rotates2 e5erts su%h a $as%ination )e%ause it e$$e%tively gives )o#y to this logi% o$ the Su)lime, +ts spe%ta%ular e$$e%t is not #ue solely to the $a%t that it literally makes us lose our $ooting 1sin%e groun# itsel$, the phenomenologi%al $oun#ation an# sta)le measure o$ our e5perien%e o$ movement, proves to )e shi$ting2' Chat is even more aCesome is that it implies a third imaginary point of absolute immobility, (he su)lime point is this hypotheti%al point o$ a)solute rest pro#u%e# )y Cay o$ the sel$-re$eren%e o$ movement, i,e,, the point Cith re$eren%e to Chi%h )oth the pen#ulum an# the earth sur$a%e are moving, 6B, (he opposition o$ *ant an# 0egel Cith regar# to the -imit an# its Geyon# is usually %on%eive# in a Cholly #i$$erent Cay "%%or#ing to this stan#ar# version, *ant limite# the -467$iel# o$ phenomena, yet simultaneously prohi)ite# the a%%ess to its Geyon# 1i,e,, the only legitimate #e$inition o$ the noumena is the purely negative one2' 0egel<s ansCer to this *antian para#o5 is that the moment Ce %on%eive something as limite#, impli%itly, at least, Ce alrea#y rea%h )eyon# it, i,e,, Ce must possess an impli%it notion o$ Chat lies on the other si#e o$ the $rontier, (his Cay, 0egel throCs the #oor Ci#e open to the return to the tra#itional rationalist metaphysi%s, 0oCever, su%h a rea#ing involves a %ru%ial misun#erstan#ing o$ 0egel<s %ritiDue o$ *ant, "%%or#ing to 0egel, it is *ant Cho maintains the re$eren%e to some Geyon#, although #evoi# o$ any positive %ontent' $or *ant, the status o$ this voi# is purely epistemologi%al, i,e,, #ue to our $initu#e, Ce #o not knoC hoC (hings-in-themselves are stru%ture#, 3hat 0egel a%%omplishes here is not a /$illing out/ o$ this voi#, )ut rather the simple reversal o$ the epistemologi%al voi# into an ontologi%al oneE the negative #e$inition o$ the (hing %on%erns the (hing itsel$, sin%e this (hing is nothing )ut the voi# o$ a)solute negativity, +n other Cor#s, 0egel #oes not reproa%h *ant Cith not #aring to take the step into Chat lies )eyon# phenomena, )ut rather Cith sti%king to the /representational/ notion that the voi# )eyon# phenomena is only a negative re$le%tion in our $inite min#s o$ some positive, ina%%essi)le +n-itsel$, For a -a%anian rea#ing o$ ;agritte, see %hapter 3 o$ the present )ook, 8ne o$ the early stories o$ Philip Di%k, the author o$ *o ,ndroids *ream of 9lectric Sheep), upon Chi%h Blade 0unner is )ase#, is /(he Father-thing/ $rom 1976E .harles 3alton, a ten-year-ol# )oy, realiFes that his $ather (e# Cas kille# an# repla%e# )y an alien, malignant $orm o$ li$e, (his (hing, that is /more in $ather than $ather himsel$,/ an evil em)o#iment o$ the superego, %an )e #is%erne# in those rare moments Chen the e5pression o$ the $ather<s $a%e su##enly %hanges, losing the $eatures o$ an or#inary, Ceary mi##le-%lass "meri%an an# irra#iating a kin# o$ in#i$$erent, impersonal :vil, +n this respe%t, the %onseDuen%es o$ the 8rlan#o, Flori#a, %ourt ruling in Septem)er 1994 to %omply Cith the reDuest o$ the ten-year-ol# )oy Cho Cante# to stay Cith his $oster parents instea# o$ returning to his )iologi%al mother are more ra#i%al than it may appear, sin%e they %on%ern the very relationship o$ S 1 an# S 4 E Chen a %hil# %an Cin a #ivor%e against his parents, as the neCspapers put it, he %an ultimately %hoose Cho his parents are Cith regar# to their respe%tive positive properties 1the Duality o$ %are, et%,2, (his Cay, motherhoo# as Cell as $atherhoo# ultimately %ease to )e sym)oli% $un%tions in#epen#ent o$ positive $eatures, i,e,, the very logi% o$ /3hatever you #o, you remain my mother$ather an# + shall love you ,,,/ o$ S 1 Dua ;aster-Signi$ier Chi%h #esignates a sym)oli% man#ate, not a simple %luster o$ properties, is un#ermine#, (he %orrelate to this re#u%tion o$ the $ather to nonphalli% *noCle#ge, o$ %ourse, is the $antasy-notion o$ mother Dua sel$-repro#u%ing monster Chi%h generates its o$$spring Cithout the me#iation o$ the phallusE it Cas alrea#y ;ar5 Cho, in an enigmati% metaphor

6 , 69,

7A,

71,

in &apital III, #etermine# .apital as a sel$-repro#u%ing ;other-(hing, 74, "ll these %ases, o$ %ourse, repro#u%e the stru%ture o$ the liar-para#o5 1/3hat + am saying noC is a lie/2, "%%or#ing to -a%an, this para#o5 %an arti%ulate an authenti% su)je%tive a%knoCle#gment Chi%h )e%omes visi)le the moment Ce take into a%%ount the splitting )etCeen the su)je%t o$ the enun%iation an# the su)je%t o$ the enun%iate#E )y saying /+ am lying@/ + a%knoCle#ge the inauthenti%ity o$ my )eing, o$ my su)je%tive position o$ enun%iation, an# in this sense + am telling the truth, -46>73, "n# Cas not the same gesture a%%omplishe# )y *ierkegaar# apropos o$ )elie$E Ce, $inite mortals, are %on#emne# to /)elieve that Ce )elieve/' Ce %an never )e %ertain that Ce a%tually )elieve, (his position o$ eternal #ou)t, this aCareness that our )elie$ is $orever %on#emne# to remain a haFar#ous Cager, is the only Cay $or us to )e true .hristian )elieversE those Cho go )eyon# the threshol# o$ un%ertainty, preposterously assuming that they really #o )elieve, are not )elievers at all )ut arrogant sinners, +$, a%%or#ing to -a%an, the Duestion that animates the %ompulsive 1o)sessional2 neuroti% is /"m + #ea# or aliveK/, an# i$ the religious version o$ it is /"m + really a )eliever or #o + just )elieve to )elieveK/, here, as Ce %an see, the Duestion is trans$orme# into /"m + a repli%ant or a human )eingK/ 76, For su%h a rea#ing, see *aja Silverman, /Ga%k to the Future,/ &amera obscura LI 1 19912E 1A9-34, 77, +t is -a%an himsel$ Cho is ultimately responsi)le $or this %on$usion, inso$ar as, in his early seminars, Chen he arti%ulates the moti$ o$ the /me%hani%al/ %hara%ter o$ the un%on s%ious, he #oes not yet #istinguish )etCeen knoCle#ge Dua sym)oli% tra#ition an# knoCle#ge ins%ri)e# into the 9eal itsel$ 0oCever, )eginning Cith Seminar 4A 1 9ncore2, Chi%h e5pressly posits the #istin%tion )etCeen signi$ier an# Criting-ins%ription 1 5crit2, every %on$usion is e5%lu#e#, +t is against this )a%kgroun# that Ce %an e5plain the $ailure o$ The Lady in the Lake, 9o)ert ;ontgomery $ilm version o$ 9aymon# .han#ler novel, Chi%h, Cith the e5%eption o$ the )rie$ prologue an# epilogue, is entirely ma#e o$ su)je%tive shots, re#u%ing our $iel#-o$-vision to that o$ the #ete%tive, (hat is to say, Chy #oes this e5periment ne%essarily a$$e%t us as somehoC arti$i%ial, %ontrive#, instea# o$ %reating the illusion o$ a%tually transposing us into the hero<s su)je%tive e5perien%eK (he su)je%tive shot is e$$e%tive inso$ar as it remains a $ragment $rame# )y o)je%tive shots Chi%h provi#e $or its %onte5t' the moment the su)je%tive perspe%tive /spills over/ the e$$e%t is not total su)je%tiviFation )ut rather an un%anny me%haniFationE the allege# pure su)je%tive gaFe %oin%i#es Cith its ra#i%al opposite, Cith the me%hani%al intake o$ the %amera, For that reason, those moments in The Lady in the Lake Chen Ce )rie$ly see the hero<s $a%e 1its re$le%tion in a mirror as allege#ly per%eive# )y the hero, $or e5ample2 pro#u%e the e$$e%t o$ a ra#i%al #is%or#E this $a%e, these eyes that Ce noC see, are in no Cay those through Chi%h Ce per%eive reality throughout the $ilm, 3e are i#enti$ie# Cith a gaFe Chi%h is o)viously the gaFe o$ an aCkCar# ma%hineE Ce, the spe%tators, )e%ome re#u%e# to a /(hing Chi%h sees,/

9 Cogito and the &e.ual $ifferen e

1, 4, See +mmanuel *ant, The &riti6ue of =udgement 1 85$or#E .laren#on Press, 19912, 8n ra#i%al :vil see .hapter 3 o$ the present )ook, (his notion o$ the Su)lime provi#es a neC approa%h to -a%an<s /*ant ave% Sa#e,/ i,e,, his thesis on Sa#e as the truth o$ *ant, -et us )egin Cith an every#ay DuestionE Chat a%%ounts $or the 1allege#2 %harm o$ se5ual manualsK (hat is to say, it is %lear that Ce #o not really )roCse them to learn things' Chat attra%ts us is that the a%tivity Chi%h epitomiFes the transgression o$ every rule 1Chen Ce

are engage# in /it,/ Ce are not suppose# to think, )ut just to yiel# to passions,,,2 assumes the $orm o$ its opposite an# )e%omes an o)je%t o$ s%hool-like #rill, 1" %ommon -46Bpie%e o$ a#vi%e a%tually %on%erns a%hieving se5ual e5%itement )y imitating -- #uring the $oreplay, at least -- the pro%e#ure o$ %ol#, ase5ual instrumental a%tivityE + #is%uss Cith my partner in #etail the steps o$ Chat Ce Cill #o, Ce pon#er the pros an# %ons o$ #i$$erent possi)ilities -- shall Ce )egin Cith %unnilingus or notK -- assessing every point as i$ Ce are #ealing Cith an ela)orate te%hni%al operation, Sometimes, this /turns us on,/2 3hat Ce en%ounter here is a kin# o$ para#o5i%ally inverte# su)limeE in the *antian Su)lime, the )oun#less %haos o$ sensi)le e5perien%e 1raging storm, )reathtaking a)ysses2 ren#ers $orth the presentiment o$ the pure +#ea o$ 9eason Chose ;easure is so large that no o)je%t o$ e5perien%e, not even nature in the Cil#est an# mightiest #isplay o$ its $or%es, %an %ome %lose to it 1i,e,, here, the ;easure, the i#eal or#er, is on the si#e o$ the unattaina)le +#ea, an# the $ormless %haos on the si#e o$ sensi)le e5perien%e2' Chereas in the %ase o$ /)ureau%ratiFe# se5uality,/ the relationship is reverse#E se5ual arousal, as the e5emplary %ase o$ the state Chi%h elu#es instrumental regimentation, is evoke# )y Cay o$ its opposite, )y Cay o$ )eing treate# as )ureau%rati% #uty, Perhaps, it is 1also2 in this sense that Sa#e is the truth o$ *antE the sa#ist Cho enjoys per$orming se5 as an instrumentaliFe# )ureau%rati% #uty reverses an# there)y )rings to its truth the *antian Su)lime in Chi%h Ce )e%ome aCare o$ the suprasensi)le ;easure through the %haoti%, )oun#less %hara%ter o$ our e5perien%e, +n this pre%ise sense, the *antian #istin%tion )etCeen the %onstitutive an# the regulative #imension %orrespon#s to the -a%anian #istin%tion )etCeen knoCle#ge an# suppose# knoCle#geE the teleologi%al regulative i#ea has the status o$ /knoCle#ge in the real,/ o$ the inherent rational or#er in nature Chi%h, although theoreti%ally unprova)le, has to )e presuppose# i$ our positive knoCle#ge 1stru%ture# through %onstitutive %ategories2 is to )e possi)le, (he %hoi%e o$ 9aymon# ;assey $or the role o$ the superego-#riven governor is #eeply signi$i%ant i$ Ce )ear in min# his s%reen personaE he also playe# Hohn GroCn, Chose name epitomiFes 1in the eyes o$ the pre#ominant i#eology2 the o)session Cith justi%e Chi%h, on a%%ount o$ its overFealous %hara%ter, turns into ravaging :vil, +$ Ce are not to miss this para#o5 o$ the .hristian Su)lime, it is o$ %ru%ial importan%e that Ce )ear in min# the stru%ture o$ the ;W)ius strip that pertains to ju#gment in 0egelian theory, (he ju#gment o$ re$le%tion, $or e5ample -- /So%rates is mortal/ -ren#ers the i#entity o$ the tCo momentsE the 1logi%al2 su)je%t, a %ertain non%on%eptual /this/ pointe# out, #esignate#, )y a name 1stan#ing $or the imme#iate, in#eterminate, unityCith-itsel$ o$ an entity2, an# the pre#i%ate Chi%h is this same unity in its mo#e o$ alienation, i,e,, separate#, torn $rom itsel$, oppose# to itsel$ in the guise o$ a universal /re$le%tive #etermination/ un#er Chi%h the imme#iate /this/ is su)sume# 1/re$le%tive #etermination/ o$ an entity is its very essen%e, the innermost kernel o$ its i#entity, yet %on%eive# in the guise o$ its opposite, o$ a totally in#i$$erent an# e5ternal universal #etermination2, .onseDuently, Ce #o not have tCo elements unite#, tie# up, in the %ommon spa%e o$ the ju#gment, )ut one and the same element Chi%h appears $irst in the mo#e o$ imme#iate-nonre$le%te# unity-Cith-itsel$ 1/this,/ the logi%al su)je%t2, then in the mo#e o$ its opposite, o$ sel$-e5ternaliFation, i,e,, as an a)stra%t re$le%tive #etermination, Perhaps even more appropriate than this metaphor o$ the tCo sur$a%es o$ the ;W)ius strip is the s%ien%e $i%tion para#o5 o$ the time-travel loop Chere the su)je%t

3,

6,

7,

-46 en%ounters a #i$$erent version o$ itsel$, i,e,, runs into its oCn later in%arnation, (herein %onsists 0egel<s pointE su)je%t an# pre#i%ate are i#enti%al, the same thing, their #i$$eren%e is purely topologi%al, (he same para#o5 is repeate# at the very en# o$ the %hapter on Spirit, Chere Ce pass $rom the o)je%tive Spirit to the sphere o$ the ")solute 1religion, philosophy2 via the resolution o$ the impasses o$ the Geauti$ul Soul, Signi$i%antly, 0egel here $or the $irst time uses the term /re%on%iliation/ 1 /ersEhnung2E the Geauti$ul Soul has to re%ogniFe its %ompli%ity Cith the Ci%ke# Cays o$ the Corl# it #eplores' it has to a%%ept the factum )rutum o$ its environs as /its oCn,/ +n the history o$ mo#ern %inema, the progressive mo#es o$ hoC to present /pathologi%al/ li)i#inal e%onomies 1hysteria, et%,2 per$e%tly $olloCs the matri5 o$ this /#oCnCar#synthesis,/ Up to a %ertain point, $ormal pro%e#ures -- e5travagant as they may appear -remain /an%hore# in the #iegeti% reality, i,e,, they e5press the /pathology/ o$ a #iegeti% personality, +n the $ilms o$ "lain 9esnais, $or e5ample, the $ormal %onvolutions 1timeloops, et%,2 ren#er the para#o5es o$ the memory o$ a #iegeti% personality' in Hohn .assavetes< Cork, the #iegeti% %ontent -- the hysteria o$ every#ay "meri%an marrie# li$e -- %ontaminates the %inemati% $orm itsel$ 1the %amera gets /too %lose/ to the $a%es, ren#ering in #etail the repulsive $a%ial %onvulsions' shots $rom a han#-%arrie# %amera %on$er upon the very %inemati% $rame the pre%ipitous trem)ling that %hara%teriFes hysteri%al e%onomy' et%,2, "t a %ertain point, hoCever, the #iegeti% un#erpinning /e5plo#es/ an# the $ilm sets out to ren#er #ire%tly the hysteri%al e%onomy, )ypassing altogether the #iegeti% %ontent, +t is thus impossi)le to #istinguish three phasesE -- /realism/E the $orm is not yet %ontaminate# )y the hysteri%al, et%, %ontent' no matter hoC pathologi%al the #iegeti% %ontent, it is ren#ere# $rom a neutral #istan%e o$ an /o)je%tive/ narrative, -- its $irst negationE the hysteri%al %ontent /%ontaminates/ $orm itsel$, +n many a mo#ernist $ilm, the $orm seems to narrate its oCn story, Chi%h un#ermines the $ilm<s /o$$i%ial/ #iegeti% %ontent' this antagonism )etCeen #iegeri% %ontent an# $orm, the surplus o$ the latter over the $ormer, is Chat the stan#ar# use o$ the term /Criting/ #esignates, Su$$i%e it to re%all the $amous .ahiers #u %inema analysis o$ Hohn For# The Aoung Lincoln in Chi%h the $orm registers the ominous, superego, monstrous-inhuman si#e o$ the main %hara%ter, an# thus runs %ounter to the patrioti% elevation o$ -in%oln, the /o$$i%ial/ theme o$ the $ilm, -- the /negation o$ the negation/E the mo#ernist /a)stra%t %inema/ Chi%h ren#ers its /pathologi%al/ %ontent #ire%tly, renoun%ing the #etour through a %onsistent #iegeri% reality, See se%tion 3 o$ +mmanuel *ant, +bservations on the "eeling of the Beautiful and Sublime 1 GerkeleyE University o$ .ali$ornia, 19912, 3hat is o$ spe%ial interest here are the perverse para#o5es *ant gets involve# in Chen he en#eavors to arti%ulate the intera%tion o$ a )eauti$ul Coman an# a su)lime manE man<s ultimate message to a Coman is /even i$ you #o not love me, + shall $or%e you to respe%t me )y the sheer $or%e o$ my su)lime gran#eur,/ Chereas Coman<s %ounter-%laim is /even i$ you #o not respe%t me, + shall $or%e you to love me $or my )eauty,/ (hese para#o5es are perverse inso$ar as their un#erlying premise is that, in or#er to #is%over the su)lime gran#eur o$ man<s moral

>,

B,

-469stan%e, Coman must %ease to love him, an# vi%e versa, man must #is#ain Coman $or her la%k o$ proper moral attitu#e i$ he is to e5perien%e the true %hara%ter o$ his love $or her, "long these lines, *ant even provi#es his oCn $ormulation o$ the impossi)ility o$ se5ual relationshipE in se5uality, man<s o)je%t is either the nonspe%i$ie# universality o$ /any Coman/ 1i$ he is #riven )y raC )o#ily passion2 or the $antasy-image to Chi%h no a%tual Coman %an ever %orrespon# in reality 1the romanti% notion o$ su)lime in$atuation2, +n )oth %ases, the real o)je%t -- the a%tual Coman in her uniDueness -- is annihilate#, + am in#e)te# to Hoan .opje% $or the %ru%ial notion o$ the stru%tural homology )etCeen -a%an<s /$ormulae o$ se5uation/ an# the *antian opposition o$ mathemati%al an# #ynami%al su)lime, (his )ook in its entirety is a token o$ my theoreti%al #e)t to her, .$, Hoan .opje%, 0ead 3y *esire 1 .am)ri#geE ;+( Press, 19932, -a%an<s F o$ %ourse means the $un%tion o$ 1sym)oli%2 %astrationE /man is su)mitte# to %astration/ implies the e5%eption o$ /at least one,/ the primor#ial $ather o$ the Freu#ian myth in Totem and Taboo, a mythi%al )eing Cho has ha# all the Comen an# Cas %apa)le o$ a%hieving %omplete satis$a%tion, For an e5pli%ation o$ these /$ormulae o$, se5uation,/ see Ha%Dues -a%an, Le s5minaire, book LM? 9ncore : $aris? 9ditions du Seuil, GHIN;- the two key chapters are translated in =ac6ues Lacan and the 9cole freudienne, "eminine Se8uality : London? 3acmillan, GHFL;. "or a compressed presentation of it see also chapter O Slavo( P*iQek, "or They 1now .ot !hat They *o : London? /erso, GHHG;. +t is the re%ent revival o$ the /human rights/ pro)lemati% Chi%h o$$ers an opportunity to #emonstrate hoC -a%an<s opposition o$ mas%uline an# $eminine $ormulas %an )e o$ /pra%ti%al use,/ (he /mas%uline/ approa%h to human rights is )ase# on universaliFationE /every human being must enjoy the rights to,,,1$ree#om, property, health, et%,, et%,2,/ Cith an e5%eption alCays lurking in the )a%kgroun#, +t is easy, $or e5ample, simply to pro%laim that every 5 has to enjoy these rights insofar as she or he fully deserves the title of /human being/ 1i,e,, o$ our i#ealiFe#-i#eologi%al notion o$ it2, a move Chi%h alloCs us to e5%lu#e %overtly those Cho #o not $it our %riteria 1insane, %riminals, %hil#ren, Comen, other ra%es,,,2, (he /$eminine/ approa%h, on the other han#, seems mu%h more appropriate to our /postmo#ern/ attitu#eE /there must )e no)o#y Cho is #enie# his or her spe%i$i% rights/ -- a move Chi%h guarantees that spe%i$i% rights, the only ones Chi%h really matter, Cill not )e e5%lu#e# un#er the guise o$ an apparently neutral, all-em)ra%ing universality, See 9enata Sale%l, The Spoils of "reedom 1 -on#onE 9outle#ge, 19932, 8r, to put it in the -a%anian Cay, man an# Coman /are split #i$$erently an# this difference in splitting accounts for se8ual difference/ 1 Gru%e Fink, /(here<s ?o Su%h (hing as a Se5ual 9elationship,/ .ewsletter of the "reudian "ield, vol, 7, nos, 1 -- 4 O 1994 PEB 2, (here seem to )e groun#s $or an opposite rea#ing Chi%h Coul# link #ynami% antinomies to the $eminine si#e o$ the $ormulae o$ se5uation an# mathemati%al antinomies to the mas%uline si#eE as pointe# out )y Ha%Dues-"lain ;iller, $eminine antinomies are antinomies o$ in%onsisten%y, Chereas mas%uline antinomies are antinomies o$ in%ompleteness -- an# are #ynami% antinomies not a)out the in%onsisten%y )etCeen universal %ausal links an# the $a%t o$ $ree#omK 8n the other han#, #o mathemati%al antinomies not hinge on the $initu#e, i,e,, in%ompleteness, o$ our phenomenal e5perien%eK 1See Ha%Dues-"lain ;iller , 98timit5 Ounpu)lishe# seminarP, Paris, 19 7- >,2 0oCever, the /not-all,/ in%omplete %hara%ter o$ the phenomenal $iel# in *ant #oes not imply that something lies -47A-

