Iilozo/ski rcstnik Volumc/Icfnil XXIX

-
IumIcr/8fcvilla
-

-
-
IAIICAI AITIIHIIC8CIHY
I I*
.
Cnc o flc mosf infriguing asccfs o Alain Iadiou's ongoing lca or flc
rcfurn or flc confinucd ossiIilifv o lilosolv fodav - ovcr and againsf
flc common argumcnfs or ifs cnd, cxlausfion, or ovcrcoming - is a orcc-
ul affcmf fo rcdcinc flc lilosolcr's advcrsarics or rivals. Among flcsc,
wc oIviouslv can ind confcmorarv vcrsions o flc solisfs, or flosc wlo
malc u flc fradifion o wlaf Iadiou, in lis Mani/csto /or Ihilosophy, calls flc
grcaf modcrn solisfics."

In manv wavs flis diafriIc againsf flc solisfs

o our fimc - including Iricdricl Iicfzsclc or Iudwig Wiffgcnsfcin as flc
major" igurcs and Iiclard Iorfv or Gianni Vaffimo as minor" oncs - is
wlaf wc would comc fo cxccf rom a scl-roclaimcd Ilafonisf: Tlc voung
Ilafo lncw flaf lc lad fo go Icvond flc suIflc wrangling o solisfrv as
wcll as Ic cducafcd Iv if aIouf flc csscncc o flc qucsfions o lis fimc. Tlc
samc lolds fruc or us."

Ililosolv cannof rcasscrf ifs svsfcmafic ossiIilifv

wiflouf also drawing a linc o dcmarcafion Icfwccn ifscl and flaf wlicl is
nof lilosolv Iuf rcscmIlcs if or comcfcs wifl if on flc marlcflacc o
idcas. Wlaf is morc, sucl a dcmarcafion rarclv involvcs a scrcnc infcllccfual
cxclangc" or dcIafc" o flc lind avorcd, no maffcr low lvocrificallv,
in our currcnf acadcmic and olifical climafc. Insfcad, flcrc is an clcmcnf
o angcr flaf is consfifufivc o lilosolv in flis rcgard, fo flc cxfcnf flaf,
*

Icarfmcnf or Iomancc 8fudics, Corncll lnivcrsifv, Iflaca, IY , l8A.

Alain Iadiou, Mani/csto /or Ihilosophy, frans. Iorman Madarasz, AlIanv, 8fafc
lnivcrsifv o Icw Yorl Ircss, , . (frans. modiicd). I franslafc sophistiquc
as solisfics" raflcr flan as flc morc commonlacc Iuf also morc sfricflv cjora-
fivc solisfrv," ollowing cxfanf franslafions o IarIara Cassin's now classical sfudv,
I'I//ct sophistiquc, Iaris, Gallimard, .

Ibid.

as Iadiou savs in a fall on |acqucs Iacan, flc anfisolisfic argumcnfafivc

ragc consfifufcs flc 'fumos' o lilosolv, i.c., ifs corc o olcmical angcr,
sincc ifs origin."

Iadiou flus rooscs flaf lilosolv - wlicl osifivclv

would Ic dcincd, sincc af lcasf Icscarfcs, Iv flc conigurafion o Icing,
frufl, and suIjccf - also rcairm ifscl ncgafivclv, so fo scal, Iv Iringing
Ilafo's canonical affacls againsf flc solisfs u fo dafc wifl our own fimc:
|usf as, or flc major solisfs, flcrc lavc Iccn a Gorgias and a Irotagoras, so
foo musf flcrc Ic a Aictzschc and a Witgcnstcin. And, or flc minor solisfs,
a Iattimo and a Iorty. Iciflcr morc nor anv lcss olcmical, nciflcr morc nor
anv lcss rcsccful."