9,

1A,

11,

14,

13,

16,

17, 1>, 1B, 1 , 19,

4A, 41, 44, 43,

)eyon# or outsi#e this $iel#' instea#, it implies the $iel#<s inherent in%onsisten%yE phenomena are never /all,/ yet $or all that there is no e5%eption, nothing outsi#e them, +t is only the #ynami% antinomy Chi%h #eals Cith the opposition o$ phenomena an# their noumenal Geyon#, +t is on the %ontrary man $or Chom it %an )e sai# that /a part o$ him elu#es the phalli% $un%tion/ -- the e5%eption %onstitutive o$ the Universal, (he para#o5 is there$ore that man is dominated )y the phalli% $un%tion inso$ar as there is something in him Chi%h eva#es it, Chereas Coman eludes its grasp pre%isely inso$ar as there is nothing in her Chi%h is not su)mitte# to it, (he solution to this para#o5 is that the /phalli% $un%tion/ is, in its $un#amental #imension, the operator o$ e5%lusion, For a more #etaile# a%%ount o$ it, see .hapter 3 o$ the present )ook, See %hapter 1> o$ Ha%Dues -a%an, The "our "undamental &oncepts of $sycho7,nalysis 1 ?eC =orkE ?orton, 19BB2, See The 9thics of $sychoanalysis, 1979- 19>A, The Seminar of =ac6ues Lacan, )ook B, e#, Ha%Dues-"lain ;iller 1 -on#onE 9outle#ge R (avisto%k, 19942, See Ha%Dues -a%an, /*ant ave% Sa#e,/ in 9crits 1 ParisE :#itions #u Seuil, 19>>2, (his ethi%s o$ #esire, $or e5ample, Coul# %ompel us to reje%t -ars von (rier 9uropa 1 Jentropa2, a $ilm Chi%h seems to realiFe $ully 0ans-H^rgen Sy)er)erg anti-Semiti% program o$ aestheti%s as the only me#ium $or the re%on%iliation o$ Iermany Cith its ?aFi past, 1+n his re%ent Cork, Sy)er)erg %laims that those truly responsi)le $or the Ierman ina)ility to /Cork through/ their ?aFi past are HeCs themselves Cith their antiaestheti% prohi)ition -- "#omo<s /no poetry a$ter "us%hCitF,/2 (he aestheri%ist myth o$ :urope o$$ere# )y the $ilm is that o$ a %ontinent %aught in the vi%ious %ir%le o$ sel$in#ulging #e%a#ent jouissan%eE it is this very over-pro5imity o$ jouissan%e Chi%h suspen#s the e$$i%ien%y o$ the per$ormative, o$ the so%ial link o$ sym)oli% authority, 1+njun%tions are inoperativeE Chen the young "meri%an Corking on a Ierman train un#ergoes e5amination $or the post o$ the sleeping-%ar steCar#, the %ommittee, instea# o$ provoking an5iety, a%ts ri#i%ulously Cith its meaningless Duestions an# out-o$-pla%e pun%tuality,2 (he ultimate lesson o$ the $ilm is that even the inno%ent "meri%an gaFe %annot es%ape the #e%a#ent Chirlpool o$ the :uropean jouissan%e Chi%h $inally #raCs him into itsel$, "lthough the $ilm takes pla%e in the autumn o$ 1967, imme#iately a$ter the Ierman #e$eat, the ruine# Iermany is %learly presente# as a timeless metaphor $or /:urope/ as a %ontinent %aught in the %ir%le o$ its #e%a#ent jouissan%e, (he entire $ilm is stage# as a kin# o$ hypnoti% trauma mastermin#e# )y an anonymous narrator 1 ;a5 von Sy#oC2 Cho a##resses the hero, telling him Chat to #o an# Chat lies ahea#, (he ultimate aim o$ psy%hoanalysis is pre%isely to #eliver us $rom the #omination o$ su%h a voi%e, +,e,, symptom, "s to this notion o$ /sinthome,/ see .hapter 7 o$ the present )ook, See su)#ivision 3 Introduction in ;ar5 rundrisse, sele%te# an# e#ite# )y Davi# ;%-ellan 1 -on#onE ;a%millan, 19 A2, See Ha%Dues Derri#a, /.ogito an# the 0istory o$ ;a#ness,/ in /3riting an# Di$$eren%e/ 1 .hi%agoE University o$ .hi%ago Press, 19B 2, "mong the numerous variations on this moti$ o$ /#eath an# the mai#en,/ su$$i%e it to mention the #eath-a%%i#ent o$ *aren SilkCoo# in ;ike ?i%hols SilkwoodE ;eryl Streep )ehin# the Cheel o$ a %ar on a night #rive, o%%upying the right si#e o$ the s%reen, her gaFe -471intensely $i5e# on the %ar mirror a)ove her hea# through Chi%h she o)serves the light o$ a giant tru%k approa%hing her %ar $rom )ehin#, an#, on the le$t si#e o$ the s%reen, seen

46, 47, 4>,

4B, 4 ,

49,

through the rear Cin#oC o$ the %ar, the light o$ the tru%k gra#ually sprea#ing into a $ormless #aFFling spot over$loCing the entire s%reen, For a more #etaile# #es%ription o$ it, see ;iran Goovi_, The 3an behind #is +wn 0etina, in Slavoj iek, 9verything Aou ,lways !anted to 1now about Lacan 1Gut 3ere ,fraid to ,sk #itchcock2 1 -on#onE Uerso, 19942, Sigmun# Freu#, The $sychopathology of 9veryday Life, Peli%an Freu# -i)rary, vol, 71 0armon#sCorthE Penguin, 19B>2, p, 46 , (he *antian split )etCeen the pure $orm o$ /+ think/ an# the unknoCa)le /(hing Chi%h thinks/ is there$ore not yet the Freu#ian Un%ons%iousE the Un%ons%ious stri%to sensu takes pla%e only Cith the %hoi%e o$ )eing' it designates the /it thinks/ which emerges the moment I /am,/ the moment the su)je%t %hooses )eing, +n other Cor#s, -a%an<s tCo versions o$ cogito ena)le us to #istinguish %learly )etCeen the Un%ons%ious an# the +# 19s2E the Un%ons%ious is the /it thinks/ in /+ am, there$ore it thinks,/ Chereas the +# is the /it is/ in /+ think, there$ore it is,/ +t is against this )a%kgroun# that %omputer pho)ia %an )e properly situate#E the $ear o$ a /ma%hine Chi%h thinks/ )ears Citness to the $ore)o#ing that thought as su%h is e5ternal to the sel$-i#entity o$ my )eing, +s not the e5emplary %ase o$ su%h an o)je%t Dua sel$-%ons%iousness the 0it%h%o%kian o)je%tK +s its traumati% impa%t not #ue to the $a%t that it gives body to an unbearable ga4e Chi%h %at%hes sight o$ the un)eara)le truth a)out the su)je%tK -et us re%all the vi%tim<s pair o$ glasses in the $irst mur#er in Strangers on a TrainE Chile Gruno is strangling ;iriam, Iuy<s promis%uous Ci$e, Ce see the #istorte# re$le%tion o$ the %rime in her glasses, Chi%h $ell to the groun# Chen Gruno $irst atta%ke# her, (he glasses are the /thir# party,/ the Citness to the mur#er, the o)je%t Chi%h gives )o#y to a gaFe, 1Si5 years later, in The !rong 3an, the same role is assume# )y the )ig ta)le lamp, the Citness o$ 9ose<s out)urst against ;anny See 9enata Sale%l, /(he 9ight ;an an# the 3rong 3oman,/ in P*iQek, 9verything Aou ,lways !anted to 1now about Lacan 1 But !ere ,fraid to ,sk #itchcock2, For that reason, it is essential to rea# this s%ene together Cith the later uniDue s%ene o$ Gruno strangling an ol# so%iety la#y at a party, Gruno $irst engages in Chat is a simple, i$ someChat tasteless, so%ial gameE he #emonstrates to an el#erly la#y 1Cho Cillingly o$$ers her )are ne%k2 hoC it is possi)le to strangle some)o#y so that the vi%tim is una)le to utter the slightest soun#, 0oCever, things get out o$ %ontrol Chen the #ual relationship is supplemente# )y a /thir# party,/ i,e,, Chen Gruno per%eives )ehin# the la#y he mo%kingly is strangling a girl Cith glasses 1the sister o$ "nn, Iuy<s love2, "t this point the game su##enly takes a serious turnE as in#i%ate# )y the musi%al s%ore, the girl<s glasses re%all to Gruno<s min# the s%ene o$ the $irst mur#er, an# this short-%ir%uit pushes Gruno to )egin to strangle the ol# la#y $or real, (his girl 1playe# )y 0it%h%o%k<s #aughter Patri%ia2 is ma#e into /the Coman Cho knoCs too mu%h/ purely on a%%ount o$ her glasses, 3hat triggers the mur#erous #rive in Gruno is the un)eara)le pressure e5erte# on him )y the glasses' they are the o)je%t Chi%h /returns the gaFe,/ i,e,, )e%ause o$ the glasses, Gruno sees in the poor girl<s surprise# gaFe /his ruin Crit large,/ See ;la#en Dolar, /(he Father 3ho 3as ?ot Tuite Dea#,/ in iek, 9verything Aou ,lways !anted to 1now about Lacan 1 But !ere ,fraid to ,sk #itchcock2, -474-

3A, Patri%ia 0ighsmith masterpie%e The &ry of the owl stages per$e%tly the #eli%ate )alan%e that #e$ines the perverse position, " Coman living alone in a %ountry house su##enly )e%omes aCare that she is o)serve# )y a shy voyeur hi##en in the )ushes )ehin# the house' taking pity on him, she invites him into the house, o$$ers him her $rien#ship an#

31,

34, 33,

36, 37,

$inally $alls in love Cith him -- there)y ina#vertently trespassing the invisi)le )arrier that sustaine# his #esire an# thus provoking his repulsion, (herein %onsists the kernel o$ the perverse e%onomyE a proper #istan%e has to )e maintaine# Chi%h prevents the su)je%t $rom engaging in a /normal/ se5ual relationship' its transgression %hanges the loveo)je%t into repulsive e5%rement, 3hat Ce have here is the Fero-level o$ the logi% o$ the /partial o)je%t/ Chi%h, un#er the guise o$ o)stru%ting the se5ual relationship, a%tually %on%eals its inherent impossi)ilityE the /partial o)je%t/ is here re#u%e# to the #istan%e as su%h, to the invisi)le )arrier Chi%h prevents me $rom %onsummating the se5ual relationship' it is as i$ Ce have to #o Cith the $orm o$ $etishism Cithout $etish, 1 Patri%ia 0ighsmith is generally at her )est Chen she ren#ers Cith unmat%he# sensitivity the point at Chi%h %omplian%e turns into intrusivenessE in /Dog<s 9ansom/, her other masterpie%e, the young poli%e #ete%tive Cho o$$ers his help to the %ouple Chose #og Cas stolen gra#ually )e%omes an em)arrassing intru#er,2 (he #i$$eren%e )etCeen neuroti% an# perverse symptom hinges upon this same point 1see .olette Soler, /(he 9eal "ims o$ the "nalyti% "%t,/ Lacanian Ink N O 1994 PE 73->o2, " neuroti% has nothing )ut trou)les Cith her symptom' it in%onvenien%es her' she e5perien%es it as an unCel%ome )ur#en, as something Chi%h pertur)s her )alan%e -- in short, she suffers on a%%ount o$ her symptom 1an# there$ore turns $or help to the analyst2, Chereas a pervert una)ashe#ly enjoys his symptom, :ven i$ he is later ashame# o$ it or #istur)e# )y it, the symptom as su%h is a sour%e o$ pro$oun# satis$a%tion' it provi#es a $irm an%horing point to his psy%hi% e%onomy an# $or that very reason he has no nee# $or an analyst, i,e,, there is no e5perien%e o$ su$$ering Chi%h sustains the #eman# $or an analysis, See %hapter 16 o$ Ha%Dues -a%an, Le s5minaire, book F? Le transfert : $aris? 9ditions du Seuil, GHHG;. "n e5ample %an )e provi#e# )y the author o$ these lines Cho is una)le to in#ulge alone in a ri%h meal in an e5pensive restaurant, (he very i#ea o$ it gives rise to the $eeling o$ an o)s%ene, in%estuous short-%ir%uit' the only Cay to #o it is in %ompany, Chere having a goo# meal )e%omes part o$ a %ommunity ritual, i,e,, Chere enjoying goo# $oo# %oin%i#es Cith #isplaying to others that + enjoy it, "n o)sessional neuroti%<s ethi% %an )e $urther e5empli$ie# )y a patient Cho, apropos o$ every Coman he trie# to se#u%e, Cent to e5%essive pains to please her 1an# thus again an# again su%%ee#e# in organiFing his $ailure2, 3hen he en#eavore# to se#u%e a Coman Cho love# #eep sea #iving, he imme#iately enrolle# in a #iving %ourse 1although he Cas personally repulse# )y the very i#ea o$ it2' even a$ter this Coman le$t him $or goo# an# he Cas #evoting his amorous attention to a neC Coman Cho Cas totally in#i$$erent toCar# #iving, he nonetheless out o$ a sense o$ #uty %ontinue# to parti%ipate in the #iving %ourse@ See -ouis "lthusser, /+#eology an# i#eologi%al State "pparatuses,/ in /-enin an# Philosophy, an# 8ther :ssays/ 1 -on#onE Uerso, 19912, "n e5emplary %ase o$ hoC some)o#y %an /look alike/ is to )e $oun# in -u)it%h<s (o )e or not to )eE a Polish a%tor, as part o$ an intri%ate plot to #e%eive the ?aFis, impersonates a -473notorious Iestapo )ut%her' he Cil#ly arti%ulates an# laughs, so that Ce, the spe%tators, automati%ally per%eive his a%ting as a %ari%atural e5aggeration' hoCever, Chen, $inally, the /original/ himsel$ -- the true Iestapo )ut%her -- enters the stage, he )ehaves in e5a%tly the same Cay, a%ting as it Cere as his oCn %ari%ature -- in short, he /looks alike Ohimsel$P,/

3>, See Ha%Dues -a%an, /-ogi%al time an# the "ssertion o$ "nti%ipate# .ertainty,/ in .ewsletter of the "reudian "ield, vol, 4, no, 41 19 2, 3B, "n#, perhaps, the 1$uture2 master is simply the one Cho takes a %han%e an# is the $irst make the move, i,e,, to say /+ am Chite/E he )e%omes a neC master i$ his )lu$$ pays o$$, 3 , "t a #i$$erent level, 9osa -u5em)ourg #is%erne# a homologous anti%ipatory move in the matri5 o$ a revolutionary pro%essE i$ Ce Cait $or the /right moment/ o$ a revolution, it Cill never o%%ur' the /right moment/ emerges only a$ter a series o$ $aile# /premature/ attempts, i,e,, Ce attain our i#entity as a revolutionary su)je%t only )y Cay o$ /overtaking/ ourselves an# %laiming this i#entity /)e$ore its time has arrive#,/ For a more #etaile# rea#ing o$ this para#o5, see %hapter 7 o$ Slavoj UQA1BDiek, The Sublime +b(ect of Ideology 1 -on#onE Uerso, 19912, 39, See -a%an %ru%ial remarks in his S5minaire, book LM? 9ncore : $aris? 9ditions du Seuil, GHIN;, pp. KI7KF. In this sense, hysteria designates the failure of interpellation? the hysterical 6uestion is %!hy am I what you are saying that I am)%, i.e., I 6uestion the symbolic identity imposed on me by the master- I resist it in the name of what is %in me more than myself,% the ob(ect small a. Therein consists the anti7,lthusserian gist of Lacan? sub(ect 6ua R is not an effect of interpellation, of the recognition in an ideological call- it rather stands for the very gesture of calling into 6uestion the identity conferred on me by way of interpellation. 6A, See Paul Iri%e, /;eaning,/ in Studies in the !ay of !ords 1 .am)ri#geE 0arvar# University Press, 19 92, pp, 3BB- , 61, +n our every#ay e5perien%e, this gap separating #i$$erent levels o$ intention is at Cork in Chat Ce %all /politeness/E Chen, upon engaging in a %onversation, Ce say /0oC are you to#ayK/, Ce o$ %ourse /#o not mean it seriously/' Ce just o$$er an empty %onversational $orm Chi%h %alls $or a ritualisti% /8*/ 1the )est proo$ o$ this emptiness o$ $orm is the uneasiness that emerges i$ our partner takes the Duestion /seriously/ an# pro%ee#s to o$$er an ela)orate ansCer2, +t is nonetheless totally out o$ pla%e to #enoun%e this Duestion as an insin%ere $eigning o$ our %on%ernE although its literal, $irst level o$ intention is not /meant seriously,/ i,e,, although + am not really intereste# in hoC are you to#ay, the Duestion )ears Citness to my a)solutely /sin%ere/ intention to esta)lish a normal, $rien#ly %ommuni%ation Cith you, 64, +n 0it%h%o%k<s $ilms, su%h an element is the notorious /;a%Iu$$in,/ the se%ret Chi%h sets in motion the narrative, although it is in itsel$ /nothing at all/E its meaning is purely sel$re$erential' it amounts to the $a%t that the su)je%ts involve# in the narrative as%ri)e a meaning to it, 63, Phil Patton, /;arketers Gattle $or the 9ight to Pro$it $rom ;al%olm<s <M,</ .ew Aork Times, ;on#ay, ?ovem)er , 1994, G1 an# 6, 66, -a%an<s notion o$ 8e#ipus is to )e oppose# here to the /anti-8e#ipal/ notion o$ 8e#ipus Dua the /repressive/ $or%e Chi%h %analiFes, #omesti$ies, the polymorphous perversion o$ partial #rives, straining them to the Pro%rustian triangle o$ Father-;other-.hil#, 3ith -476-a%an, /8e#ipus/ 1i,e,, the imposition o$ the ?ame-o$-the-Father2 stan#s $or a purely negative logi%al operator o$ /#eterritorialiFation/ 1see his pun in Fren%h on the homophony )etCeen .om7du7$Cre an# .on7du7$Cre2E /?ame-o$-the-Father/ is a $un%tion Chi%h )ran#s every o)je%t o$ #esire Cith the sign o$ a la%k, i,e,, Chi%h %hanges every attaina)le o)je%t into the metonymy o$ la%k' apropos o$ every positive o)je%t, Ce e5perien%e hoC /(hat<s not it@/ 1"n# /;other/ Dua in%estuous o)je%t is nothing )ut the reverse o$ this same operationE the name $or that 5 misse# )y every given o)je%t,2 3hat

%an )e o$ help here is the re$eren%e to the 3ittgensteinian motto /the meaning o$ a Cor# eDuals its use/E /$ather/ Dua paternal metaphor is use# only an# simply to intro#u%e this gap Chi%h lurks in the )a%kgroun# o$ every o)je%t o$ #esire, 3e shoul# there$ore not )e $as%inate# )y the imposing presence o$ the $atherE the positive $igure o$ the $ather merely gives )o#y to this sym)oli% $un%tion, Cithout ever $ully meeting its reDuirements, 67, "s to this virtual %hara%ter o$ %apitalist e%onomy, see Grian 9otman, Signifying .othing 1 -on#onE ;a%millan, 19 B2,

= "n Radi al E7il and Related +atters

1, 0ere, Ce le$t out o$ %onsi#eration the histori%al tension inherent to the notion o$ /$i$ties,/ "s it Cas pointe# out )y Fre#ri% Hameson, this tension provi#es the key $or the i#eologi%al )a%kgroun# o$ the navel 1see Fre#ri% Hameson, /?ostalgia $or the Present,/ in $ostmodernism O DurhamE Duke University Press, 1991 P2, +t is )y no means an a%%i#ent that the a histori%al %hara%ter o$ the /small toCn o$ the $i$ties/ remin#s us o$ a Cestern set-upE the Cestern su%%ee#e# in a)olishing the #is%repan%y )etCeen people an# their ha)itat, )etCeen nature an# %ulture, Chi%h saps the /%re#i)ility/ o$ all other /histori%al/ genres' the %oC)oy out$it is not e5perien%e# as a ri#i%ulous %ostume, it /naturally/ )len#s Cith natural environs, (he Cestern is thus a kin# o$ timeless past o$ the %ontemporary "meri%aE %oC)oy is the /natural/ o$ the present %ulture, i,e,, the mo#ern %itiFen strippe# o$ his ur)ane alienation an# reveale# in his /true nature,/ (hus, o$ %ourse, the Cestern is i#eology at its purest, Su$$i%e it to re%all a %ommon e5perien%e Cith the Cor# pro%essor<s s%reenE Chen Ce jump along the te5t, Ce automati%ally imagine that the te5t itsel$ /rolls/ in $ront o$ our eyesE Ce assume that the line Chi%h just entere# the s%reen $rom a)ove previously e5iste# in an imaginary spa%e /a)ove/ the s%reen, $or e5ample, (he truth is, o$ %ourse, that it Cas /%reate#/ the very moment it entere# our $iel# o$ vision, i,e,, the $rame o$ the s%reen, See /" Fragment on 8ntology,/ in !orks, vol, , pp, 197-411, /Gy the priest an# the laCyer, in Chatsoever shape $i%tion has )een employe#, it has ha# $or its o)je%t or e$$e%t, or )oth, to #e%eive, an#, )y #e%eption, to govern, an#, )y governing, to promote the interest, real or suppose#, o$ the party a##ressing, at the e5pense o$ the party a##resse#/ 1i)i#,, p, 1992, +)i#,, p, 19B, /(he $i%titious is not, in e$$e%t, in its essen%e that Chi%h #e%eives, )ut is pre%isely Chat + %all the sym)oli%/ 1 The 9thics of $sychoanalysis, GHNH7GHSM, The Seminar of =ac6ues Lacan, )ook B, e#, Ha%Dues-"lain ;iller O -on#onE 9outle#ge R (avisto%k, 1994 P, p, 142, Gentham, , "ragment on +ntology, p, 19 , -477, +)i#, 9, +)i#,, p, 199, 1A, For a %lear presentation o$ Gentham theory o$ $i%tions see %hapters 4-6 o$ 9oss 0arrison , Bentham 1 -on#onE 9outle#ge an# *egan Paul, 19 32, 11, 3e en%ounter a similar /me#iation/ )etCeen illusion an# truth in SpinoFa, +n a %onte5t Chi%h, $or sure, #i$$ers $rom Gentham<s, SpinoFa propose# that $i%tion is a #eterminate mo#e o$ knoCle#ge stan#ing )etCeen truth an# simple $alsehoo#E $i%tion involves untruths that are knoCingly entertaine# as su%h, rather than mistaken $or a#eDuate i#eas, 1-ater, Pierre ;a%herey relie# on this SpinoFean notion o$ $i%tion in his "lthusserian ela)oration o$ literature -- literary $i%tion -- as a spe%i$i% mo#e o$ knoCle#ge Chi%h is not yet s%ienti$i% knoCle#ge, yet nonetheless ena)les us to #istan%e ourselves $rom our immersion in imaginary e5perien%e,2 (his interme#iate notion o$ $i%tion #etermines the

4,

3, 6,

7, >, B,

Cay SpinoFa %on%eives o$ the passage $rom error to truthE Ce #o not unmask error on the )asis o$ a #ire%t insight into truth' on the %ontrary, Ce arrive at truth through the analysis o$ the very reasons Chi%h %ause# us to err, (ruth is stricto sensu error<s truth, i,e,, an insight into the pro%ess Chi%h generate# errorE /the min#<s only re%ourse againse these sour%es o$ error is to grasp the %on#itions that )rought them a)out -- the histori%al, %ausal, or linguisti% $a%tors -- an# there)y a%hieve the kin# o$ rational grasp that %onverts <passive< into <a%tive< un#erstan#ing/ 1 .hristopher ?orris, Spino4a and the +rigins of 3odern &ritical Theory O 85$or#E Gla%kCell, 1991 P, p, 4672, (his $olloCs $rom SpinoFa<s $un#amental premise that /$alse an# $i%titious i#eas have nothing positive a)out them,,,Chi%h %auses them to )e %alle# $alse an# $i%titious' they are only %onsi#ere# as su%h through the #e$e%tiveness o$ knoCle#ge/ 1 8n the +mprovement o$ the Un#erstan#ing, in The &hief !orks of Benedict de Spino4a O ?eC =orkE Dover, 1971 P, p, 1 2E the $alsity o$ a $alse i#ea is unmaske# the moment Ce attain true knoCle#ge o$ it )y Cay o$ lo%ating it in its proper %onte5t, 14, +t is against this )a%kgroun# that Ce have to lo%ate the stan#ar# paranoia% i#ea that, at any moment, Ce might pull some lever that Cill ina#vertently set in motion the pro%ess o$ the #isintegration o$ the entire reality, as in the urination-#ream reporte# in Freu# Interpretation of *reamsE the tiny $loC out o$ the %hil#<s penis groCs into a stream on the street, %hanging the line separating the street $rom the si#eCalk into a river<s )ank, then into a sea on Chi%h o%ean liners sail, (he author o$ this )ook e5perien%e# a similar momentary /loss o$ reality/ #uring a very harsh Cinter in Paris a %ouple o$ years agoE a$ter pulling the kno) an# $lushing Cater in the toilet, the small stream o$ Cater in the toilet-sink Cas joine# $irst )y #rops o$ Cater $rom the %eiling, then )y an a%tual torrent literally $loo#ing the entire toilet room, ;y $irst rea%tion, o$ %ourse, Cas /3hat #i# + #o CrongK 3hy #i# + have to pull that stupi# kno)K/ 1(he solution o$ the enigma Cas very simpleE )e%ause o$ the harsh Cinter, Cater in the pipes Cas $roFen, %ausing some o$ the pipes to e5plo#e' )y pulling the toilet-kno), + %ause# the reneCe# $loC Chi%h )roke through the holes in the pipes,2 Su%h an o)je%t, Chi%h appears as a part o$ reality, yet the moment Ce approa%h it too %losely, reality itsel$ #isintegrates, is the o)je%t in the stri%t -a%anian sense o$ the term, 13, Tuote $rom H, ?, Fin#lay, 1ant and the Transcendental +b(ect 1 85$or#E .laren#on Press, 19 12, p, 4B6, -47>16, Ha%Dues -a%an, 9crits? , Selection 1 ?eC =orkE ?orton, 19BB2, p, 166, 17, (he $urther step to )e a%%omplishe# here, hoCever, is to raise the Duestion o$ the appropriateness o$ the very %on%eptual $rameCork Cithin Chi%h nature is a )alan%e# %ir%uit Cith organisms harmoniously in%lu#e# in their environs, Chereas human %ulture is %on%eive# as a /#eraile#/ nature, nature si%k unto #eath, Perhaps nature appears as su%h only to a )a%kCar# glan%e, $rom the human perspe%tive' it is the very transgression 1the human e5%ess, the #erailment2 Chi%h retroa%tively %reates the appearan%e o$ a prelapsarian norm, See %hapter 4 o$ Slavoj iek, Looking ,wry 1 .am)ri#geE ;+( Press, 19912, 1>, -a%an, 9crits? , Selection, pp, 1A3-6, 1B, (his #iale%ti% o$ the spear healing its oCn Coun# ena)les us also to #istinguish #emo%ra%y $rom all other politi%al systemsE in or#er to re%ti$y their e5%esses, they have to have re%ourse to a %ountera%tant oppose# to their $un#amental prin%iples 1so%ialist planning e%onomy has to alloC $or a minimum o$ market in%entives, although in the $orm o$ illegal /)la%k market e%onomy/2, Chereas only #emo%ra%y %an emphati%ally %laim that

1 ,

19, 4A, 41, 44,

the only %ure $or the trou)les )rought a)out )y #emo%ra%y 1%orruption, alienation,,,2 is more #emo%ra%y, -et us a## an e5emplary %ase $rom the history o$ musi%E the Duestiona)le status o$ a%t 4 in ;oFart great operas 1 Le no44e di "igaro, *on iovanni, The 3agic "lute;. In all of them, act L :or the second part, insofar as there are good reasons to regard Le no44e as an opera in two parts; contains some of 3o4art2s highest achievements 77 the un(ustly underrated finale of act O in Le no44e, the se8tet in *on iovanni, $amina suicide aria in The 3agic "lute. In spite of this, however, one cannot escape the overall impression that act G succeeds in producing an effect of incomparable harmonious balance, whereas in act L supreme passages alternate with obvious %fillers% :suffice it to mention the %patched7up% character of *on iovanni2s act L;. "or an abstract, nondialectical approach, this fact bears witness to an inherent limitation of 3o4art2s art- however, as soon as we consider this limitation not as a contingent biographical feature, but as a structural necessity, this very formal %weakness% starts to function as the inde8 of a fundamental historical truth? to put it in the good old 3ar8ist (argon, it is this very formal limitation, the impossibility of a %successful% act L, which registers an irreducible social antagonism, the impossibility of the utopian social synthesis 3o4art was striving for. -a%an, 9crits? , Selection, pp, 6A-7>, See )ook 1 in +mmanuel *ant, 0eligion within the Limits of 0eason ,lone 1 ?eC =orkE 0arper an# 9oC, 19>A2, See +mmanuel *ant, &riti6ue of $ractical 0eason 1 ?eC =orkE ;a%millan, 197>2, p, 3A, "s to this notion o$ :vil Dua ethi%al attitu#e, one %oul# mention several re%ent thrillers Chi%h $eature a kin# o$ ethi%al humaniFation o$ the mur#erer in the last moments o$ his li$e, +n *eceived, $or e5ample, the mur#erous hus)an#, a$ter %ornering his Ci$e, )ursts into an une5pe%te# superego-$ury, repeating %ompulsively hoC he pre$ers not to kill, )ut i$ it has to )e #one, he Cill #o it, #isagreea)le as it may )e, 3e Citness here a %ase o$ :vil Dua ethi%al attitu#e in its purest, " someChat similar s%ene o%%urs toCar# the en# o$ Sea of LoveE the #ete%tive hol#s un#er gun the mur#erer Cho Cas killing se5ual partners o$ his e5-Ci$e' instea# o$ a%%epting his arrest, the mur#erer, in a patheti%ally sui%i#al -47Bgesture, starts to %ry out lou#ly Chat a humiliation it is i$ you are a)an#one# )y the )elove# Ci$e an# senselessly jumps toCar# the #ete%tive Cho shoots him #oCn, 3hat su##enly emerges in )oth %ases is an un$oreseen #imension that un#ermines the usual portrayal o$ the mur#erer as a %ol#-)loo#e#, avari%ious, or pathologi%al )eing, +n this sense, the femme fatale Cho, in the film noir universe, #erails man<s #aily routine, is one o$ the personi$i%ations o$ :vilE the se5ual relationship )e%omes impossi)le the moment Coman is elevate# to the #ignity o$ the (hing, See I, 3, F, 0egel, Lectures on the $hilosophy of 0eligion 1 Gerkeley an# -os "ngelesE University o$ .ali$ornia Press, 19 B2, 3e must )e %are$ul here to avoi# the trap o$ retroa%tive proje%tionE ;ilton Satan in his $aradise Lost is not yet the *antian ra#i%al :vil -- he appeare# as su%h only to the 9omanti% gaFe o$ Shelley an# Glake, 3hen Satan says /:vil, )e thou my Ioo#,/ this is not yet ra#i%al :vil, )ut remains simply a %ase o$ Crongly putting some :vil at the pla%e o$ Ioo#, (he logi% o$ ra#i%al :vil %onsists rather in its e5a%t opposite, i,e,, in saying /Ioo#, )e thou my :vil/ -- in $illing out the pla%e o$ :vil, o$ the (hing, o$ the traumati% element Chi%h #erails the %lose# %ir%uit o$ organi% li$e, Cith some 1se%on#ary2 Ioo#, -a%an, 9crits? , Selection, p, 64, "nother Duestion opene# up )y this #e$inition o$ ego<s

43, 46, 47,

4>,

/maturity,/ o$ %ourse, is that o$ the impli%it #eontologi%al assumptions o$ egopsy%hologyE Chat, $rom the point o$ vieC o$ the %on$ormist ego-psy%hology, appears as /immature/ re)elliousness, a more /ra#i%al/ psy%hology may %on%eive as a sign that the ego has outgroCn primitive #epen#en%e an# attaine# $ull %riti%al autonomy' $rom the perspe%tive o$ a /ra#i%al/ psy%hology, it is rather the ego<s %apa)ility silently to en#ure en#less $rustrations Chi%h )ears Citness to his /immaturity,/ 8n another level, the same goes $or the i#eal o$ /normal heterose5ual relationship/E in Protestant %ountries prior to the /se5ual revolution/ o$ the si5ties, this i#eal Cas interprete# as implying se5ual a%tivity Cithin the %on$ines o$ marriage, so that e5tramarital se5ual a%tivity automati%ally assume# symptomal status, i,e,, Cas %on%eive# as an in#e5 o$ some pathologi%al #istur)an%e 1in more li)eral environs, o$ %ourse, it Cas the stri%t a#heren%e to marital $i#elity Chi%h Cas interprete# as an e5pression o$ /pathologi%ally/ rigi# mental attitu#e2, (he -a%anian approa%h ena)les us here to %hange the terrain o$ the entire #e)ateE /pathology/ is not #e$ine# )y the positive %ontent o$ ethi%al norms )ut by the way the sub(ect relates to these normsE #o they $un%tion as traumati% injun%tionsK are they /represse#/ or $ully a%knoCle#ge#K et%, 4B, -a%an o$ten makes use o$ the same rhetori%al inversion to #elineate the relationship o$ the ego to its symptomsE it is not su$$i%ient to say that the ego $orms its symptoms in or#er to maintain its pre%arious )alan%e Cith the $or%es o$ the +#' the ego itsel$ is, as to its essen%e, a symptom, a %ompromise-$ormation, a tool ena)ling the su)je%t to regulate his or her #esire, 3hen Ce #esire M, Ce alCays i#enti$y ourselves Cith a %ertain sel$-image 1/i#eal ego/2 o$ us as #esiring M, For e5ample, Chen Ce are enrapture# )y an ol# melo#rama an# are move# to tears )y the events on the s%reen, Ce #o not #o it imme#iately' Ce previously i#enti$y ourselves Cith the image o$ a /naive/ vieCer move# to tears )y this type o$ $ilm, +n this pre%ise sense, our i#eal-ego image is our symptom, is the tool )y means o$ Chi%h Ce organiFe our #esireE the sub(ect desires by means of his or her ego7symptom, (he ultimate 0egelian inversion, o$ %ourse, is that )etCeen the o)je%t an# -47 the la%kE not only is the o)je%t alCays, )y #e$inition, la%king, )ut the o)je%t as su%h is alrea#y the pla%e-hol#er, the materialiFation, o$ a la%k, 4 , For su%h a /Gre%htian/ rea#ing o$ #ow reen !as 3y /alley, see (ag Iallagher, =ohn "ord 1 Gerkeley an# -os "ngelesE University o$ .ali$ornia Press, 19 >2, 49, See ;oniDue Davi#-;enar#, La folie dans la raison pure 1 ParisE Urin, 19912, 3A, +t is Cith regar# to the /#ia)oli%al :vil/ that the otherCise e5%ellent essay )y :tienne Gali)ar , &e 6ui fait 6u2un peuple est un peuple. 0ousseau et 1ant 1 0evue de synthCse, nos. O7K T GHFH U;, seems to fall short. Balibar stays within the confines of 1ant2s selfperception when he points out how %radical 9vil% cannot be reduced to the conflict between the sub(ect2s universal7rational will and its sensible7%pathological% nature? it concerns the inherent splitting of the free will between %true% freedom :submission to the moral law; and !illkVr, the caprice and self7will of the free choice. The moral law does not e8ert its pressure only on our %pathological% impulses- we resist it in the name of the self7will which constitutes the innermost kernel of our Selves. This way, the opposition of morality and legality can be deduced from the inherent conflict of the free will? legality 6ua e8ternal pressure which, under the threat of punishment, forces me to obey laws is needed on account of the splitting of my free will. If %to act morally% were to be part of my actual nature, if I were not to e8perience the moral law as a humiliating pressure, I would not need the e8ternal coercion of law, of the legal system, or, to refer to 1ant2s

31, 34, 33,

36, 37,

3>,

own formulation, man would not be %the animal in need of a 3aster.% For a #etaile# a%%ount o$ this logi%, see .hapter U o$ Slavoj iek, "or They 1now .ot !hat They *o 1 -on#onE Uerso Gooks, 19912, See "lain ")elhauser analysis /*2un man6ue B saisir,/ in 0a4pol O 1 -ju)ljana 19 B2, 8ne %an imagine hoC the %inemati% version o$ this s%ene Coul# )e a)le to rely on the %ontrapuntal use o$ soun#E the %amera Coul# shoC the %oa%h running along the empty streets, the $ronts o$ ol# pala%es an# %hur%hes, Chereas the soun#tra%k Coul# )e alloCe# to retain the a)solute pro5imity to the (hing an# to ren#er the real o$ Chat goes on in the %oa%hE the gasping an# moaning that attests to the intensity o$ the se5ual en%ounter, See ;i%hel Fou%ault, This Is .ot a $ipe 1 Gerkeley an# -os "ngelesE University o$ .ali$ornia Press, 19 42, 8ne en%ounters the same para#o5 in 9o)ert 0einlein s%ien%e $i%tion novel The Unpleasant $rofession of =onathan #oagE Chen a Cin#oC is opene#, the reality previously seen through it #issolves an# all Ce see is a #ense, nontransparent slime o$ the 9eal, For a more #etaile# -a%anian rea#ing o$ this novel, see %hapter 1 o$ Slavoj iek, Looking ,wry 1 .am)ri#geE ;+( Press, 19912, +n ;ar5 )rothers $ilms, Ce en%ounter three variations on this para#o5 o$ i#entity, i,e,, o$ the un%anny relationship )etCeen e5isten%e an# propertyE - Irou%ho ;ar5, upon )eing intro#u%e# to a strangerE /Say, you remin# me o$ :mmanuel 9avelli, -- Gut + am :mmanuel 9avelli, -- (hen, no Con#er that you look like him@/ - Irou%ho, #e$en#ing a %lient )e$ore the %ourtE /(his man looks like an i#iot an# a%ts like an i#iot, yet all this shoul# not #e%eive you -- he is an i#iot@/ - Irou%ho, %ourting a la#yE /:verything on you remin#s me o$ you, your nose, your eyes, your lips, your han#s -- everything e5%ept you@/ -479-

3B, 3hat lies at the heart o$ these para#o5es, o$ %ourse, is the thesis, #e$en#e# alrea#y )y 9ussian $ormalists 1 Hako)son, $or e5ample2, a%%or#ing to Chi%h every pre#i%ate has the status o$ a metaphorE #es%ri)ing a thing )y means o$ a pre#i%ate ultimately eDuals saying Chat that thing resem)les, 3 , 3hat Ce have in this s%ene, o$ %ourse, is a kin# o$ re$le%tive re#ou)ling o$ the e5ternal stimulus 1soun#, organi% nee#, et%,2 that triggers the a%tivity o$ #reamingE one invents a #ream integrating this element in or#er to prolong the sleep, yet the %ontent en%ountere# in the #ream is so traumati% that, $inally, one es%apes into reality an# aCakens, (he ringing o$ the phone Chile Ce are asleep is su%h a stimulus par e5%ellen%e' its #uration even a$ter the sour%e in reality %ease# to emit it e5empli$ies Chat -a%an %alls the insistence o$ the real, 39, See Sigmun# Freu#, %0epression,% in Stan#ar# :#ition, vol, 16, pp, 174-73, an# The Unconscious, i)i#,, p, 1BB, For a -a%anian rea#ing o$ this %on%ept, see Ha%Dues -a%an, The "our "undamental &oncepts of $sycho7,nalysis 1 ?eC =orkE ?orton, 19BB2, p, 41 , 6A, " similar shot is $oun# in FritF -ang Blue ardenia, Chen "nne Ga5ter peeps out o$ the %ra%k )etCeen hal$-opene# #oors, 61, -a%an, The "our "undamental &oncepts of $sycho7,nalysis, p, 1A3, 64, (his thir# gaFe also provi#es the key $or the logi% o$ e5hi)itionismE Chen the male e5hi)itionist a%%omplishes the legen#ary gesture o$ opening his %oat in $ront o$ his vi%tim, his aim is to pro#u%e a sho%k, a $eeling o$ shame in the vi%tim -- the vi%tim is

em)arrasse# not )e%ause o$ the presen%e o$ the e5hi)itionist himsel$, )ut #ue to the imagine# presen%e o$ a third gaFe, 1"%%i#entally, this also %on$irms that the aim o$ the e5hi)itionist -- o$ the pervert sa#ist in general -- is not to re#u%e the vi%tim to the status o$ an o)je%t, )ut Duite on the %ontrary to sub(ectivi4e it, to )ring a)out in him or her the splitting 1the mi5ture o$ $as%ination an# repulsion2 that %hara%teriFes the su)je%t Dua #esiring,2 63, (his phantomlike #ou)le, our sha#oC an# yet /more real than ourselves,/ is also ren#ere# )y the $amous verses $rom .oleri#ge ,ncient 3ariner Chi%h ;ary Shelley use# to %hara%teriFe Dr, Frankenstein<s relationship to his terri$ying %reatureE /-ike one, that on a lonesome roa# R Doth Calk in $ear an# #rea#, R "n# having on%e turne# roun# Calks on, R "n# turns no more his hea#, R Ge%ause he knoCs, a $right$ul $ien# R Doth %lose )ehin# him trea#,/ 66, 3ithin Freu# theory o$ #reams, this #i$$eren%e )etCeen Unding an# edankending is at Cork in his notion o$ considerations of representability 1see #ivision D o$ %hapter > o$ his Interpretation of *reams O 0armon#sCorthE Penguin Gooks, 19BB P2E edankending is not in itsel$ nonsensi%al, %ontra#i%tory' it is simply not %apa)le o$ )eing represente#, i,e,, o$ )eing e5perien%e# as an o)je%t Cithin our $iel# o$ representation, 67, +n this pre%ise sense, the -a%anian #i$$eren%e )etCeen reality an# real repeats the *antian #i$$eren%e )etCeen Chat is possi)le 1Chat $alls Cithin the $rame o$ possi)le e5perien%e, Chat %an )e imagine# as an o)je%t o$ intuition2, an# )etCeen Chat, although not logi%ally impossi)le, nevertheless %an never )e%ome an o)je%t o$ e5perien%eE the /real/ #esignates this un%anny interme#iate #omain o$ Chat /e5ists,/ sometimes even ne%essarily e5ists, in the sense o$ logi%al %onstru%tion, yet %an never )e%ome part o$ Chat Ce e5perien%e as reality, (his is also Chat *ant has in min# Chen he #i$$erentiates )etCeen -4>Aegenstand an# +b(ektE Iegenstan# is an o)je%t Chi%h )elongs to the #omain o$ possi)le e5perien%e, Chereas +b(ekt stan#s $or an entity Chi%h %an never )e intuite#, 67, *arl ;ar5, The $overty of $hilosophy, in *arl ;ar5 an# Frie#ri%h :ngels, &ollected !orks, volume > 1 ?eC =orkE +nternational Pu)lishers, 19B>2, p, 1>3, 6>, (his utopian Corl# is o$ %ourse stru%ture# as a %ounterpoint to the 3estern aggressive, patriar%hal %iviliFationE the realm o$ matriar%hy 1She2, o$ )la%k rule 1 1ing Solomon2s 3ines2, o$ harmonious %onta%t Cith nature 1 Tar4an2, o$ )alan%e# Cis#om 1 Lost #ori4on2, (he message o$ these novels is hoCever more am)iguous than it may seemE $or the heroes Cho entere# this i#ylli% Corl#, li$e in the #omain o$ saturate# #esire soon )e%omes un)eara)le an# they strive to return to %orrupte# %iviliFation' the universe o$ pure $antasy is a universe Cithout surplus enjoyment, i,e,, a per$e%tly )alan%e# universe Chere the o)je%t-%ause o$ #esire %annot )e )rought to e$$e%t, 6B, (his is the reason Chy this pass is alCays shoCn in a Cay that points out its arti$i%ial %hara%ter 1one per%eives imme#iately that it is a stu#io set, Cith its entire )a%kgroun# -in%lu#ing the /9an%ho ?otorious/ in the valley )eloC -- painte# on a giganti% %loth2' the same pro%e#ure Cas use# )y 0it%h%o%k in his 3arnie, among others, "n# #o Ce not en%ounter the same matri5 o$ a pure $antasy-spa%e )eyon# the $rontier in .oppola ,pocalypse .owK 3hat this $ilm stages is also a kin# o$ /voyage )eyon# the en# o$ the Corl#/E the /en# o$ the Corl#/ is %learly represente# )y the )urning )ri#ge on the $rontier o$ Uietnam an# *ampu%hea, this pla%e o$ general %on$usion an# #issolution Chere the #istin%tion )etCeen reality an# #elusion is )lurre#, 0oCever, on%e Ce trespass this $rontier an# penetrate its Geyon#, the $ero%ious violen%e all o$ a su##en gives Cay to an unnatural %alm' Ce enter the pure $antasy-spa%e, the king#om o$ *urtF, the o)s%ene-