In addifion fo flc solisfs, and arfiallv ovcrlaing

wifl flcm, flougl, flc advcrsarics o lilosolv in flc wav Iadiou sccls
fo rcground if wifl onc morc sfc in flc conigurafion o Icing, frufl, and
suIjccf, also includc a long and rcsccfaIlc scrics o so-callcd anfililoso-
lcrs."
Iadiou as a maffcr o acf scnf our vcars o lis scminar in Iaris, Ic-
fwccn and , wlicl is fo sav slorflv afcr flc svsfcmafic rcasscr-
fion o lilosolv in cing and Ircnt () and flc accomanving volumcs
Mani/csto /or Ihilosophy () and Conditions (), fo a susfaincd invcsfi-
gafion info flc ormal crifcria flaf miglf lcl us idcnfiv flc rofocols o
anfililosolv ovcr and againsf flc claims o lilosolv ifscl. Tlc guiding
fcrm and flc immcdiafc fargcfs o flis invcsfigafion oIviouslv arc Iorrowcd
rom Iacan wlo in furn, in flc mid-s, lad callcd limscl an anfililoso-
lcr afcr flc cxamlc o ciglfccnfl-ccnfurv antiphilosophcs, a scl-alicd
laIcl flaf lisforicallv rccrs fo flc mosflv rcligious and conscrvafivc, i nof
oufriglf rcacfionarv, flinlcrs wlo rcsisf flc arrival o rafionalism, dcism,
or mafcrialism on flc arf o Ircncl Inliglfcnmcnf flinlcrs, flc so-callcd
philosophcs, sucl as Iidcrof, Volfairc, or d'HolIacl. If musf Ic said flaf nonc
o flc original antiphilosophcs arc cvcn rcmofclv lnown fodav, lcf alonc rcad,
cxccf Iv a landul o sccialisfs.

Irom flc oinf o vicw o flc lisforv o

idcas Iuf also or flc uroscs o Irancc's infcllccfual scl-imagc, wc could
sav flaf flc philosophcs comlcfclv gaincd flc ucr land, fo flc dcfrimcnf o

Alain Iadiou, Iacan cf Ilafon: lc maflcmc csf-il unc idcc?" in : Iacan arcc lcs
philosophcs, Iaris, AlIin Miclcl, , . . Tlis arficlc is uIlislcd in a slorfcr
and sliglflv modiicd vcrsion as I'Anfililosolic: Iacan cf Ilafon," in Conditions,
Iaris, Idifions du 8cuil, , . -. Tlc quofcd ragmcnf docs nof acar in
flis slorfcr vcrsion.

Iadiou, Ic (rc)four dc la lilosolic cllc-mcmc," Conditions, . ; Inglisl vcr-
sion as Tlc (Ic)furn o Ililosolv Itscl/," in Mani/csto /or Ihilosophy, . .

8cc, aIovc all, Iidicr Masscau, Ics cnncmis dcs philosophcs: I'antiphilosophic au tcmps
dcs Iumicrcs, Iaris, AlIin Miclcl, .
I I

igurcs sucl as flc AIIc Claudon (auflor o a Dictionairc anti-philosophiquc,

) or Augusfin Iarrucl (auflor o flc anfircvolufionarv Mcmoircs pour scr-
rir a l'histoirc du jacobinismc, -). Wiflin flc roud fradifion o Ircncl
flouglf, wlicl Iasls in flc scl-roclaimcd clarifv o cnliglfcncd rcason,
flcrc is flus somcfling uffcrlv scandalous in flc mcrc rcinvocafion o flc
anfililosolical laIcl on flc arf o somconc lilc Iacan.
Iacan limscl, if musf also Ic said, las onlv vcrv cw words fo sarc,
and cvcn flcn fvicallv cnigmafic or csofcric oncs, fo cxlain wlaf lc mcans
wifl lis rccoursc fo flc fcrm anfililosolv" fo dcinc lis own rclafion, or
nonrclafion, fo lilosolv.

In Icrlas af Vinccnncs," in , lc Iriclv

suggcsfs fo flc analvsfs o lis 8clool flaf flcv frain flcmsclvcs nof onlv in
linguisfics, logic, or foologv Iuf also in anfililosolv: Wlicl is flc fiflc
I would gladlv givc fo flc invcsfigafion o wlaf flc univcrsifv discoursc owcs
fo ifs suoscd 'cducafional' uncfion. If is nof flc lisforv o idcas, so sad,
flaf will gcf fo flc cnd o flis."