knoCing $ather, the reverse o$ the /normal/ sym)oli% Father Cho %onstitutes reality, 1"s it Cas note# )y Fre#ri% Hameson, the role o$ the ;ount 9ushmore monument in 0it%h%o%k .orth7by7.orthwest is also to serve as the image o$ the /en# o$ the Corl#/E the vieC $rom the top o$ the presi#ents< hea#s into the valley )eloC is %learly the vieC into the un$athoma)le Geyon#,2 6 , +t is similar Cith the status o$ the /trans%en#ental Schein/ in *antE although the +#ea o$ 9eason #oes not )elong to the $iel# o$ reality, o$ possi)le e5perien%e, it $un%tions as the sym)oli% %losure Chi%h rotaliFes, $ills out, its $iel#, +$ Ce progress in reality to its utmost, to its utter limit, all o$ a su##en Ce $in# ourselves /on the other si#e,/ in i#eas to Chom no reality %orrespon#s, 69, " homologi%al inversion in the #omain o$ painting o%%urs in the Cork o$ :#var# ;un%h' the #espair o$ his /e5pressionisti%/ phase is $olloCe# )y a Duasi-magi%al appeasement Chen ;un%h $oun# support an# a sta)le point o$ re$eren%e in the rhythm o$ ?ature, the li$e-giving poCer o$ the sun, et%, (his shi$t is homologous to the shi$t $rom the early to the late Cork o$ Hoan ;ir`E one is tempte# to say that the entire ;ir` is alrea#y %ontaine# in his early paintings, Chi%h are still $igural, (here the elements o$ the late ;ir`, the $amous jovial, /%hil#ish/ a)stra%t %olore# shapes, are present in the guise o$ #etails o$ an overall $igural %anvas, ;ir` thus in a Cay /rei$ie#/ his oCn CorkE he /$orgot/ the #iale%ti%al me#iation o$ its elements' he a)stra%te# them $rom their totality an# %on$erre# upon them the appearan%e o$ in#epen#en%e, 3ithin mo#ernism proper, the same logi% is at Cork in the shi$t $rom e5pressionism into mo#ernist $ormalism, -et -4>1us re%all the $ate o$ Sprachgesang 1styliFe# /spee%h-song/2 in "rnol# S%hoen)erg musi%al %ompositionsE in urre7Lieder Sprachgesang is still /%onte5tualiFe#/' it appears as the %alming #oCn o$ the un)eara)le pain o$ *ing Ual#emar, Cho )emoans the #eath o$ his )elove# (ove, During his nightly ri#es, Ual#emar arti%ulates his pain in a tra#itional lateromanti% air, Chereas the speaker %ele)rates the #aCn o$ a neC #ay Chi%h #ispels no%turnal horrors in the $orm o$ Sprachgesang, +n $ierrot Lunaire, S%hoen)erg later Cork, this #iale%ti%al tension, i,e,, the me#iation o$ the Sprachgesang Cith the lateromanti% %hromati% air, is lostE Sprachgesang eman%ipates itsel$ an# o%%upies the entire $iel#, 8n a more general level, the $un#amental matri5 o$ su%h an inversion o$ e5treme tension into pea%e$ul $eli%ity is o$$ere# )y the passage o$ mo#ernism into postmo#ernism, (he %ru%ial point here is that Chat %hanges in this shi$t is not the per%eive# o)je%t or state o$ things )ut the stan#point $rom Chi%h the per%eive# state o$ things appears as horri$yingE Ce pass $rom mo#ernist-e5pressionist horror into postmo#ernist etheri% )liss Chen the #imension o$ authenti% su)je%tivity, the impli%it stan#ar# o$ normality, #isintegrates, (he logi% o$ the inversion is everyChere the sameE the jovial %hil#ish imme#ia%y Chi%h at $irst emerges as the $orm o$ e5pression o$ its opposite, i,e,, as the a$$e%te# mani$estation o$ the #eepest #espair in Chi%h the su)je%t is no longer a)le to e5press his or her horror #ire%tly )ut %an only mimi% an i#ioti% inno%en%e, loses this /me#iation/ an# preten#s to )e /true/ %hil#ish inno%en%e, 7A, See %hapters 4A an# 41 o$ The 9thics of $sychoanalysis, GHNH7GHSM, The Seminar of =ac6ues Lacan, )ook B, e#, ;iller, 71, +nso$ar as, Cith *ant, the $rontier Chi%h separates phenomena $rom noumena -- i,e,, Chi%h simply %on$ines, restrains the phenomenal $iel# -- is also logi%ally prior to noumena Dua positive entities' the status o$ the /trans%en#ental Schein/ is ultimately the same as that o$ the mysterious king#om )eyon# the $rontier in these $ilms, 74, Gesi#es the real impossi)ility an# the symbolic prohi)ition there is a thir#, imaginary,

73,

76, 77, 7>, 7B,

version the e%onomy o$ Chi%h is psy%hoti%E in%est is ne%essary an# unavoi#a)le sin%e every li)i#inal o)je%t is in%estuous, "n e5emplary %ase o$ it is the .atharist heresy Chi%h prohi)its every se5ual relation, %laiming that inter%ourse Cith Chi%hever li)i#inal o)je%t, not only Cith one<s parents, is in%estuous, "s to these three mo#alities o$ in%est 1its impossi)ility, prohi)ition, ne%essity2, see Peter 3i#mer, /=enseits des In4estverbots,/ 0iss L, K, and S 1 Xuri%h, 19 >- B2, 0ere Ce en%ounter the $un%tion o$ the /su)je%t suppose# to )elieve/E the e5isting or#er is legitimiFe# via the $a%t that a #ou)t a)out it Coul# )etray the naive )elie$ o$ the 8ther 1o$ the $oreign Corker Cho )elieves in the USS9, Cho, )y means o$ this )elie$, %on$ers meaning an# %onsisten%y upon his li$e2, "s to the notion o$ the /su)je%t suppose# to )elieve,/ see Slavoj iek, The Sublime +b(ect of Ideology 1 -on#onE Uerso Gooks, 19 92,pp, 1 7- >, For another rea#ing o$ this para#o5, see iek, The Sublime +b(ect of Ideology, pp, 676B, See Sigmun# Freu#, Interpretation of *reams 1 0armon#sCorthE Penguin Gooks, 19BB2, %hapter 4, The 9go in "reud2s Theory and in the Techni6ue of $sychoanalysis, The Seminar of =ac6ues Lacan, )ook 4, e#, ;iller 1 .am)ri#geE .am)ri#ge University Press, 19 2, p, 179, i)i#,, p, 176, -4>4-

7 , +)i#,, pp, 176-77, 79, +)i#,, p, 1> , >A, +)i#,, p, 1>1, (his reversal o$ trauma into )liss is eDuivalent to a kin# o$ sym)oli% lo)otomyE e5%ision o$ the traumati% tumor, like the operation to Chi%h Fran%is Farmer Cas su)mitte# in or#er to /$eel goo#/ in the "meri%an every#ay i#eology, >1, Ha%Dues -a%an, 9crits? , Selection 1 ?eC =orkE ?orton, 19BB2, p, 4 >, >4, +)i#,, p, 4 B, >3, +)i#, >6, Ge$ore a%%using 0egel o$ applying the tria# thesis-antithesis-synthesis as a $ormal prin%iple o$ intro#u%ing or#er into every kin# o$ %haoti% %ontent, one shoul# note that the terms are not 0egel<sE 0egel never speaks o$ /thesis-antithesis-synthesis/' these terms Cere intro#u%e# )y his pupils years a$ter his #eath, >7, 3ithin a /nonantagonisti%/ relation, the i#entity-Cith-itsel$ o$ every moment is groun#e# in its %omplementary relationship to its 8ther 1Coman is Coman through her relationship to man' together, the tCo o$ them %onstitute a harmonious 3hole, et%,2, Chereas in an /antagonisti%/ relation the 8ther trun%ates our i#entity, it prevents us $rom a%hieving it, $rom /)e%oming $ully Chat Ce are/ 1the relation )etCeen the se5es thus )e%omes /antagonisti%/ Chen Coman starts to per%eive her relationship to the opposite se5 as something Chi%h prevents her $rom $ully realiFing her $emale su)je%tive position, $rom $ully /)eing hersel$/2, For su%h a notion o$ antagonism, see :rnesto -a%lau an# .hantal ;ou$$e, #egemony and Socialist Strategy 1 -on#onE Uerso Gooks, 19 72, >>, (heo#or 3, "#orno, .egative *ialectics 1 ?eC =orkE .ontinuum, 19B32, p, 7,

> Hegel?s 8%ogi of Essen e8 as a Theory of Ideology

1, 4, Perspi%uous theologians knoC very Cell this para#o5 o$ a #e%ision Chi%h retroa%tively posits its oCn reasonsE o$ %ourse there are goo# reasons to )elieve in Hesus .hrist, but these reasons are fully comprehensible only to those who already believe in #im, +t Cas the same Cith 9onal# 9eagan<s presi#en%yE the more the li)eral journalists

enumerate# his slips o$ tongue an# other $au5 pas, the more they strengthene# his popularity' unknoCingly, reasons against $un%tione# as reasons $or, "s to 9eagan<s /te$lon presi#en%y,/ see Hoan .opje%, /(he unervmoegeniker 8therE 0ysteria an# Demo%ra%y in "meri%a,/ .ew "ormations GK 1 -on#onE 9outle#ge, 19912, 8n another level, an e5emplary %ase o$ this gap separating S 1 $rom S 4 the a%t o$ #e%ision $rom the %hain o$ knoCle#ge, is provi#e# )y the institution o$ juryE the jury per$orms the $ormal a%t o$ #e%ision, it #elivers the ver#i%t o$ /guilt/ or /inno%en%e/' then it is up to the ju#ge to groun# this #e%ision in knoCle#ge, to translate it into an appropriate punishment, 3hy %an<t these tCo instan%es %oin%i#e, i,e,, Chy %an<t the ju#ge himsel$ #e%i#e the ver#i%tK +s he not )etter Duali$ie# than an average %itiFenK 3hy is it repulsive to our sense o$ justi%e to leave the #e%ision to the ju#geK For 0egel, the jury em)o#ies the prin%iple o$ $ree su)je%tivityE the %ru%ial $a%t a)out the jury is that it %omprises a group o$ %itiFens Cho allege#ly are peers o$ the a%%use# an# Cho are sele%te# )y a lottery system -- they stan# $or /any)o#y,/ (he point is that + %an )e ju#ge# only )y my eDuals, not )y a superior agen%y speaking in the name o$ some ina%%essi)le *noCle#ge )eyon# my rea%h an# -4>3%omprehension, "t the same time, the jury implies an aspe%t o$ %ontingen%y Chi%h suspen#s the prin%iple o$ su$$i%ient groun#E i$ the %on%ern o$ justi%e Cere only to )e the %orre%t appli%ation o$ laC, it Coul# )e $ar more appropriate $or the ju#ge to #e%i#e on guilt or inno%en%e, Gy entrusting the jury Cith the ver#i%t, the moment o$ un%ertainty is preserve#' up to the en# Ce %annot )e sure Chat the ju#gment Cill )e, so its a%tual pronoun%ement alCays a$$e%ts us as a surprise, (he para#o5, o$ %ourse, %onsists in the $a%t that, pre%isely, there is nothing )ehin# the series o$ positive, o)serva)le $eaturesE the status o$ that mysterious (e ne sais 6uoi Chi%h makes me $all in love is ultimately that o$ a pure sem)lan%e, (his Cay, Ce %an see hoC a /sin%ere/ $eeling is ne%essarily )ase# upon an illusion 1+ am /really,/ /sin%erely/ in love only inso$ar as + )elieve in your se%ret agalma, i,e,, inso$ar as + )elieve that there is something )ehin# the series o$ o)serva)le $eatures2, "s $or this /+n%orporation (hesis,/ see 0enry :, "l)son 1ant2s Theory of "reedom 1 .am)ri#geE .am)ri#ge University Press, 199A2, (he %onverse pro%e#ure is also $alseE the attri)ution o$ personal responsi)ility an# guilt Chi%h relieves us o$ the task o$ pro)ing into the %on%rete %ir%umstan%es o$ the a%t in Duestion, Su$$i%e it to re%all the moral-majority pra%ti%e o$ attri)uting a moral %hara%ter to the higher %rime rate among "$ri%an "meri%ans 1/%riminal #ispositions,/ /moral insensitivity,/ et%,2E this attri)ution pre%lu#es any analysis o$ the %on%rete so%ial, e%onomi%, an# politi%al %on#itions o$ "$ri%an "meri%ans, 3hat Ce have here is thus another e5ample o$ the 0egelian rhetori%al inversion in -a%anE Ce %an i#entity Cith the other<s #esire sin%e our #esire as su%h is alrea#y the #esire o$ the other 1in all meaningsE our #esire is a #esire to )e #esire# )y the other, i,e,, a #esire $or another<s #esire' Chat Ce e5perien%e as our innermost #esire is stru%ture# )y the #e%entere# 8ther' et%,2, +n or#er to #esire, the su)je%t has to i#enti$y Cith the #esire o$ the other, See .hapter 1 o$ the present )ook, (he ultimate proo$ o$ hoC this re$le%tivity o$ #esire that %onstitutes /sel$-%ons%iousness/ not only has nothing Chatsoever to #o Cith the su)je%t<s sel$-transparen%y )ut is its very opposite, i,e,, involves the su)je%t<s ra#i%al splitting, is provi#e# )y the para#o5es o$ love-hate, (he 0ollyCoo# pu)li%ity ma%hinery use# to #es%ri)e :ri%h von Stroheim, Cho in the thirties an# $orties regularly playe# sa#isti% Ierman o$$i%ers, as /a man you<ll love to hate/E to /love to hate/ some)o#y

3,

6, 7,

>,

B,

means that this person $its per$e%tly the s%apegoat role o$ attra%ting our hatre#, "t the opposite en# o$ it, the femme fatale in the noir universe is %learly a Coman one /hates to love/E Ce knoC she means evil, )ut it is against our Cill that Ce are $or%e# to love her, an# Ce hate ourselves an# her $or it, (his hate-love %learly registers a %ertain ra#i%al split Cithin ourselves, the split )etCeen the si#e o$ us that %annot resist love an# the si#e that $in#s this love a)omina)le, 8n the other han#, the tautologi%al %ases o$ this re$le%tivity o$ love-hate are no less para#o5i%al, 3hen, $or e5ample, + say to some)o#y that + /hate to hate you,/ this again points toCar# a splittingE + really love you, )ut $or %ertain reasons + am $or%e# to hate you, an# + hate mysel$ $or it, :ven the positive tautology /love to love/ %on%eals its oppositeE Chen + use it, it must usually )e rea# as /+ 1Coul#2 love to love you,,,1)ut + %annot anymore2/ -- as e5pressing aCillingness to go on, although the thing is alrea#y over, +n short, Chen a hus)an# or a Ci$e tells his %onjugal partner /+ love to love you,/ one %an )e sure that #ivor%e is roun# the %orner, -4>6, 9, "s to this logi% o$ the /non-all,/ see .hapter 4 o$ the present )ook, See Hu#ith Gutler, ender Trouble 1 ?eC =orkE 9outle#ge, 199A2, the hitherto most ra#i%al attempt to #emonstrate hoC every /presuppose#/ support o$ se5ual #i$$eren%e 1in )iology, in sym)oli% or#er2 is ultimately a %ontingent, retroa%tive per$ormative e$$e%t, i,e,, is alrea#y /posite#/' one is tempte# to summariFe its result in the ironi% %on%lusion that Comen are men maske# as Comen, an# men are Comen Cho es%ape into manhoo# to %on%eal their oCn $emininity, "s long as Gutler un$ol#s the impasses o$ the stan#ar# Cays to su)stantiate se5ual #i$$eren%e, one %an only a#mire her ingenuity' pro)lems arise in the last, /programmati%/ part o$ the )ook, Chi%h un$ol#s a positive proje%t o$ an un)oun#e# per$ormative game o$ %onstru%ting multiple su)je%t-positions Chi%h su)vert every $i5e# i#entity, 3hat is lost there)y is the #imension #esignate# )y the very title o$ the )ook -- gen#er troubleE the $a%t that se5uality is #e$ine# )y a %onstitutive /trou)le,/ a traumati% #ea#lo%k, an# that every per$ormative $ormation is nothing )ut an en#eavor to pat%h up this trauma, 3hat one has to a%%omplish here is there$ore a simple sel$re$le%tive reversal o$ the negative into the positiveE there is alCays trou)le Cith gen#er -ChyK Because gender as such is a response to a fundamental %trouble%E /normal/ se5ual #i$$eren%e %onstitutes itsel$ in an attempt to avoi# an impasse, 1A, Ha%Dues -a%an, Le siminaire, book LM? 9ncore : $aris? 9ditions du Seuil, GHIN;, p. FN. &onse6uently, Lacan2s statement that %there is no se8ual relationship% does not contain a hidden normativity, an implicit norm of %mature% heterose8uality impossible to attain, in the eyes of which the sub(ect is always, by definition, guilty. Lacan2s point is 6uite the contrary, that in the domain of se8uality, it is not possible to formulate any norm which should guide us with a legitimate claim to universal validity? every attempt to formulate such a norm is a secondary endeavor to mend an %original% impasse. In other words, Lacan does not fall into the trap of invoking a cruel superego agency which knows that the sub(ect is not able to meet its demands, thereby branding the sub(ect2s very being with a constitutive guilt? the relationship of the Lacanian sub(ect to the symbolic Law is not a relationship to an agency whose demand the sub(ect can never fully satisfy. Such a relationship to the +ther of the Law, usually associated with the od of the +ld Testament or with the =ansenist *ieu obscur, implies that the +ther knows what it wants from us, it is only us who cannot discern the +ther2s inscrutable will. !ith Lacan, however, the +ther of the Law itself does not know what it wants. 11, For a #etaile# rea#ing o$ the 0egelian logi% o$ re$le%tion see %hapter > o$ Slavoj iek, The Sublime +b(ect of Ideology 1 -on#onE Uerso Gooks, 19 92,

14, (herein %onsists the %ru%ial Ceakness o$ 9o)ert Pippin #egel2s Idealism 1 .am)ri#geE .am)ri#ge University Press, 19 2, a )ook Chi%h otherCise announ%es a neC epo%h in 0egelian stu#ies, +ts $un#amental intention is to rea$$irm, against the prevalent /histori%ist/ approa%h 1the #ismissal o$ 0egel<s /metaphysi%s/ -- #iale%ti%al logi% -- as a hopelessly out#ate# masto#on, i,e,, the notion that the only thing /still alive/ in 0egel is to )e $oun# in the %on%rete so%iohistori%al analyses o$ $henomenology, $hilosophy of 0ight, ,esthetics, et%,2, the %ontinue# relevan%e o$ 0egel<s #iale%ti%al logi%, an#, $urthermore, to #emonstrate hoC the only Cay to grasp this relevan%e lea#s through *ant, 0egel<s position in no Cay entails the regression to the /pre%riti%al/ metaphysi%al ontology o$ the ")solute, )ut remains thoroughly %on$ine# to the *anti an %riti%ismE 0egel<s spe%ulative i#ealism is *antian %riti%ism )rought to a %lose, (his proje%t o$ Pippin #eserves $ull -4>7support, =et Pippin $ails at the %ru%ial pla%e, in his treatment o$ the logi% o$ re$le%tion, (he $inal result o$ his analysis is that Ce are ultimately %on#emne# to the antinomy o$ positing an# e5ternal re$le%tionE he repu#iates /#etermining re$le%tion/ as an empty metaphori% $ormula, a $aile# attempt to )reak out o$ this antinomy, #egel2s Science of Logic 1 "tlanti% 0ighlan#s, ?,H,E 0umanities Press +nternational, 19 92, p, 661, Sin%e our %on%ern here is limite# to the para#o5i%al stru%ture o$ the notion o$ %ontra#i%tion, Ce leave asi#e the #i$$eren%e )etCeen #i$$eren%e an# opposition, i,e,, the me#iating role o$ opposition )etCeen #i$$eren%e an# %ontra#i%tion, 0egel<s %hoi%e o$ e5ample -- $ather, the sym)oli% $un%tion par e5%ellen%e -- is o$ %ourse in no Cay a%%i#ental or neutral, +t Cas alrea#y (homas "Duinas Cho evokes paternity in arguing that, in or#er to survive, Ce must a%%ept another<s Cor# $or things Ce ourselves #i# not CitnessE /+$ man re$use# to )elieve anything unless he kneC it himsel$, then it Coul# )e Duite impossi)le to live in this Corl#, 0oC %oul# a person live, i$ he #i# not )elieve someoneK 0oC %oul# he even a%%ept the $a%t that a %ertain man is his $atherK/ 1 The $ocket Thomas O ?eC =orkE 3ashington SDuare Press, 19>A P, p, 4 >2, "s it Cas pointe# out )y Freu# 1in his 3oses and 3onotheism2, in %ontrast to maternity, paternity is $rom the very outset a matter o$ )elie$, i,e,, a sym)oli% $a%tE the ?ame-o$-the-Father e5erts its authority only against the )a%kgroun# o$ trusting the 8ther<s Cor#, 3hat a)out the $ourth term o$ the -a%anian alge)ra, aK (he ob(ect small a #esignates pre%isely the en#eavor to pro%ure $or the su)je%t a positive support o$ his )eing )eyon# the signi$ying representationE )y Cay o$ the $antasy-relation to a, the su)je%t 1N2 a%Duires an imaginary sense o$ his /$ullness o$ )eing,/ o$ Chat he /truly is/ in#epen#ently o$ Chat he is $or others, i,e,, notCithstan#ing his pla%e in the intersu)je%tive sym)oli% netCork, 3ar82s rundrisse, sele%te# an# e#ite# )y Davi# ;%-ellan 1 -on#onE ;a%millan, 19 A2, p, 99, 3as .haplin aCare o$ the irony o$ the $a%t that "ustria, 0itler<s $irst vi%tim, Cas $rom 1936 -- $rom Dol$uss<s right-Cing %oup -- a proto-$as%ist %orporatist stateK "n# #oes not the same hol# $or The Sound of 3usic, in Chi%h the $or%e oppose# to $as%ism assumes the $orm o$ sel$-su$$i%ient "ustrian provin%ialism, i,e,, in Chi%h the politi%o-i#eologi%al struggle )etCeen $as%ism an# #emo%ra%y is ultimately re#u%e# to the struggle )etCeen tCo $as%isms, the one overtly )ar)arian an# the one Chi%h still maintains a /human $a%e/K So Chatever e5-.ommunists #o, they are lostE i$ they )ehave aggressively, they #isplay their true nature' i$ they )ehave properly an# $olloC #emo%rati% rules, they are even more #angerous sin%e they %on%eal their true nature,

13,

16,

17,

1>, 1B,

1 ,

19, (he s%ien%e $i%tion $ilm #idden provi#es, in its very naivetJ, one o$ the most poignant mise7en7scEnes o$ su%h a materialiFation o$ a notional relationshipE every#ay li$e goes on in to#ay<s .ali$ornia, until the main %hara%ter puts on spe%ial green glasses an# sees the true state o$ things -- the i#eologi%al injun%tions, invisi)le to the or#inary, %ons%ious gaFe, i,e,, the ins%riptions /#o this, )uy that,,,/ Chi%h )om)ar# the su)je%t $rom all aroun#, (he $antasy o$ the $ilm thus provi#es us Cith glasses Chi%h literally ena)le us to /see i#eology/ Dua voluntary servitu#e, to per%eive the hi##en injun%tions Ce $olloC Chen Ce e5perien%e ourselves as $ree in#ivi#uals, (he /error/ o$ the $ilm, o$ %ourse, is to hypothesiFe the or#inary material e5isten%e o$ i#eologi%al injun%tionsE their status is -4>>a%tually that o$ pure sym)oli% relations' it is only their e$$e%ts Chi%h have material e5isten%e, 1+n other Cor#s, #idden realiFes in a slightly mo#i$ie# $orm the %lassi%al :nlightenment $antasy o$ i#eology as the plot o$ the %leri%al %aste Chi%h, in the interests o$ those in poCer, %ons%iously #e%eives people,2 See H, ?, Fin#lay, 1ant and the Transcendental +b(ect 1 85$or#E .laren#on Press, 19 12, pp,4>1->B, 3hat Ce must )ear in min# here is that *ant is %ompelle# to hypothesiFe the e5isten%e o$ aether )y the $un#amental $antasmati% $rame o$ his philosophy, namely the logi% o$ /real opposition/E /aether/ is #e#u%e# as the ne%essary positive opposite o$ the /or#inary/ pon#era)le-%ompressi)le-%ohesi)le-e5hausti)le stu$$, See -ouis "lthusser et al,, 0eading &apital 1 -on#onE ?eC -e$t Gooks, 19BA2, pp, 1 >9, (his point Cas $irst ma#e )y Geatri%e -onguenesse in her e5%ellent #egel et la criti6ue de la m5taphysi6ue 1 ParisE Urin, 19 12, See Pierre ;a%herey, #egel ou Spino4a) 1 ParisE ;aspero, 19B72, *arl ;ar5, /:ighteenth Grumaire o$ -ouis Gonaparte/, in *arl ;ar5 an# Frie#ri%h :ngels , &ollected !orks, volume 4, p, 1A3, +n his re$eren%e to the 0egelian Geauti$ul Soul, -a%an makes a #eeply signi$i%ant mistake )y %on#ensing tCo #i$$erent /$igures o$ %ons%iousness/E he speaks o$ the Beautiful Soul Cho, in the name o$ her Law of the #eart, re)els against the injusti%es o$ the Corl# 1see, $or e5ample, 9crits? , Selection, p, A2, 3ith 0egel, hoCever, the /Geauti$ul Soul/ an# the /-aC o$ the 0eart/ are tCo Duite #istin%t $iguresE the $irst #esignates the hysteri%al attitu#e o$ #eploring the Ci%ke# Cays o$ the Corl# Chile a%tively parti%ipating in their repro#u%tion 1 -a%an is Duite justi$ie# to apply it to Dora, Freu# s e5emplary %ase o$ hysteria2' the /-aC o$ the 0eart an# the FrenFy o$ Sel$-.on%eit,/ on the other han#, %learly re$er to a psychotic attitude -- to a sel$-pro%laime# Savior Cho imagines his inner -aC to )e the -aC o$ every)o#y an# is there$ore %ompelle#, in or#er to e5plain Chy the /Corl#/ 1his so%ial environs2 #oes not $olloC his pre%epts, to resort to paranoia% %onstru%tions, to some plot o$ #ark $or%es 1like the :nlightene# re)el Cho )lames the rea%tionary %lergy<s propagating o$ superstitions $or the $ailure o$ his e$$orts to Cin the support o$ the people2, -a%an<s slip is all the more mysterious $or the $a%t that this #i$$eren%e )etCeen Geauti$ul Soul an# the -aC o$ the 0eart %an )e per$e%tly $ormulate# )y means o$ the %ategories ela)orate# )y -a%an himsel$E the hysteri%al Geauti$ul Soul %learly lo%ates itsel$ Cithin the )ig 8ther, an# it $un%tions as a #eman# to the 8ther Cithin an intersu)je%tive $iel#, Chereas the psy%hoti% %linging to the -aC o$ one<s 0eart involves pre%isely a reje%tion, a suspension, o$ Chat 0egel re$erre# to as the /spiritual su)stan%e,/ :5isten%e in the sense o$ empiri%al reality is thus the very opposite o$ the -a%anian 9ealE

4A, 41,

44, 43, 46, 47, 4>,

4B,

pre%isely inso$ar as Io# #oes not /e5ist Dua part o$ e5periential, empiri%al reality 0e )elongs to the 9eal, 4 , -a%an, Le s5ninaire, book LM? 9ncore, p. OL. 49, (his point Cas arti%ulate# in all its philosophi%al Ceight )y Ieorg -ukS%s in his #istory and &lass &onsciousness 1 -on#onE ?-G, 19>92, 3A, (hat *ant himsel$ alrea#y ha# a premonition o$ this link )etCeen e5isten%e an# sel$relating is atteste# to )y the $a%t that, in the .ritiDue o$ Pure 9eason, he %on$erre# on -4>B#ynami%al synthesis 1Chi%h %on%erns also e5isten%e, not only pre#i%ates2 regulative %hara%ter, (he role o$ $antasy in perversion an# in neurosis o$$ers an e5emplary %ase o$ this passage o$ in-itsel$ into $or-itsel$ at Cork in the psy%hoanalyti% %lini%, " pervert imme#iately /lives/ his $antasy, stages it, Chi%h is Chy he #oes not entertain toCar# it a /re$le%te#/ relationship, he #oes not relate toCar# it Dua $antasy, +n 0egelian termsE $antasy is not /posite#/ as su%h, it is simply his in-itsel$, (he $antasy o$ a hysteri%, on the other han#, is also a perverse $antasy, )ut the #i$$eren%e %onsists not only in the $a%t that a hysteri% relate# to it in a re$le%te#, /me#iate#/ Cay -- vulgari elo6uentia, that he /only $antasiFes a)out Chat a pervert is a%tually #oing,/ (he %ru%ial point is rather that, Cithin the hysteri%al e%onomy, $antasy a%Duires a #i$$erent $un%tion, )e%omes part o$ a #eli%ate intersu)je%tive gameE )y means o$ $antasy, a hysteri% %on%eals his or her an5iety, at the same time o$$ering it as a lure to the other $or Chom the hysteri%al theater is stage#, (his e5%hangea)ility %oul# )e $urther e5empli$ie# )y the am)iguity as to the pre%ise %ausal status o$ trauma in psy%hoanalyti% theoryE on the one han#, one is $ully justi$ie# in isolating the /original trauma/ as the ultimate groun# Chi%h triggere# the %hain rea%tion the $inal result o$ Chi%h is the pathologi%al $ormation 1the symptom2' on the other han#, in or#er $or event M to $un%tion as /traumati%/ in the $irst pla%e, the su)je%t<s sym)oli% universe ha# alrea#y to have )een stru%ture# in a %ertain Cay, See Fre#ri% Hameson, /9ei$i%ation an# Utopia in ;ass .ulture,/ in Signatures of the /isible 1 ?eC =orkE 9outle#ge, 19912, +n this pre%ise sense -a%an %on%eives ;aster-Signi$ier as an /empty/ signi$ier, a signi$ier Cithout signi$ie#E an empty %ontainer Chi%h rearranges the previously given %ontent, (he signi$ier /HeC/ #oes not a## any neC signi$ie# 1all its positive signi$ie# %ontent is #erive# $rom the previously given elements Chi%h have nothing Chatsoever to #o Cith HeCs as su%h2' it just /%onverts/ them into an e5pression o$ HeCishness Dua groun#, 8ne o$ the %onseDuen%es to )e #raCn $rom it is that, in en#eavoring to provi#e an ansCer to the Duestion /3hy Cere pre%isely HeCs pi%ke# out to play the s%apegoat role in antiSemiti% i#eologyK/, Ce might easily su%%um) to the very trap o$ anti-Semitism, looking $or some mysterious $eature in them that as it Cere pre#estine# them $or that roleE the $a%t that HeCs Cho Cere %hosen $or the role o$ the /HeC/ ultimately is %ontingent -- as it is pointe# out )y the Cell-knoCn anti-anti-Semiti% joke /HeCs an# %y%lists are responsi)le $or all our trou)les, -- 3hy %y%listsK --30= H:3SK/ Fin#lay, 1ant and the Transcendental +b(ect, p, 1 B, +)i#,, p, 1, 0ere, Ce must )e attentive to hoC a simple symmetri%al inversion )rings a)out an asymmetri%al, irreversi)le, non-spe%ular result, (hat is to say, Chen the statement /the HeC is e5ploitative, intriguing, #irty, las%ivious,,,/ is reverse# into /he is e5ploitative, intriguing, #irty, las%ivious,,,, because he is (ewish,/ Ce #o not state the same %ontent in another Cay, Something neC is pro#u%e# there)y, the ob(et petit a, that Chi%h is /in jeC

31,

34,

33, 36,

37, 3>, 3B,

more than the HeC himsel$/ an# on a%%ount o$ Chi%h the HeC is Chat he phenomenally is, (his is Chat the 0egelian /return o$ the thing to itsel$ in its %on#itions/ amounts toE the thing returns to itsel$ Chen Ce re%ogniFe in its %on#itions 1properties2 the e$$e%ts o$ a trans%en#ent Iroun#, -4> 3 , "s to this e5%eption, see ;oniDue Davi#-;enar#, La folie dans la raison pure 1 ParisE Urin, 19912, pp, 176-77, 39, (his irre#u%i)le antagonism o$ )eing an# )e%oming thus also provi#es the matri5 $or 0egel<s solution o$ the *antian enigma o$ the (hing-in-itsel$E the Thing7in7itself is in the modality of %being% what the sub(ect is in the modality of %becoming.% 6A, #egel<s Science of Logic, p, 767, 3hat Ce en%ounter in the tetra# a%tualitypossi)ility%ontingen%y-ne%essity is thus the repetition, on a higher, more %on%rete, level, o$ the initial tetra# o$ being7nothing7becoming7determinate beingE %ontingen%y is the /passing/ o$ possi)ility into a%tuality, Chereas ne%essity #esignates their sta)le unity, 61, See %hapter 7 o$ Slavoj XiFek, "or They 1now .ot !hat They *o 1 -on#onE Uerso, 19912, an# %hapter 3 o$ Slavoj XiFek, 9n(oy Aour Symptom< 1 ?eC =orkE 9outle#ge, 19942, 64, (his *ierkegaar#ian opposition o$ /)e%oming/ an# /)eing/ perhaps lurks in the )a%kgroun# o$ 0ei#egger<s re%urrent $igure apropos o$ the ontologi%al #i$$eren%e, namely the tautologi%al ver)aliFation o$ the su)stantiveE /Corl#ing o$ the Corl#,/ et%, /3orl#ing o$ the Corl#/ #esignates pre%isely /Corl# in its )e%oming,/ in its possi)ility, Chi%h is not to )e %on%eive# as a #e$i%ient mo#e o$ a%tualityE ontologi%al #i$$eren%e is the #i$$eren%e )etCeen 1onti%2 a%tuality an# its 1ontologi%al2 possi)ility, i,e,, that surplus o$ possi)ility Chi%h gets lost the moment possi)ility a%tualiFes itsel$, 8n another level, the /or#ering o$ the Opoliti%alP or#er/ %oul# )e sai# to #esignate the /open/ pro%ess o$ the $ormation o$ a neC or#er, the /unrest o$ )e%oming/ 1epitomiFe#, in the %ase o$ 9umania, )y the hole in the %enter o$ the $lag, previously o%%upie# )y the re# star, the .ommunist sym)ol2 Chi%h #isappears, )e%omes invisi)le, the moment a neC or#er is esta)lishe# via the emergen%e o$ a neC ;aster-Signi$ier, 63, (his un#e%i#a)ility also pertains to 0egel< s $henomenology of SpiritE one has only to )ear in min# that its %lose, a)solute knoCle#ge %oin%i#es Cith the starting point o$ Logic, the point Cithout presuppositions, the point o$ a)solute non7knowledge in Chi%h an one is %apa)le o$ e5pressing is the empty )eing, the $orm o$ nothingness, (he path o$ $henomenology thus appears as Chat it isE a pro%ess o$ $orgetting, i,e,, the very opposite o$ the gra#ual, progressive /remem)ering/ o$ the Spirit<s entire history, $henomenology $un%tions as the /intro#u%tion/ to the /system/ proper inso$ar as, )y Cay o$ it, the su)je%t has to learn to o)literate the $alse $ullness o$ the non-notional 1representational2 %ontent, all non-re$le%te# presuppositions, in or#er to )e a)le, $inally, to )egin $rom 1)eing Chi%h is2 nothing, +t is against this )a%kgroun# that one has to %on%eive the reemergen%e o$ the term /skull/ on the last page o$ Phenomenology, Chere 0egel #esignates its itinerary as /the .alvary o$ a)solute Spirit/ 1 #egel2s $henomenology of Spirit O 85$or#E 85$or# University Press, 19BB P, p, 6932, (he literal meaning o$ the Ierman term $or %alvary, SchWdelstWtte, is /the site o$ skulls,/ (he in$inite ju#gment /spirit is a )one 1a skull2/ a%Duires there)y a someChat une5pe%te# #imensionE Chat is reveale# to the Spirit in the )a%kCar#s-gaFe o$ its 9r7Innerung, inCar#iFing memory, are the s%attere# skulls o$ the past /$igures o$ %ons%iousness,/ (he Corn-out 0egelian $ormula a%%or#ing to Chi%h the 9esult, in its a)stra%tion $rom the path lea#ing to it, is a %orpse, has to )e inverse# on%e againE this /path/ itsel$ is pun%tuate# )y s%attere# skulls,

66, See %hapter 1 o$ Slavoj XiFek, Looking ,wry 1 .am)ri#geE ;+( Press, 19912, 67, +s not the %omputer-generate# virtual reality an e5emplary %ase o$ reality %on%eive# -4>9through the #etour o$ its virtualiFation, i,e,, o$ a reality Cholly generate# $rom its %on#itions o$ possi)ilityK Su$$i%e it to re%all here *ant<s re$le%tions on the meaning o$ the Fren%h 9evolutionE the very )elie$ in the possibility o$ a $ree, rational so%ial or#er, atteste# to )y the enthusiasti% response o$ the enlightene# pu)li% to the Fren%h 9evolution, Citnesses to the a%tuality o$ $ree#om, o$ a ten#en%y toCar# $ree#om as an anthropologi%al $a%t, See +mmanuel *ant, The &onflict of the "aculties 1 -in%olnE University o$ ?e)raska Press, 19942, p, 173, (his, o$ %ourse, is a le$tist rea#ing o$ the *enne#y mur#er %onspira%y theory' the reverse o$ it is that the trauma o$ *enne#y<s #eath e5presses a %onservative longing $or an authority Chi%h is not an imposture -- or, to Duote one o$ the %ommentaries on the anniversary o$ the Uietnam 3arE /SomeChere Cithin the generation noC taking poCer, Uietnam may have installe# the suspi%ion that lea#ership an# authority are a $rau#, (hat vieC may have su)tle stunting e$$e%ts upon moral groCth, +$ sons #on<t learn to )e%ome $athers, a nation may )ree# politi%ians Cho )ehave less like $ull-groCn lea#ers than like ina#eDuate si)lings, step)rothers Cith pro)lems o$ their oCn,/ "gainst this )a%kgroun#, it is easy to #is%ern in the *enne#y myth the )elie$ that he Cas the last /$ull-groCn lea#er,/ the last $igure o$ authority Chi%h Cas not a $rau#, "nother e5emplary %ase o$ this para#o5i%al nature o$ the relationship )etCeen possi)le an# a%tual is Senator :#Car# *enne#y<s %an#i#a%y $or presi#ential nomination in 19 A, "s long as his %an#i#a%y Cas still in the air, all polls shoCe# him easily Cinning over any Demo%rati% rival' yet the moment he pu)li%ly announ%e# his #e%ision to run $or the nomination, his popularity plummete#, 3hat this notion o$ $eminine %astration ultimately amounts to is a variation on the notorious ol# Ireek sophism /3hat you #on<t have, you have lost' you #on<t have horns, so you have lost them,/ (o avoi# the notion that this sophism %an )e #ismisse# as in%onseDuential $alse reasoning, i,e,, to get a presentiment o$ the e5istential an5iety that may pertain to its logi%, su$$i%e it to re%all the 3ol$-;an, Freu#<s 9ussian analysan#, Cho Cas su$$ering $rom a hypo%hon#ria%al id5e fi8eE he %omplaine# that he Cas the vi%tim o$ a nasal injury %ause# )y ele%trolysis' hoCever, Chen thorough #ermatologi%al e5aminations esta)lishe# that a)solutely nothing Cas Crong Cith his nose, this triggere# an un)eara)le an5iety in himE /0aving )een tol# that nothing %oul# )e #one $or his nose )e%ause nothing Cas Crong Cith it, he $elt una)le to go on living in Chat he %onsi#ere# his irrepara)ly mutilate# state/ 1 ;uriel Iar#iner, The !olf73an and Sigmund "reud O 0armon#sCorthE Penguin, 19B3 P, p, 4 B2, (he logi% is here e5a%tly the same as i$ you #o not have horns, you lost them' i$ nothing %an )e #one, then the loss is irrepara)le, 3ithin the -a%anian perspe%tive, o$ %ourse, this sophism points toCar# the $un#amental $eature o$ a stru%turalR#i$$erential or#erE the un)eara)le a)solute la%k emerges at the very point Chen the la%k itsel$ is la%king, "s to this potentiality that pertains to the very a%tuality o$ poCer, see %hapter 7 o$ XiFek, "or They 1now .ot !hat They *o, "nother $a%et o$ this #iale%ti%al tension )etCeen possi)ility an# a%tuality is the tension )etCeen a notion an# its a%tualiFationE the %ontent o$ a notion %an )e a%tualiFe# only in the $orm o$ the notion<s $ailure, -et us re%all the re%ent 9o)ert 0arris alternative-history )estseller "atherland 1 -on#onE 0ut%hinson, 19942E its a%tion takes pla%e in 19>6, Cith