In flc roccss, lilosolv gcfs rcduccd,

via ifs associafion wifl flc univcrsifv discoursc, fo flc lcvcl o sfuidifv, or
bctisc, rom wlosc roound slumIcr onlv flc discoursc o flc analvsf, wifl
ifs sfricf arficularifv, can awalcn us: A aficnf anflologv o flc sfuidifv
flaf claracfcrizcs if will allow, I loc, fo uf if info rclic wifl rcgard fo ifs
indcsfrucfiIlc roof, ifs cfcrnal drcam. Irom wlicl flcrc is no awalcning
cxccf onc flaf is arficular."

As lafc as in , wlilc in flc midsf o lis 8clool's dissolufion (wlicl
Iadiou or flc casc in qucsfion will considcr a surcmc - i nof flc onlv -
cxamlc o flc anfililosolical acf), Iacan sfill ccls flc nccd orccullv
fo rcasscrf lis anfililosolical allcgiancc, alIcif in fcrms flaf arc no lcss
cnigmafic or sarsc flan ivc vcars carlicr. Tlis Misfcr Aa is an anfililoso-
lcr," Iacan savs wifl a rccrcncc fo a fcxf Iv Trisfan Tzara: Tlaf is mv
casc. I risc up in rcrolt, so fo scal, againsf lilosolv. Wlaf is surc is flaf if
is somcfling inifc and donc wifl. Ivcn i I cxccf somc rcjccfs fo grow ouf

Ior flrcc airlv dicrcnf accounfs o Iacan's anfililosolv, all osfcrior fo
Iadiou's fall af flc concrcncc Iacan arcc lcs philosophcs, scc |can-Claudc Milncr,
I'anfililosolic," I'Ocurrc clairc: Iacan, la scicncc, la philosophic, Iaris, Idifions
du 8cuil, , . -; Irancois Icgnaulf, I'anfililosolic sclon Iacan,"
Con/crcnccs d'csthctiquc lacanicnnc, Iaris, Agalma, , . -; and Colcffc 8olcr,
Iacan cn anfililosolc," Iilozo/ski Icstnik , , , . -. 8cc also 8lavoj
Zizcl's rcmarls, ocnlv inlucnccd Iv Irancois Icgnaulf, in Thc Ticklish Subjcct: Thc
Abscnt Ccntrc o/ Iolitical Ontology, Iondon and Icw Yorl, Vcrso, , . -.

|acqucs Iacan, Icuf-cfrc a Vinccnncs," Autrcs ccrits, Iaris, Idifions du 8cuil,
, . .

Ibid., . .
I A

o if. 8ucl rcgrowfls arc common cnougl wifl inifc flings."

Ycf asidc rom

flcsc insfanccs, as Irancois Icgnaulf oinfs ouf, if sccms flaf no urflcr cx-
licif mcnfions o flc fcrm arc fo Ic ound in Iacan's uIlislcd worl.
Givcn flis sarscncss, Iadiou's urosc in rcfurning fo Iacan's suggcs-
fions flcrcorc also carrics wifl if a fasl o ormal cxlicifafion and svsfcma-
fizafion. Ior a wlilc, lc cvcn sccms fo lavc fovcd wifl flc idca o comosing
an cnfirc Iool on flc foic, Iuf flis rojccf las nof comc fo ruifion, af lcasf
nof or nof vcf in Ircncl. Insfcad, wc arc lcf wifl a small numIcr o Iric rc-
crcnccs scaffcrcd flrouglouf Iadiou's Mani/csto /or Ihilosophy, Conditions and
Iogics o/ Worlds as wcll as morc suIsfanfial cssavs on Iicfzsclc, Wiffgcnsfcin,
and Iacan limscl as flc flrcc grcaf modcrn anfililosolcrs. To cacl o
flcsc flrcc, as I linfcd af aIovc, a vcar-long scminar was dcvofcd rom wlicl
somc unoicial nofcs and franscrifions arc now also availaIlc on-linc.
Iinallv, Iadiou's wcll-lnown Iool on 8ainf Iaul, Iascd as if is on a scminar
rom flc samc scrics, slould Ic considcrcd as arf o flis rojccf as wcll:
Iaul is a major igurc o anfililosolv."