6>,

6B,

6 ,

69,

7A, 71,

-4BA0itler having Con 3orl# 3ar ++ an# e5ten#ing his empire $rom the 9hine to the Ural ;ountains, (he tri%k the novel pulls is to stage Chat a%tually takes pla%e to#ay as the result o$ 0itler<s vi%toryE a$ter his vi%tory, 0itler organiFe# 3estern :urope into the /:uropean .ommunity,/ an e%onomi% union Cith tCelve %urren%ies un#er the #omination o$ the Ierman mark, Chose $lag %onsists o$ yelloC stars on )lue )a%kgroun# 1Ierman #o%uments $rom the early $orties a%tually %ontain su%h plans@2, (he lesson o$ the novel is there$ore that the /notion/ o$ ?aFi :urope realiFe# itsel$ in the guise o$ the very /empiri%al/ #e$eat o$ naFism, 74, (he key Duestion here is hoC this pro)lemati% o$ the ;aster Dua metonymy o$ #eath is a$$e%te# )y -a%an<s later shi$t toCar# (ouissance, Chi%h entails the splitting o$ the paternal $igure into the ?ame-o$-the-Father, the pure sym)oli% authority )eyon# enjoyment 1the )ig 8ther is )y #e$inition )eyon# enjoyment -- /the )ig 8ther #oesn<t smell,/ as Ce may put it2, an# the Father-:njoyment 1le $5re7(ouissance2E #oes the o)s%ene Father Dua ;aster o$ :njoyment still $un%tion as /metonymy o$ #eath,/ or #oes he rather epitomiFe /li$e )eyon# #eath,/ the immortal, in#estru%ti)le su)stan%e o$ enjoymentK 73, +t is against this )a%kgroun# that one is a)le to measure the su)versive e$$e%t o$ a personal $eature o$ -a%an note# )y those Cho kneC him, "s is Cell knoCn, he %are$ully %ultivate# the image o$ himsel$ as )eing un)eara)le, #eman#ing to the point o$ %ruelty' yet at the same time he appeare# Citty an# e%%entri%' those Cho kneC him en#eavore# to penetrate to the /true person/ )ehin# this pu)li% mask, propelle# )y the #esire $or the reassuring guarantee that, )eneath the mask, -a%an is /human like the rest o$ us,/ 0oCever, they Cere in $or a )a# surpriseE Chat aCaite# them /)ehin# the mask/ Cas no /normal Carm person,/ sin%e even in private, -a%an stu%k to his pu)li% image' he a%te# in pre%isely the same Cay, #isplaying the same mi5ture o$ %ourtesy an# e5a%ting %ruelty, (he e$$e%t o$ this un%anny %oin%i#en%e )etCeen the pu)li% mask an# private person Cas the e5a%t opposite o$ Chat one Coul# e5pe%t 1o)literation o$ all private, /pathologi%al,/ $eatures' %omplete i#enti$i%ation Cith the pu)li% sym)oli% role2E the pu)li% sym)oli% role itsel$, as it Cere, %ollapse# into pathologi%al i#iosyn%rasy, turne# into a %ontingent personal ti%k,

A 8The 3ound Is Healed "nly /y the &<ear That &6ote You8

+ $olloC here +van ?agel<s path-)reaking stu#y o$ ;oFart<s operas ,utonomy and 3erry 1 .am)ri#geE 0arvar# University Press, 19912, "s to this sym)oli% e5%hange, see ;la#en Dolar, /"ilo4ofi(a v operi,/ 0a4pol I 1-ju)ljana, 19942' the present te5t takes a num)er o$ instigations $rom Dolar<s essay, Su%h a rea#ing o$ the 8rpheus myth Cas alrea#y propose# )y *laus (heCeleit in his Buch der 1oenige, vol. G, +rpheus und 9urydike : "rankfurt? Stroemfeld and 0oter Stern, GHHL;. (he very Cor#s o$ this aria attest its aim o$ eli%iting an ansCer o$ the 9ealE /+ *io, rispondi@/ 18 Io#, ansCer@2, "s to this relationship )etCeen the tCo 8rpheuses, see %hapter 4 o$ Hoseph *erman +pera as *rama 1 Gerkeley an# -os "ngelesE University o$ .ali$ornia Press, 19 2, (he stan#ar# /#e%onstru%tionist/ version o$ Don Iiovanni is that o$ a su)je%t /not -4B1-

)oun# )y Cor#s,/ i,e,, systemati%ally violating the %ommitments impose# on him )y the per$ormative 1illo%utory2 #imension o$ his spee%h 1see, $or e5ample, Shoshana Felman , Le scandale du corps parlant O ParisE Seuil, 19B P2, 0oCever, its reverse is that Don Iiovanni %omplies Cith the rules o$ etiDuette even a$ter it )e%omes o)vious that, )y Cay o$ assuming a sym)oli% %ommitment, he got more than he aske# $or, Don Iiovanni<s #inner invitation to the statue at the graveyar#, $or e5ample, Cas un#ou)te#ly meant as an empty gesture, as a )lasphemous a%t o$ #e$ian%e, yet Chen /the real ansCers,/ Chen the #ea# a%%epts the invitation an# a%tually appears at Don Iiovanni<s home as the Stone Iuest, Don Iiovanni, in spite o$ his visi)le astonishment, keeps to the form an# asks the guest to take his pla%e at the ta)le, ?agel, ,utonomy and 3ercy, p, 4>, (his %o#epen#en%e o$ the su)je%t<s autonomy an# the 8ther<s gra%e is $urther e5empli$ie# )y the Cell-knoCn para#o5 o$ pre#estinationE the very )elie$ that everything is #e%i#e# in a#van%e )y Io#<s ins%ruta)le gra%e, $ar more than the .atholi% %onvi%tion that our #eliveran%e #epen#s on our goo# #ee#s, %harges the su)je%t Cith in%essant $reneti% a%tivity, See %hapter > o$ Slavoj Xiek, The Sublime +b(ect of Ideology 1 -on#onE Uerso, 19 92, See Hon :lster, Sour rapes 1 .am)ri#geE .am)ri#ge University Press, 19 42, See .lau#e -e$ort, *emocracy and $olitical Theory 1 ;inneapolisE University o$ ;innesota Press, 19 2, "s Ce shall see later, the ultimate proo$ o$ the %onstitutive %hara%ter o$ the #epen#en%e on the 8ther is pre%isely so-%alle# /totalitarianism/E in its philosophi%al $oun#ation, /totalitarianism/ #esignates an attempt on the part o$ the su)je%t to surmount this #epen#en%e )y taking upon himsel$ the per$ormative a%t o$ gra%e, =et the pri%e to )e pai# $or it is the su)je%t<s perverse sel$-o)je%tiviFation, i,e,, his transmutation into the o)je%tinstrument o$ the 8ther<s ins%ruta)le 3ill, I, 3, :, 0egel, $henomenology of Spirit 1 85$or#E 85$or# University Press, 19BB2, p, 6B>, (his simultaneity o$ positioning an# Cithhol#ing $in#s perhaps its purest e5pression in *ant<s theory o$ the Geauti$ul Cith its $our %onse%utive %rossings-out o$ Chat Cas $irst posite# as the $un#amental $eatureE $inality without en#, et%, Ha%o) 9ogoFinski 1in /1ant et le r5gicide,/ 0ue *escartes K O ParisE "l)in ;i%hel, 1994 P, pp, 99-14A2 pointe# out hoC, in *ant<s politi%al philosophy, this simultaneity o$ positioning an# Cithhol#ing the o)je%t assumes the $orm o$ the /antinomy o$ politi%al reason,/ 8n the one han#, poCer )elongs to the People 1the totality o$ its su)je%ts2' no)o#y is alloCe# to appropriate it, any preten#er to the pla%e o$ poCer 1king, $or e5ample2 is )y #e$inition a tyrant, 8n the other han#, every attempt, on the part o$ the People, to assert itsel$ imme#iately as the a%tual, positively given sovereign ne%essarily reverts into its opposite an# en#s in the ra#i%al :vil o$ (error, (his is the reason $or *ant<s am)iguous relation to the Fren%h 9evolution, simultaneously an o)je%t o$ su)lime enthusiasm 1the a$$irmation o$ the sovereignty o$ the People as the sole legitimate )earer o$ poCer2 an# the point o$ unthinka)le, #ia)oli%al :vil 1the Ha%o)in 9eign o$ (error2, (he intimate link )etCeen *ant an# #emo%ra%y is there)y re%on$irme#E Chat the solution o$ this /antinomy o$ politi%al reason/ amounts to is simply the #emo%rati% notion o$ the empty pla%e o$ PoCerE #emo%ra%y %on%eives o$ the People as the only legitimate Sovereign, yet simultaneously prevents any positive agent $rom o%%upying this pla%e o$ the Sovereign, -4B416, See Gernar# Gaas, /Le d5sir pur,/ in +rnicar) OF 1 Paris, 19 72,

17, (his me#iating role o$ "idelio %an )e esta)lishe# even at the )iographi%al levelE as is Cell knoCn, it Cas the pro$oun# impression ma#e on the young 3agner )y the great soprano 3ilhelmine S%hroe#er-Devrient in the role o$ Geethoven<s Fi#elio Chi%h ma#e him #etermine# to )e%ome a %omposer $or the theater, (he role o$ Senta in the *utchman Cas Critten e5pressly $or S%hroe#er-Devrient, 1>, +t is sa$e to surmise that Chat takes pla%e )ehin# the $allen %urtain, in this interme#iate time )etCeen the #uet /?amenlose Freu#e ,,,/ 1?ameless joy2 an# the $inale, $ille# out )y the or%hestral musi%, is the /Gig Gang,/ the long over#ue se5ual a%t )etCeen Florestan an# -eonore, 3ith re$eren%e to the #iale%ti%al tension )etCeen private an# pu)li%, "idelio marks the utopian moment Chen the a$$irmation o$ the %onjugal %ouple<s /private/ love possesses the Ceight o$ the pu)li% a%t o$ asserting one<s allegian%e to politi%al $ree#om, 1B, (heo#or 3, "#orno, In Search of !agner 1 -on#onE Uerso Gooks, 199A2, p, , -et us )ear in min# that phantasmagoria is at Cork again at the very en# o$ Lohengrin Chen the allege#ly #ea# :lsa<s )rother appears as an /ansCer o$ the real/ to -ohengrin<s $ervent prayer, 1 , Do Ce not en%ounter this logi% o$ phantasmagoria alrea#y in "idelio, in the $amous aria o$ Florestan Chi%h opens a%t 4, Chere -eonora emerges as Florestan<s visionK +s there$ore her later emergen%e /in reality/ not again a kin# o$ /ansCer o$ the real/ to his phantasmagori%al #esireK (he pla%e o$ phantasmagoria par e5%ellen%e in 3agner, o$ %ourse, is the lo%us o$ in%estuous enjoymentE $rom Uenus)erg in TannhWuser to *lingsor<s $loCer gar#en in $arsifalE in )oth %ases, its spell is )roken, the pla%e #isintegrates, the moment the 1male2 hero /puri$ies his #esire/ an# gains #istan%e $rom it, 19, Tuote# $rom 9o)ert Donington, !agner2s %0ing% and Its Symbols1 -on#onE Fa)er an# Fa)er, 199A2, p, 4>7, 4A, +n TannhWuser, $or e5ample, the Coman is split into sel$-sa%ri$i%ing re#emptress 1 :liFa)eth2 an# perni%ious se#u%tress 1 Uenus2, the %ause o$ the hero<s #amnation' the truth %on%eale# here is that they are ultimately one an# the same sin%e /the Coun# is heale# only )y the spear that smote you/ 1this truth is $inally realiFe# in $arsifal, Chi%h reunites )oth aspe%ts in *un#ry2, Lohengrin, on the other han#, )rings a)out the opposite o$ the su)je%t %on#emne# to eternal su$$eringE the su)je%t Cho is the pure o)je%tinstrument o$ the 8ther<s Cill, i,e,, the tool o$ Io#<s intervention in the Corl#' et%, (hese eDuivalen%es transgress se5ual #i$$eren%eE not only is 0ans Sa%hs in the 3eistersingers a neC version o$ *ing ;arke $rom Tristan, et%,, )ut *un#ry is the last version o$ the Flying Dut%hman, this $igure o$ the 3an#ering HeC, (he %ru%ial shi$t in these series o$ trans$ormations, o$ %ourse, o%%urs )etCeen the 0ing an# $arsifal? Sieg$rie#, the ignoriant-a%tive hero, %hanges into Parsi$al, the knoCing-passive hero, the gol#en ring into the holy vessel, et%, 41, " #esire $or #eath 1/Lasciate mi morir/2 is o$ %ourse at Cork in the operati% su)je%t<s entreaty $rom the very )eginning, yet prior to 3agner it $olloCs the simple logi% o$ #espair o$ li$e<s %alamities 1/)etter to #ie than to en#ure this misery/2, Chereas the 3agnerian su)je%t alrea#y #Cells in the #omain /)etCeen the tCo #eaths,/ 44, Tuote $rom -u%y Ge%kett, $arsifal 1 .am)ri#geE .am)ri#ge University Press, 19 12, p, 119, -4B343, *lingsor<s $urther essential $eature is his sel$-%astration -- the proo$ o$ his )eing una)le to #ominate the se5ual urge, (his violent a)negation o$ one<s se5uality %on$irms S%helling<s thesis a%%or#ing to Chi%h the true, #emonia% :vil is $ar more /spiritual,/ hostile to

46,

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4>,

4B,

sensuality, than the Ioo#E *lingsor<s spiritual #omination over *un#ry, his insensi)ility to her %harms, is the very proo$ o$ his ultimate evilness, (he same matri5 ena)les us to a%%ount $or the un%anny shi$ts at the )eginning o$ Chat is perhaps the %ru%ial turning point o$ ;oFart<s *on iovanni, the se5tet in a%t 4, Four persons Cho su%%essively enter the stage 1 :lvira, -eporello, Don 8ttavio, Donna "nna2 o%%upy the $our positions o$ the -a%anian #is%ourse, Donna :lvira is a split su)je%t, %on$use#, sel$-%ontra#i%ting in her #esire 1L2E although in%onsistent, her spee%h is nonetheless #eeply authenti% in its very %on$usion -- in short, hysteric, -eporello is also %aught in %ontra#i%tions, )ut in a nonauthenti%, compulsive Cay, e5pressing the servant<s $alse knowledge 1S 4 2, i,e,, his en#eavor to slip out o$ every impasse )y Cay o$ ingenious tri%kery, (he remaining tCo positions are sel$-%onsistent, Don 8ttavio<s is that o$ a sel$%on$i#ent 3aster 1S 1 2 Cho tries to %om$ort the #esperate Donna "nna, )ut his sola%es are pompous an# shalloC, i,e,, nonauthenti%E his spee%h is, no less than that o$ -eporello<s, that o$ an impostor, Finally, Ce get the sel$-%onsistent and authenti% su)je%tive position, Chi%h %an only )e that o$ a death7drive, o$ /su)je%tive #estitution,/ o$ assuming $reely the pla%e o$ the o)je%t 1a2E in her magni$i%ent )aroDue response, Donna "nna ansCers 8ttavio that /only #eath/ 1sol2la? morte2 %an %onsole her, (here are tCo e5%eptions to this 1 Parsi$al<s killing o$ the sCan' his slaying o$ the knights Cho guar# *lingsor<s %astle2, yet, signi$i%antly, )oth take pla%e o$$-stage, an# Ce see only the e$$e%ts 1the #ea# sCan Cho $alls on the stage' *lingsor<s #es%ription o$ the )attle2, +t is at this pre%ise moment that Parsi$al )e%omes alert to the inno%ent )eauty o$ nature a)solve# $rom sin 1the /magi% o$ Ioo# Fri#ay/2E this /inno%ent/ nature is )y no means simply nature /as su%h,/ /in itsel$/ -- it appears as /inno%ent/ only Chen the su)je%t assumes the appropriate attitu#e toCar# it, 8r, to put it even more pointe#lyE nature )e%omes inno%ent only through Parsi$al<s assuming the sym)oli% man#ate o$ the king, Far $rom registering the su)je%t<s /inner puri$i%ation,/ Chi%h ena)les him $inally to per%eive nature in its inno%en%e, Parsi$al<s per$ormative a%t a)solves nature itsel$ $rom sin, +t Coul# )e interesting, here, to #raC a parallel )etCeen $arsifal an# 3eistersinger von .uernbergE in )oth %ases, the %ru%ial shi$t o%%urs in the $irst part o$ a%t 3, in a /private/ pla%e, an# the pu)li% ritual in the se%on# part o$ the a%t seems only to give a $ormal no#, to take note o$ Chat alrea#y ha# happene#, +n $arsifal, this shi$t %onsists in Parsi$al<s assuming the sym)oli% man#ate o$ the neC king o$ the Irail' in 3eistersinger, it is -someChat surprisingly -- the resolution o$ the tension )etCeen 0ans Sa%hs an# :va 1a$ter the #esperate out)urst o$ his long represse# Duasi-in%estuous passion, Sa%hs resigne#ly renoun%es her an# han#s her over to 3alter von StolFing2, (he s%ene o$ /inner pea%e an# re%on%iliation/ 1the /magi% o$ Ioo# Fri#ay/ in $arsifal, the Duintet /;orgenti%h leu%hten#,,,/2 %omes in )etCeen the %ru%ial inner shi$t an# the pu)li% trial 1 Parsi$al<s a%%ession to the Irail-throne' the singing %ontest in 3eistersinger2E although its $un%tion may )e sai# to )e to prepare the hero $or the %oming or#eal, it signals that everything is alrea#y #e%i#e#, that the )attle is alrea#y Con )e$ore its o$$i%ial )eginning, 9i%har# Gooth)y, *eath and *esire1 ?eC =orkE9outle#ge, 19912, -4B6-

4 , :rnest ?eCman, !agner .ights 1 -on#onE(he Go#ley 0ea#, 19 2, p, 441, 49, -a%an, o$ %ourse, allu#es here to the prover)ial /=ou %annot make an hommelette Cithout )reaking the egg,/ 3A, Ha%Dues -a%an, The "our "undamental &oncepts of $sycho7,nalysis 1 ?eC =orkE ?orton, 19B92, pp, 19B-9 ,

31, 0ere, apropos o$ lamella, one shoul# avoi# the trap o$ i#enti$ying it pre%ipitously Cith the maternal )o#y, "s Freu# himsel$ pointe# out in one o$ his letters, the mo#el o$ the #ou)le 1an# o$ lamella2 is not mother )ut rather placenta -- that part o$ the %hil#<s )o#y that, at the moment o$ )irth, is lost )y the newborn as well as by the mother, 34, +t is pre%isely this physi%al, tangi)le impa%t o$ /lamella/ Chi%h gets lost in the seDuel ,liens, Chi%h is Chy this seDuel is in$initely in$erior to the original ,lien, "lien 3 is $ar more interesting )e%ause o$ tCo key $eaturesE $irst, the #ou)ling o$ the /alien/ moti$ 1 9ipley, hersel$ an alien in the male penal %olony, %arries Cithin her the /alien/2' se%on#ly, the sui%i#al gesture Chi%h %on%lu#es the $ilm 1upon learning that she alrea#y is pregnant Cith the /alien/ Chi%h, sooner or later, is )oun# to jump out o$ her %hest the Cay it #i# in the $irst ,lien out o$ Hohn 0urt, 9ipley throCs hersel$ into the hot melte# iron -- the only Cay to #estroy Chat is /in hersel$ more than hersel$,/ the a, the surpluso)je%t in hersel$2, 33, (he more general interest o$ Sy)er)erg<s $arsifal lies in the spe%i$i% mo#e o$ su)verting i#eology Chi%h might )e %alle# interpellation without identification 1the same para#o5 is also at Cork in FranF *a$ka<s novels' see %hapter 7 o$ iek, The Sublime +b(ect of Ideology2E the su)je%t $in#s itsel$ interpellate# Cithout knoCing Chat sheRhe is interpellate# into, Cithout any point o$ i#enti$i%ation, o$ sel$-re%ognition, )eing o$$ere#, "n# it is pre%isely this /empty/ interpellation, this nonspe%i$ie# notion that Ce are a##resse#, summone#, la%king any %lear in#i%ation o$ Chat the 8ther a%tually Cants $rom us, that gives rise to an intense %ulpa)ility, (he /.he vuoiK/ emanating $rom the 8ther thus remains un$ul$ille#, 8r, to put it a #i$$erent Cay, Sy)er)erg<s $arsifal overChelms us Cith a )aroDue pro$usion o$ sym)ols in Chi%h Ce, the spe%tators, look in vain $or a %onsistent message' this overa)un#an%e para#o5i%ally hin#ers the e$$e%t o$ meaning an# )rings a)out Chat -a%an )aptiFe# (ouis7sense, enjoy-meant, enjoyment-in-meaning, 36, "s a general intro#u%tion to 3agner<s $arsifal, see -u%y Ge%kett, $arsifal 1 .am)ri#geE .am)ri#ge University Press, 19 12, 37, Ha%Dues .hailley, /Parsi$al/ de 0ichard !agner? +p5ra initiati6ue 1 ParisE :#itions Gu%herR .hastel, 19 >2, pp, 66-67, 3>, See Sigmun# Freu#, Introductory Lectures on $sychoanalysis 1 0armon#sCorthE Penguin Gooks, 19B72, pp, 3AA-3A1, 3B, (his myth o$ the %urious Coman asking the $or)i##en Duestion 1or, a%%or#ing to the Glue)ear# myth, entering the only $or)i##en room in the house -- see its #i$$erent versions up to 0it%h%o%k .otorious an# FritF -ang Secret Beyond the *oor2 is usually interprete# as the Coman<s rea#iness to %on$ront the se%ret o$ her oCn 1$eminine2 se5ualityE /Pan#ora<s )o5/ ultimately stan#s $or the $emale genitals, Perhaps it Coul# )e more pro#u%tive to reverse the perspe%tive )y %on%eiving o$ the mystery that has to remain hi##en as the impoten%e, the imposture, o$ the ;asterE the true /se%ret )eyon# the 1$or)i##en2 #oor/ is that the phallus is a sem)lan%e' not only Coman, man himsel$ is -4B7also alrea#y /%astrate#,/ +t is almost super$luous to point out the key role o$ the $igure o$ the humiliate# master in 3agner, Su$$i%e it to mention "l)eri%h $rom his 0ing des .ibelungen 1not only "l)eri%h<s %urse a$ter he is $or%e# to %e#e the ring to 3otan, )ut even prior to it his utter humiliation Chen his slaves, the ?i)elungs, see him as the helpless prisoner o$ Io#s to Chom he is $or%e# to #eliver all his gol#2, 3 , 3hen -a%an says that the /se%ret o$ psy%hoanalysis/ %onsists in the $a%t that /there is no se5ual a%t, Chereas there is se5uality,/ the a%t is to )e %on%eive# pre%isely as the per$ormative assumption, )y the su)je%t, o$ his sym)oli% man#ate, like the passage in

39, 6A,

61,

64, 63, 66, 67,

#amlet Chere the moment Chen $inally -- too late -- 0amlet is a)le to a%t is signale# )y his e5pression /+, 0amlet the Dane/E this is Chat is not possi)le in the or#er o$ se5uality' i,e,, as soon as the man pro%laims his man#ate, saying /+, ,,,O-ohengrin, Gatman, SupermanP,/ he e5%lu#es himsel$ $rom the #omain o$ se5uality, (he $irst thing that strikes the eye here, o$ %ourse, is hoC this opposition %oin%i#es Cith the se5ual #i$$eren%eE in Lohengrin the Coman asks the $or)i##en Duestion, Chereas in $arsifal the man a)stains $rom asking the reDuire# Duestion, "%%or#ing to -a%an, the symptom alCays in%lu#es its a##ressee 1every symptom that the analysan# pro#u%es #uring hisRher analysis in%lu#es the trans$erential relationship to the analyst as the su)je%t suppose# to /knoC,/ that is to sayE to #etain, the symptom<s meaning2, (his is Chat Parsi$al $ails to grasp Chen he Citnesses the strange Irail ritualE the $a%t that this ritual is stage# $or his gaFe, that he is its a##ressee 1as in *a$ka<s Trial Chere the man $rom the %ountry $ails to see hoC the #oor o$ the -aC is meant only $or him2, +t is here that the insu$$i%ien%y o$ the Hungian interpretation Chi%h %enters on Parsi$al<s /inner #evelopment/ )e%omes mani$estE )y %on%eiving Parsi$al<s a)ility to ask the reDuire# Duestion as the sign o$ his spiritual maturity 1the %apa%ity o$ %ompassion Cith the other<s su$$ering2, this approa%h $ails to take noti%e o$ the true enigma Chi%h #oes not %on%ern Parsi$al )ut the other si#e, the Irail %ommunityE hoC %an the simple a%t o$ asking a Duestion possess the tremen#ous healing poCer o$ restoring the health o$ the *ing an# there)y o$ the entire %ommunity hel# together )y the *ing<s )o#yK (he rea#ing o$ Parsi$al as an allegori%al staging o$ the hero<s /inner journey/ totally misses the %ru%ial point that Parsi$al $un%tions as an /empty integer/ Cithout #epth, Cithout /psy%hology/E a point at Chi%h inno%en%e overlaps Cith unhear#-o$ monstrosity -- not really a /person/ at all )ut rather a kin# o$ logi%al operator Chi%h ren#ers possi)le the healing o$ the %ommunity, (he entire /psy%hology/ is on the si#e o$ "m$ortas an# *un#ry, these tCo su$$ering souls astray in the #omain /)etCeen the tCo #eaths,/ Lohengrin, $or e5ample, Coul# remain a stan#ar# romanti% opera, i$ it Cere not $or the /psy%hologi%al/ intri%a%ies o$ a%t 4, See Ha%Dues -a%an, /-ogi%al (ime an# the "ssertion o$ "nti%ipate# .ertainty,/ in .ewsletter of the "reudian "ield, vol, 4, no, 4 1 19 2, (his %hange also a%%ounts $or 3agner<s leaving out the #isplay o$ the )lee#ing lan%eE this #isplay again presupposes the )ig 8ther as its a##ressee, (his #i$$eren%e )etCeen the re$usal o$ the Coman in The 3agic "lute an# in $arsifal %an )e pinne# #oCn in a very pre%ise CayE in a%t 4 o$ $arsifal, *un#ry at $irst manipulates $arsifal' she tries to se#u%e him )y remin#ing him o$ his guilt toCar# his mother Cho -4B>-

#ie# o$ grie$ a$ter he le$t her, an# then o$$ers her love as simultaneously maternal an# se5ual 1/a last token o$ a mother<s )lessing, the $irst kiss o$ love/2' a$ter Parsi$al<s re$usal, hoCever, her manipulative se#u%tion %hanges into true love<s #esperate attempt to rea%h the partner' it is only noC that she starts really to appre%iate him an# #esperately seeks in him a support that Coul# ena)le her to es%ape her #amnation, "t the level o$ The 3agic "lute, this se%on# attempt Coul# su$$i%eE Parsi$al Coul# )e noC alloCe# to a%%ept *un#ry<s /mature/ love Chi%h has integrate# the loss, i,e,, his initial re$usal' yet Parsi$al again re$uses even her /mature/ love, 6>, See 8tto 3eininger, eschlecht und &haracter 1 ;uni%hE ;arthes un# SeitF, 19 A' originally pu)lishe# in Uienna, 19A32, 6B, "s to this notion o$ the /non-all/ $eminine (auissance, see Ha%Dues -a%an, Le s5minaire,

6 ,

69,

7A, 71, 74,

book LM? 9ncore : $aris? 9ditions du Seuil, GHIN;- the two key chapters are translated in =ac6ues Lacan and the 9cole freudienne, "eminine Se8uality : London? 3acmillan, GHFL;. Frank 3e#ekin# Cas Cell aCare o$ this #imension o$ the $igure o$ Parsi$al in his tCo -ulu #ramas, The Spirit of the 9arth an# $andora2s Bo8, Chi%h later serve# as the )asis $or "l)an Gerg<s un$inishe# Lulu, the Cork Chose %laim to the title /the last opera/ is perhaps most $ully justi$ie#, (he parallel #raCn )y 3e#ekin# is not, as one Coul# e5pe%t, )etCeen -ulu an# *un#ry, )ut )etCeen -ulu an# Parsi$al, (his s%an#alous eDuation, Corthy o$ the 0egelian in$inite ju#gment /Spirit is a )one,/ )etCeen Parsi$al<s elevate# spirituality an# -ulu<s total apathy in Chi%h the ultimate :vil %oin%i#es Cith irresponsi)le %hil#ish inno%en%e Cithout any tra%es o$ hysteria, %an )e #ete%te# in the s%ene Chere -ulu ansCers the Duestions o$ the painter S%hCarF %on%erning /higher spiritual matters/ 1Io#, soul, love2 Cith a si5-time /Ich weiss es nicht/ -- /+ #on<t knoC it,/ an o)vious allusion to the s%ene in $arsifal Chere Parsi$al also ansCers repeate#ly Cith /*as weiss ich nicht/ Chen IurnemanF Duestions him a$ter his killing o$ the sa%re# sCan, See .onstantin Floros, /Studien 4ur 2$arsifal270e4eption,/ in 3usik71on4epte LNE 9i%har# 3agner $arsifal 1 ;uni%hE :#ition te5t a kritik, 19 42, pp, 73-7B, (his evasion o$ 3agner<s also a%%ounts $or the am)iguous relationship )etCeen the two streams o$ )loo# in $arsifal, the /pure/ )loo# o$ .hrist in the Irail vessel an# the /putri#/ )loo# leaking $rom "m$ortas<s Coun#E Chat 3agner re$uses to a%knoCle#ge is their ultimate identity, +t is this shrinking )a%k Chi%h a%%ounts $or the a)ove-mentione# e5%eptional status o$ $arsifal among 3agner<s operasE the su##en reversal into $airy-tale )liss an#, a%%ompanying it, the initiatory #imension, (his shi$t o%%urs at the pre%ise moment Chen the inherent logi% o$ #evelopment Coul# )ring a)out the $igure o$ the nonhysteri%iFe# Coman, i,e,, o$ the Coman )eyon# phalli% enjoyment' upon approa%hing this )or#erline, 3agner /%hanges the register,/ "s to Chat, pre%isely, this sense is, see %hapter 3 o$ Slavoj iek, 9n(oy Aour Symptom< 1 ?eC =orkE 9outle#ge, 19942, (his point Cas alrea#y ma#e )y ;i%hel .hion in his La voi8 au cin5ma 1 ParisE .ahiers #u .inJma, 19 42, Un$ortunately, Sy)er)erg himsel$ $alls prey to e%le%ti% %on$usion an# gives Cay to the i#eology o$ hermaphro#itism, Chi%h takes the e#ge o$$ his su)versive gestureE at the opera<s en#, $olloCing the $inal re%on%iliation, )oth Parsi$als 1male an# $emale2 are )rought $a%e to $a%e, looking into ea%h other<s eye, an# thus %onstitute a %omplementary, -4BB-

harmonious %ouple, (his, hoCever, is pre%isely Chat never %an happenE $or stru%tural reasons, the su)je%t %an never %on$ront $a%e to $a%e its oCn o)je%tive surplus-%orrelative, sin%e its very e5-sisten%e Dua L hinges upon the o)je%t<s o%%ultation 1in topologi%al terms, L is the o)je%t<s reverse, L an# a are to the opposite si#es o$ a ;W)ius strip2, 73, -et us not $orget that in "idelio Ce also %ome upon the #isguise Chi%h trespasses the se5ual #i$$eren%eE in or#er to )e a)le to serve as /Fi#elio,/ the jailer<s assistant, -eonora #resses up as a man, 76, Grigi# Grophy 1in her 3o4art the *ramatist, note to %hapter 11 on /3ho +s .heru)ino, 3hat +s 0eK/ 1 -on#onE -i)ris, 19 2 #emonstrate# this phalli% nature o$ .heru)ino )y Cay o$ an au#a%ious, yet %harmingly simple interpretation o$ his aria $rom the a%t 1, /.on so piu cosa son/E /+ no longer knoC Chat + am, Chat + #o' noC +<m all $ire, noC all i%e, every Coman %hanges my temperature, every Coman makes my heart )eat $aster ,,,/ "re these Cor#s not Duite literally spoken $rom the impossi)le, unthinka)le, su)je%tive

77, 7>, 7B,

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79, >A,

>1,

position o$ the phallus itsel$K +s it not the phallus itsel$ Chi%h makes itsel$ hear# in its un%ontrolla)le os%illation )etCeen ere%te# an# Cithere# stateK See -e$ort, *emocracy and $olitical Theory, ;i%hael (anner, /(he (otal 3ork o$ "rt,/ in The !agner &ompanion,e#, P, Gur)i#ge an# 9, Suton 1 -on#onE Fa)er an# Fa)er, 19B92, p, 417, +n other Cor#s, nature is #ying 1see the /e%ologi%al/ un#ertones o$ the thir# a%t Cith the #esolate lan#s%ape aroun# ;ontsalvat2 )e%ause o$ the *ing<s Coun#, )e%ause o$ this surplus o$ in#estru%ti)le li$e Chi%h pertur)s the /normal/ %ir%uit o$ generation an# %orruption, +nso$ar as the tra#itional authority is 8e#ipal, i,e,, the authority o$ the #ea# $ather Cho reigns as his ?ame, $arsifal %an )e %on%eive# as anti-8e#ipus, +n his *e &hretien de Troyes B $ichard !agner 1 l2,vant7Sc5ne +p5ra3 -39E $arsifal O Paris, 19 4 P, pp, 172, .lau#e -Jvi-Strauss propose# a #etaile# stru%tural analysis o$ the opposition )etCeen $arsifal an# the 8e#ipus mythE the /8e#ipal/ element in $arsifal is the antipole to the Irail temple, *lingsor<s magi% %astle 1the pla%e o$ potential in%est un#er the rule o$ the %astrate# $ather $igure2, "s to this voi8 a8ousmati6ue, see .hion, La voi8 au cin5na. 3e must there$ore )ear in min# that the original sin Chi%h stains the king#om o$ the Irail is not %ommitte# )y "m$ortas<s yiel#ing to the %harms o$ *un#ry an# losing the holy spear, )ut )y his $ather (iturel Cho uses the Irail as the means $or his oCn enjoyment, $or the eternal li$e provi#e# )y gaFing at the Irail, +t is this /unnatural/ $i5ation Chi%h #erails the normal li$e-%ir%uit o$ the Irail %ommunity@ "n# the same goes $or #amletE as it Cas pointe# out )y -a%an, one o$ the mysteries o$ the play %on%erns the $a%t that 0amlet<s $ather is not in heaven )ut #Cells in the interme#iate spa%e /)etCeen the tCo #eaths,/ like a kin# o$ a living #ea#, not anymore alive, yet $in#ing no pea%e in #eath -- as the te5t hints, he Cas kille# /in the )lossom o$ his sins,/ So i$ there is something rotten in the lan# o$ Denmark, it is to )e sought in the o)s%ene reverse o$ 0amlet<s $ather, o$ this $igure otherCise presente# as an i#eal, mo#el king, not in .lau#ius, Cho is a small-time %rook, 0oCever, i$ one is not to miss the point altogether, one must %on%eive o$ the notion o$ ritual in $arsifal in an appropriately )roa# Cay Chi%h e5%ee#s )y $ar the ritualisti% -4B -

ena%tment o$ the sa%re# enjoyment 1the Irail<s #is%losure2E the very $ailure to per$orm the ritual properly is part o$ the ritual, "m$ortas<s lamentation, $or e5ample, is )y no means a spontaneous out)urst o$ an un)eara)le su$$ering, )ut a thoroughly ritualiFe#, /$ormaliFe#/ per$orman%e, (he proo$ o$ its /nonpsy%hologi%al/ %hara%ter is the $inale o$ a%t 1E a$ter (iturel<s superego-voi%e repeats the %omman# /Dis%lose the Irail@/ the un)eara)le pain mira%ulously passes an# "m$ortas is a)le to per$orm the reDuire# motions Cith no trou)le at all, Far $rom )eing an e5%eption, this re$le%tive shi$t $rom the $aile# ritual to the ritualisti% per$orman%e o$ a $ailure o$$ers the key to the very notion o$ the ritualE /ritual/ is originally, %onstitutively the $ormaliFe# repetition o$ a $ailure, >4, ?agel, ,utonomy and 3ercy, pp, 16B-6 , >3, "n# sin%e this same loop %hara%teriFes the #rive, Ce %an see Chy -a%an insiste# that perversion #eploys the stru%ture o$ the #rive in its purest, >6, +n this respe%t, *ant<s Io# there$ore a%tually #oes a%t like Des%artes< :vil SpiritE he #oes #e%eive the human su)je%t intentionally, i,e,, in or#er to ren#er possi)le his moral a%tivity, See the su)%hapter /8$ the 3ise "#aptation o$ ;an<s .ognitive Fa%ulties to 0is Pra%ti%al Uo%ation/ in &riti6ue of $ractical 0eason 1 ?eC =orkE ;a%millan, 197>2, pp,

>7,

>>, >B,

> ,

>9,

171-73, 8n another level, ;artin apos's Last Temptation of &hrist poses the same thesisE Hesus himsel$ or#ere# Hu#as to )etray him, so that he Cas a)le to $ul$ill his #estiny o$ the Saviour, Hu#as Cas thus a kin# o$ a $orerunner o$ the Stalinist traitor Cho %ommits the supreme %rime against the .ause in the interest o$ the .ause, For a rea#ing o$ it, see %hapter 3 o$ iek, The Sublime +b(ect of Ideology, -a%an, The "our "undamental &oncepts of $sycho7,nalysis, p, 197, (he same #e$ense against the #rive is at Cork in the $amous tra%king shot $rom 0it%h%o%k Aoung and Innocent the nervous )linking o$ the #rummer is ultimately a #e$ense-rea%tion to )eing seen, an attempt to avoi# )eing seen, a resistan%e to )eing #raCn into the pi%ture, (he para#o5, o$ %ourse, is that )y his very #e$ense-rea%tion he ina#vertently #raCs attention to himsel$ an# thus e5poses himsel$, #ivulges, i,e,, literally /ren#ers pu)li% )y )eat o$ #rum,/ his guilt' he is una)le to en#ure the other<s 1%amera<s2 gaFe, "nother %ru%ial ingre#ient o$ this s%ene o$ %on$rontation is a $ormal $eature later repeate# in 3arnie, 3hen SteCart triggers the $lash, the entire $iel# o$ s%reen is over$loCn Cith re#' the same e$$e%t o%%urs in 3arnieE Chen ;arnie %at%hes sight o$ some re# stain Chi%h arouses the represse# trauma, the %olor re# so to speak )oils over an# %overs the entire $iel#, +n )oth %ases, the asso%iation o$ this stain Cith the su)je%t<s losing %ons%iousness is %ru%ialE Chat Ce en%ounter here is pre%isely the -a%anian notion o$ aphanisis, the su)je%t<s #isappearan%e, sel$-erasure, Chen he or she is $or%e# to %on$ront the truth o$ his or her #esire, the represse# kernel o$ his or her )eing, 3e get a hint o$ this even in the $irst s%ene o$ the $ilm, Chere Ce see $or a )rie$ moment the last snapshot taken )y SteCart prior to his a%%i#ent, #epi%ting the %ause o$ his )roken leg, (his shot is a true 0it%h%o%kian %ounterpart to 0ol)ein<s ,mbassadorsE the o)liDue stain in its %enter is a ra%ing-%ar Cheel $lying toCar# the %amera, %apture# the split se%on# )e$ore SteCart Cas hit )y it, (he moment ren#ere# )y this shot is the very moment Chen he lost his #istan%e an# Cas, so to speak, %aught into his oCn pi%ture, See ;iran Goovib, /(he ;an )ehin# 0is 8Cn 9etina,/ in Slavo( XiQek, 9verything Aou,lways !anted to 1now about Lacan :But !ere ,fraid to ,sk #itchcock; -4B9-

"lCays 3ante# to *noC a)out -a%an 1Gut 3ere "$rai# to "sk 0it%h%o%k2 1 -on#onE Uerso Gooks, 19942, BA, 3hat Ce en%ounter here again is the %on#ensation o$ $iel# an# %ounter-$iel# Cithin the same shot, Desire #elineates the $iel# o$ or#inary intersu)je%tivity in Chi%h Ce look at ea%h other $a%e to $a%e, Chereas Ce enter the register o$ #rive Chen, together Cith our sha#oCy #ou)le, Ce $in# ourselves on the same si#e, )oth o$ us staring at the same thir# point, 3here here is the /making onesel$ seen/ %onstitutive o$ the #riveK 8ne makes onesel$ seen pre%isely to this thir# point, to the gaFe %apa)le o$ em)ra%ing $iel# an# %ounter-$iel#, i,e,, %apa)le o$ per%eiving in me also my sha#oCy #ou)le, Chat is in me more than mysel$, the ob(ect small a. 1See .hapter 3 o$ the present )ook,2

B En0oy Your Nation as YourselfC

1, For a #etaile# ela)oration o$ this notion o$ the (hing see The 9thics of $sychoanalysis, GHNH7GHSM, The Seminar of =ac6ues Lacan, )ook B, e#, Ha%Dues-"lain ;iller 1 -on#onE 9outle#geR(avisto%k, 19942, 3hat shoul# )e pointe# out here is that enjoyment 1(ouissance, enuss2 is not to )e eDuate# Cith pleasure 1-ust2E enjoyment is pre%isely /-ust im Unlust/' it #esignates the para#o5i%al satis$a%tion pro%ure# )y a pain$ul en%ounter Cith a (hing that pertur)s the eDuili)rium o$ the /pleasure prin%iple,/ +n other Cor#s, enjoyment is lo%ate# /)eyon# the pleasure prin%iple,/

4,

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7,

(he Cay these $ragments persist a%ross ethni% )arriers %an )e sometimes Duite a$$e%ting, as, $or e5ample, Cith 9o)ert ;uga)e Cho, Chen aske# )y a journalist Chat Cas the most pre%ious lega%y o$ Gritish %olonialism to Xim)a)Ce, ansCere# Cithout hesitationE /.ri%ket/ -- a senselessly ritualiFe# game, almost )eyon# the grasp o$ a .ontinental, in Chi%h the pres%ri)e# gestures 1or, more pre%isely, gestures esta)lishe# )y an unCritten tra#ition2, the Cay to throC a )all, $or e5ample, appear grotesDuely /#ys$un%tional,/ See %hapter > o$ Ha%Dues -a%an, Le siminaire, )ook 4AE 9ncore 1 ParisE :#itions #u Seuil, 19>>2, (he $a%t that a su)je%t $ully /e5ists/ only through enjoyment, i,e,, the ultimate %oin%i#en%e o$ /e5isten%e/ an# /enjoyment,/ Cas alrea#y in#i%ate# in -a%an<s early seminars )y the am)iguously traumati% status o$ e5isten%eE /Gy #e$inition, there is something so impro)a)le a)out all e5isten%e that one is in e$$e%t perpetually Duestioning onesel$ a)out its reality/ 1 The Seminar of =ac6ues Lacan, )ook 4 O .am)ri#geE .am)ri#ge University Press, 19 P, p, 44>2, (his proposition )e%omes mu%h %learer i$ Ce simply repla%e /e5isten%e/ )y /enjoyment/E /Gy #e$inition, there is something so impro)a)le a)out all enjoyment that one is in e$$e%t perpetually Duestioning onesel$ a)out its reality,/ (he $un#amental su)je%tive position o$ a hysteric involves posing pre%isely su%h a Duestion a)out his or her e5isten%e Dua enjoyment, Chereas a sa#ist pervert avoi#s this Duestioning )y transposing the /pain o$ e5isten%e/ onto the other 1his vi%tim2, Ha%Dues-"lain ;iller, 98timit5, Paris, ?ovem)er 4B, 19 7 1unpu)lishe# le%ture2, (he same logi% o$ the /the$t o$ enjoyment/ #etermines also the relationship o$ the people to the State<s -ea#erE Chen is the %on%entration an# %onsumption o$ Cealth in the han#s o$ the -ea#er e5perien%e# as /the$t/K "s long as the -ea#er is per%eive# as /Chat is in us more than ourselves/' i,e,, as long as Ce remain in a trans$erential relationship toCar# -4 Ahim, his Cealth an# splen#or are /our oCn,/ (he trans$eren%e is over Chen the -ea#er loses his %harisma an# %hanges $rom the em)o#iment o$ the nation<s su)stan%e into a parasite on the nation<s )o#y, +n postCar =ugoslavia, $or e5ample, (ito justi$ie# his splen#or )y the $a%t that /people e5pe%t it $rom me,/ that it /gives them pri#e/' Cith the loss o$ his %harisma #uring the last years o$ his li$e, the same splen#or Cas per%eive# as e5%essive #issipation o$ the nation<s resour%es, #egel2s Science of Logic 1 -on#onE "llen an# UnCin, 19>92, p, 6A4, (he me%hanism at Cork here is o$ %ourse that o$ paranoiaE at its most elementary, paranoia %onsists o$ this very e5ternaliFation o$ the $un%tion o$ %astration in a positive agen%y appearing as the /thie$ o$ enjoyment,/ Gy means o$ a someChat risky generaliFation o$ the $ore%losure o$ the ?ame-o$-the-Father 1the elementary stru%ture o$ paranoia, a%%or#ing to -a%an2, Ce %oul# perhaps sustain the thesis that :astern :urope<s national paranoia results pre%isely $rom the $a%t that :astern :urope<s nations are not yet $ully %onstitute# as /authenti% States/E it is as i$ the $aile#, $ore%lose# State<s sym)oli% authority /returns in the real/ in the shape o$ the other, the /thie$ o$ enjoyment,/ + am in#e)te# $or this i#ea to 3illiam 3arner paper /Spe%ta%ular "%tionE 9am)o, 9eaganism, an# the .ultural "rti%ulation o$ the 0ero/, presente# at the %olloDuium $sychoanalysis, $olitics, and the Image, ?eC =ork State University, Gu$$alo, ?ovem)er , 19 9, +n%i#entally, 0ambo II is in this respe%t $ar in$erior to 0ambo I, Chi%h a%%omplishes an e5tremely interesting i#eologi%al rearti%ulationE it %on#enses in the same person the /le$tist/ image o$ a lone hippy vagrant threatene# )y the small-toCn atmosphere em)o#ie# in a %ruel sheri$$, an# the /rightist/ image o$ a lone avenger taking

>, B,

the laC into his han#s an# #oing aCay Cith the %orrupte# )ureau%rati% ma%hinery, (his %on#ensation implies o$ %ourse the hegemony o$ the second $igure, so that 0ambo + su%%ee#e# in in%lu#ing into the /rightist/ arti%ulation one o$ the %ru%ial elements o$ the "meri%an /le$tist/ politi%al imagery, 9, 0erein lies also -a%an<s %riti%ism o$ 0egel, o$ the 0egelian #iale%ti% o$ lor#ship an# )on#ageE %ontrary to 0egel<s thesis that, )y su)mitting himsel$ to the lor#, the )on#sman renoun%es enjoyment, Chi%h thus remains reserve# $or the lor#, -a%an %laims that it is pre%isely enjoyment 1an# not the $ear o$ #eath2 Chi%h keeps the )on#sman in servitu#e -enjoyment pro%ure# )y the relationship toCar# the 1hypotheti%al, presuppose#2 ;aster<s enjoyment, )y the e5pe%tation o$ enjoyment Caiting $or us at the moment o$ the ;aster<s #eath, et%, :njoyment is thus never imme#iate, it is alCays me#iate# )y the presuppose# enjoyment impute# to the 8ther' it is alCays enjoyment pro%ure# )y the e5pe%tation o$ enjoyment, )y the renun%iation o$ enjoyment, 1A, (his atta%hment is not Cithout its %omi%al si#e-e$$e%ts, Ge%ause o$ his "l)anian origins, Hohn Gelushi, the very em)o#iment o$ 0ollyCoo# /#e%a#en%e/ Cho #ie# o$ an over#ose o$ #rugs, enjoys to#ay a %ult status in "l)aniaE o$$i%ial me#ia praise him as a /great patriot an# humanist/ Cho Cas /alCays rea#y to em)ra%e the just an# progressive %auses o$ humanity/@ 11, See Ha%Dues -a%an, Le s5minaire, book GI? L2envers de la psychanalyse : $aris? 9ditions du Seuil, GHHG;. 14, (he $irst thing to #o, i$ Ce are to /go through the $antasy,/ is o$ %ourse to get ri# o$ the naive notion o$ $antasy as staging the grati$i%ation o$ a #esire, 3oo#y "llen #usbandsand !ives -4 1an# 3ives ironi%ally turns aroun# this naive notionE as it is %ommonly knoCn, in his /real li$e/ "llen #i# sleep Cith his a#opte# #aughter, thirty years his minor, Chereas in the $ilm, the se5ual relationship Cith the young stu#ent 1 Huliette -eCis2 is not %onsummate# -- a mo%king reversal o$ the stan#ar# thesis o$ the artist Cho, in his $antasyuniverse, $ul$ills se5ual #esires Chi%h he misera)ly $aile# to realiFe in his a%tual li$e, 0oCever, it is easy to #emonstrate hoC, in this %ase, Freu#<s mo#el o$ $antasy remains thoroughly vali#E one has simply to take into a%%ount the narcissistic gain pro%ure# )y the $antasy o$ se5ual a)stinen%eE in the $ilm, "llen paints himsel$ as a mature person Cho knoCs hoC to restrain his passion an# to maintain a mature, Cise #istan%e, 13, (his .hristian )a%kgroun# o$ the P. attitu#e is $urther %on$irme# )y the re%urrent moti$ o$ the look as a $orm o$ /se5ual harassment/E inso$ar as one %an )e guilty o$ the /provo%ative/ look, guilt is lo%ate# in the su)je%t<s desire, not in his a%tual #ee#s-in a%%or#an%e Cith the .hristian motto that those Cho sin in their min#s are no less guilty than those Cho a%tually %ommit a sin, 16, (he hysteri%al %ounterpoint to this "meri%an o)sessional attitu#e is the position o$ the tra#itional :uropean /%riti%al intelle%tual/ tormente# )y the DuestionE which legitimate power should I be allowed to obey with a clear conscience) +n other Cor#s, the tra#itional :uropean -e$t intelle%tual is, even more than Hane :yre, this ultimate e5ample o$ the $emale hysteri%, in constant search of a ood 3asterE he Cants a ;aster, )ut a ;aster Chom he %oul# #ominate, Cho Coul# $olloC his a#vi%e, (his attitu#e provokes a hysteri%al rea%tion, a rea%tion o$ /This is not that</, Chenever the hysteri%<s si#e %omes to poCerE he un#ertakes a #esperate sear%h $or reasons that Coul# legitimate his %ontinuing #iso)e#ien%e 1an e5emplary %ase is provi#e# )y the Fren%h -e$t intelle%tuals a$ter the ele%toral vi%tory o$ ;itterran#<s so%ialists in 19 1E they Cere Dui%k to #is%over in the

17,

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so%ialist government $eatures Chi%h ma#e it even Corse than the pre%e#ing li)eral%onservative government, in%lu#ing signs o$ proto$as%ist nationalism@2, .onsi#er the su%%ess o$ Peter 3eir thriller !itness,Chi%h mostly takes pla%e in an "mish %ommunityE are not the "mish an e5emplary %ase o$ a %lose# %ommunity Chi%h persists in its Cay o$ li$e, yet Cithout $alling prey to a paranoia% logi% o$ the /the$t o$ enjoyment/K +n other Cor#s, the para#o5 o$ the "mish is that, Chile they live a%%or#ing to the highest stan#ar#s o$ the ;oral ;ajority, they have absolutely nothing to do with the 3oral 3a(ority 6ua politico7ideological movement, i,e,, they are as $ar as possi)le $rom the ;oral ;ajority<s paranoia% logi% o$ envy o$ aggressive imposition o$ its stan#ar#s onto others, "n#, in%i#entally, the $a%t that the most patheti% an# e$$e%tive s%ene o$ the $ilm is the %olle%tive )uil#ing o$ a neC )arn testi$ies again to Chat Fre#ri% Hameson %alls the /utopian/ potential o$ the %ontemporary mass-%ulture, "s it Cas alrea#y note# )y numerous %riti%s, the theory o$ /authoritarian personality/ is a%tually a $oreign )o#y Cithin the Frank$urt-s%hool theoreti%al e#i$i%eE it is )ase# on presuppositions un#ermine# )y the "#orno-0orkheimer theory o$ late-%apitalist su)je%tivity, See Hohn 9aCls, , Theory of =ustice 1 .am)ri#geE 0arvar# University Press, 19B12, (he notion o$ $antasy thus #esignates the inherent limitation o$ #istri)utive justi%eE although the other<s interests are taken into a%%ount, his fantasy is wronged, +n other Cor#s, Chen the trial )y /veil o$ ignoran%e/ tells me that, even i$ + Cere to o%%upy the -4 4-

loCest pla%e in %ommunity, + Coul# still a%%ept my ethi%al %hoi%e, + move Cithin my oCn $antasy-$rame, 3hat i$ the /other/ (udges from within the ftame of an absolutely incompatible fantasy) For a more #etaile# -a%anian %riti%ism o$ 9aCls<s theory o$ justi%e, see 9enata Sale%l , The Spoils of "reedom 1 -on#onE 9outle#ge, 19932, 19, (he reverse o$ this resistan%e is a #esire to maintain the /other/ in its spe%i$i%, limite# $orm o$ 1Chat our gaFe per%eives as2 /authenti%ity,/ -et us mention the re%ent %ase o$ Peter 0an#ke, Cho e5presse# #ou)ts a)out Slovene in#epen#en%e, %laiming that the notion o$ Slovenia as an in#epen#ent state is something impose# on Slovenes $rom outsi#e, not part o$ the inherent logi% o$ their national #evelopment, 0an#ke<s mother Cas Slovene an#, Cithin his artisti% universe, Slovenia $un%tions as a mythi%al point o$ re$eren%e, a kin# o$ maternal para#ise, a %ountry Chere Cor#s still #ire%tly re$er to o)je%ts, somehoC mira%ulously )ypassing %ommo#i$i%ation, Chere people are still organi%ally roote# in their lan#s%ape, et%, 1See his 0epetition T!iederholungU ,2 3hat ultimately )others him is there$ore simply the $a%t that the a%tual Slovenia #oes not Cant to )ehave a%%or#ing to his private myth an# thus #istur)s the )alan%e o$ his artisti% universe, 4A, Ha%Dues -a%an, "our "undamental &oncepts of $sycho7,nalysis 1 ?eC =orkE ?orton, 19BB2, pp,4B>-BB, 41, (his %ru%ial point o$ SpinoFa Cas ren#ere# )y DeleuFeE /Io# reveals to "#am that the $ruit Cill poison him )e%ause it Cill a%t on his )o#y )y #e%omposing its relations' )ut )e%ause "#am has a Ceak un#erstan#ing he interprets the e$$e%t as a punishment an# the %ause as a moral laC, "#am thinks that Io# has shoCn him a sign, +n this Cay, morality %ompromises our Chole %on%eption o$ laC, or rather moral laC #istorts the right %on%eption o$ %auses,,,"n# the most serious error o$ theology %onsists pre%isely in its having #isregar#e# an# hi##en the #i$$eren%e )etCeen o)eying an# knoCing, in having %ause# us to take prin%iples o$ o)e#ien%e $or mo#els o$ knoCle#ge/ 1 Iilles DeleuFe, Spino4a- $ractical $hilosophy 1 San Fran%is%oE .ity -ights Gooks, 19 2, p, 1A>2,

44, (his shi$t $rom SpinoFa to Ierman +#ealism %an )e )est e5empli$ie# )y a %ru%ial stylisti% $eature, SpinoFa<s :thi%s as Cell as 0egel mature Critten Corks 1 9ncyclopaedia$hilosophy of 0ight2 are stru%ture# in a homologous Cay' they are traverse# )y a line that separates the main te5t 1the #e#u%tive, purely immanent, e5position o$ the positive #o%trine2 $rom the multitu#e o$ remarks, $ootnotes, et%,, Chi%h are Critten in a #ialogi%al, o$ten polemi%al mo#e, )y some)o#y Cho $ully parti%ipates in the i#eologi%al struggles o$ the #ay, +n )oth %ases, the main te5t imitates the $orm o$ another #is%ourse' hoCever, in the %ase o$ SpinoFa, this other #is%ourse is that o$ mathematics 1a5ioms, et%,2, Chereas in 0egel the main te5t imitates legal #is%ourse 1paragraphs, et%,2, 43, ?otCithstan#ing the philosophi%al opposition )etCeen SpinoFa an# 0ume, this #issolution o$ the su)je%t<s sel$-i#entity is homologous to that a%%omplishe# )y 0ume, Cho #issolves the Sel$ in the heterogeneous $loC o$ per%eptions-i#eas la%king any su)stantial sel$-i#entity, "n# it is against this )a%kgroun# that Ce have to %on%eive *ant<s + o$ pure apper%eptionE *ant Cholly takes into a%%ount the SpinoFean an#Ror 0umean #isintegration o$ the .artesian res cogitans' Chat he a$$irms is there$ore the nonsu)stantial empty point o$ sel$-%ons%iousness, 46, See Fran%es Ferguson, /(he ?u%lear Su)lime,/ *iacritics I 1Summer 19 62E 6-1A, 47, See He$$rey ;asson, The ,ssault on Truth. "reud2s Suppression of the Seduction Theory 1 ?eC -4 3=orkE Farrar, Straus an# Iirou5, 19 62, 8ne o$ the inherent para#o5es o$ the ;oral ;ajority<s anti-a)ortion %ampaign is that it is parasitical upon the logic of its :left7 liberal; adversaryE the /rights o$ the un)orn/ are simply one in the series o$ neC rights Chi%h emerge the moment Ce a%%ept the #is%ourse o$ the potentially in$inite e5tension o$ rights 1the right not to )e en#angere# )y smoking' the %hil#<s right to avoi# a)use, up to his or her right to sue parents $or /#ivor%e/' the right o$ the #olphins to )e a%%or#e# the same #ignity as humans' et%,2, (here)y, it repeats the mistake o$ the %lassi% li)eral opposition o$ /open/ li)eral an# /%lose#/ authoritarian personalityE here, also, the li)eral perspe%tive $ails to noti%e that the authoritarian personality is not an e5ternal opposite to the /open,/ tolerant li)eral personality, a simple #istortion o$ it, )ut its hi##en /truth/ an# presupposition, See Sigmun# Freu#, /;oses an# ;onotheism,/ in The Standard 9dition of the &omplete $sychological !orks of Sigmund "reud 1 -on#onE 0ogarth Press, 1973-B62, vol, 43, "n# #oes not -a%an make the same gesture apropos o$ ComanK /3oman<s se%ret/ is man<s $antasy, Chi%h is Chy the only proper $eminist gesture is to assert that Coman Dua real #oes not possess the mysterious M impute# to her )y man -- in short, /3oman #oesn<t e5ist,/ See +mmanuel *ant, *reams of a Spirit7Seer, Illustrated by *reams of 3etaphysics 1 -on#onE S, Sonnens%hein, 19AA2, (his split is there$ore the very form of universality of the liberal democracy? the li)eral#emo%rati% /neC Corl# or#er/ a$$irms its universal s%ope )y Cay o$ imposing this split as the #etermining antagonism, the stru%turing prin%iple, o$ inter- an# intranational relations, 3hat Ce have here is an elementary %ase o$ the #iale%ti% o$ i#entity an# #i$$eren%eE the very identity o$ the li)eral-#emo%rati% /or#er/ %onsists in the scissure Chi%h separates its /insi#e/ $rom its /outsi#e,/ +mmanuel *ant, The &onflict of the "aculties 1 -in%olnE University o$ ?e)raska Press, 19942, p, 173, See :tienne Gali)ar, /+s (here a <?eo-9a%ism<K/, in 9tienne Bahbar and 9mmanuel

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4 , 49,

3A, 31,

!allerstein, 0ace, .ation, &lass 1 -on#onE Uerso Gooks, 19912, 34, 8r, to Duote $rom a re%ent letter to .ewsweek magaFineE /;ay)e it<s $un#amentally unnatural $or #i$$erent ra%es or ethni% groups to live together,,,, 3hile no one %an %on#one the atta%ks against $oreigners in Iermany, the Iermans have every right to insist that their %ountry remain ethni%ally Ierman,/ 33, See Fre#ri% Hameson, /(he Uanishing ;e#iator' or, ;a5 3e)er as Storyteller,/ in The Ideologies of Theory, vol, 4 1 ;inneapolisE University o$ ;innesota Press, 19 2, 36, "s to this pro)lemati%, see %hapter 7 o$ Slavoj iek, "or They 1now .ot !hat They *o 1 -on#onE Uerso Gooks, 19912, (his logi% o$ the /vanishing me#iator/ ena)les us to elu%i#ate a %ru%ial misun#erstan#ing apropos o$ the 0egelian ,ufhebung 1su)lation2, (he usual %ounterargument to 0egel is here that the movement o$ ,ufhebung never /turns out,/ that there is alCays a remain#er Chi%h resists it, that some tra%es o$ the nonsu)late# persist $orever, -et us take the %ase o$ the .hristian /su)lation/ o$ pagan religionsE Cith the a#vent o$ .hristianity, paganism is /re-marke#,/ re$rame#, reins%ri)e#, reinterprete# as in%omplete, $alse religion, superstition, )lasphemy, or -- in the )est o$ %ases -- as announ%ing the arrival o$ .hrist, 3hat, pre%isely, elu#es this .hristian ,ufhebung) 3hat )e%omes invisi)le on%e Ce are Cithin the horiFon o$ the .hristian ,uf7 -4 6hebung is not the true, original meaning o$ the pre-.hristian religions, )ut rather .hristianity itsel$ /in its )e%oming/ 1as *ierkegaar# Coul# have put it2, i,e,, the very gesture )y means o$ Chi%h .hristianity )reaks o$$, emerges $rom the pagan #omain, (he truly su)versive move is thus not the return to pre-.hristian tra#ition, )ut rather the en#eavor to grasp .hristianity itsel$ /in its )e%oming,/ )e$ore its horiFon o$ meaning Cas esta)lishe#E hoC #i# .hristianity $un%tion Cithin the pagan horiFon, Chen it Cas still per%eive# as an unhear#-o$ s%an#alK 1(he homology is here per$e%t Cith the /su)lation/ o$ %rime in the universal -aCE Chat elu#es the grasp o$ -aC is not some parti%ularity o$ %rime )eyon# the rea%h o$ -aC )ut the violent $oun#ing gesture Chi%h reinstates the very reign o$ -aCE the $a%t that -aC /in its )e%oming/ is nothing )ut universaliFe# %rime' see %hapter 4 o$ iek, "or They 1now .ot !hat They *o, an# %hapter 3 o$ iek, 9n(oy Aour Symptom<,2 "n# the same goes $or the #isintegration o$ .ommunismE Chat )e%omes invisi)le on%e the passage into the neC or#er is a%%omplishe# are not tra%es o$ the past )ut the very pro%ess o$ passage, the $or%es Chi%h a%tually set in motion the #isintegration o$ .ommunism )ut are o)literate# $rom the memory Chen the neC or#er organiFes its histori%al narrative, See Ula#imir Propp, Theory and #istory of "olklore 1 ;inneapolisE University o$ ;innesota Press, 19 62, See Stephen Hay Ioul#, /"#am<s ?avel,/ in The "lamingo2s Smile 1 0armon#sCorthE Penguin Gooks, 19 72, See %hapter 4 o$ iek, 9n(oy Aour Symptom<. 9ysFar# *apus%inski, The Shah of Shahs 1 -on#onE Pi%a#or, 19 >2, pp, 1A9-1A, "s to the utter unpre#i%ta)ility o$ this moment, su$$i%e it to re%all -- apart $rom the o)vious $a%t that any)o#y Cho $ive years ago Cere to have pre#i%te# the imminent %ollapse o$ .ommunism, Coul# generally have )een #ismisse# as a #reamer -- hoC Ieneral +an 0a%kett in his 19B )estseller !orld !ar III, that is to say, just a year prior to the +ranian 9evolution, %on$erre# in his imagine# s%enario on +ran the role o$ the )astion o$ 3estern interests in the anti-3estern "ra)ian Corl#, Ieopoliti%al analysts are as a rule )lin# to Chat 0egel %alle# the /silent Ceaving o$ the spirit,/ $or the un#ergroun# #isintegration o$ the spiritual su)stan%e o$ a %ommunity Chi%h pre%e#es an# prepares the

37, 3>, 3B, 3 , 39,

Cay $or its spe%ta%ular pu)li% %ollapse, +n a Cay, Ce %an say that the %ru%ial thing takes pla%e, that the mole #oes his Cork, )e$ore /anything happens,/ Chi%h is Chy the $all o$ a so%ial e#i$i%e usually is not per%eive# as the over%oming o$ a mighty a#versary, +n a kin# o$ implosion, the e5isting or#er somehoC simply %ollapses into itsel$, magi%ally losing its %oheren%e, "n# it is not the least irony o$ history that those Cho Cere most )lin# to these /signs o$ the time/ Cere pre%isely those .ommunists Cho preten#e# to speak in the name o$ histori%al progressE they supporte# to the en# the Shah in +ran, ;ar%os in the Philippines, et%,, misre%ogniFing the $unereal ringing o$ the )ells Chi%h signal that the game is over $or an insigni$i%ant, minor re)ellion, 6A, See :tienne De -a GoJtie, Slaves by &hoice 1 ?eC =orkE 9unnyme#e Gooks, 19 2, 61, 3hat Ce en%ounter here is on%e again the stru%ture o$ the ;W)ius stripE Chile Ce o)sessively shirk M, Chile Ce organiFe our entire li$e as an avoi#an%e o$ M, this very evasion at a %ertain point %ompels us to em)ra%e the very M Ce Cere running $rom, 64, See ;uriel Iar#iner, The !olf73an and Sigmund "reud 1 0armon#sCorthE Penguin, 19B32, pp, 37A-71, -4 7-