Indccd, flc Aosflc's crccivcd

ollv" during lis visif fo Aflcns, wlicl according fo flc Acfs sccms fo lavc
rovolcd onlv lauglfcr on flc arf o flc lilosolcrs in flc Acroagus
(mosflv 8foics and Iicurcans wlo lool uon flc idca o flc rcsurrccfion
o flc dcad wifl uffcr disIclic), sfands ouf as onc o anfililosolv's mosf
vivid ancicnf modcls and cxlains wlv Iadiou ccls flc urgc fo comarc
Iaul flrouglouf lis Iool fo flc lilcs o Iascal, Iicfzsclc, Wiffgcnsfcin,
and Iacan.
.
Iadiou's undcrsfanding o anfililosolv, in oflcr words, is nof lim-
ifcd fo flc oflcrwisc alrcadv quifc diiculf, i nof imossiIlc rcconsfrucfion
o Iacan's usagc o flc fcrm. Insfcad, flc cafcgorv cmcrgcs as flc namc
or a longsfanding fradifion o flinlcrs wlo, wifl rcgard fo flc dominanf
lilosolical frcnds o flcir fimc, sifuafc flcmsclvcs in flc sfrangc foo-
logical osifion o an oufsidc wifl," or o an infcrnal cxfcriorifv" - wlaf
Iacanians miglf rccr fo dcsignafc wifl flc fcrm cxfimacv" - in an af-
fifudc flaf fvicallv oscillafcs Icfwccn disfancc and roximifv, admirafion
and Ilamc, scducfion and scorn.

Iacan, Monsicur A," Ornicar?, -, summcr , . .

Iadiou, Saint Iaul: Thc Ioundation o/ Unircrsalism, frans. Iav Irassicr, 8fanord,
8fanord lnivcrsifv Ircss, , . .
I I

A minimal lisf o anfililosolical flinlcrs flus includcs nof onlv

8ainf Iaul (Iasicallv, wlaf gcfs lim info diiculfv in Aflcns is lis
anfililosolv"

), Iicfzsclc (Iicfzsclc assigns fo lilosolv flc singu-

lar fasl o laving fo rccsfaIlisl flc qucsfion o frufl in ifs worl o rufurc
rom mcaning. Wlicl is wlv I would call lim a 'rincc' o confcmorarv
anfililosolv"

), flc carlv Wiffgcnsfcin (Tlc lafcr worl - wlicl morco-

vcr is nof a worl sincc Wiffgcnsfcin lad fo good fasfc o nof uIlisling
anvfling rom if - slidcs rom anfililosolv info solisfics"

), or Iacan
(I call a confcmorarv lilosolcr onc wlo las flc unalfcring couragc fo
go flrougl Iacan's anfililosolv"

) Iuf also Iascal (Iascal, flaf oflcr

grcaf igurc o anfililosolv, |.| lc wlo cxliciflv ooscs flc God o
AIralam, Isaac, and |acoI, fo flc God o flc lilosolcrs and scicnfisfs"

),
i nof alrcadv Hcraclifus (I would sav rom Hcraclifus, wlo is as mucl
flc anfililosolcr fo Iarmcnidcs as Iascal is fo Icscarfcs"

), Iousscau
(Iousscau communicafcs wifl our fimc (lcf's sav, afcr Iicfzsclc) Iv wav o
lis inlcxiIlc anfililosolv"

), Kicrlcgaard (Tlc cxcmlarv anfililoso-

lcr flaf Iascal is or/againsf Icscarfcs, and Iousscau or/againsf Volfairc
and Humc, Kicrlcgaard, wc lnow, is or/againsf Hcgcl"

), and crlas
Marx, Ircud, and Alflusscr (Hcrc wc oIscrvc flaf flc anfililosolical
acf comcs down fo fracing a linc o dcmarcafion, as Alflusscr would lavc
said ollowing Icnin. And if is vcrv wcll ossiIlc flaf Alflusscr's rojccf,
undcr flc namc o 'mafcrialisf lilosolv,' camc closc fo fwcnficfl-ccnfurv
anfililosolv"

). Ior mv arf, I would add fo flis lisf flc namc o 8lavoj

Ibid., . .

Iadiou, Casscr cn dcux l'histoirc du mondc?, Iaris, Ic Icrroqucf, , . . Tlis
fall, fogcflcr wifl Iadiou's fcxfs on Wiffgcnsfcin and Iacan, will Ic collccfcd and
franslafcd info Inglisl in a singlc volumc undcr flc fiflc What Is Antiphilosophy?, cd.
and frans. Iruno Iosfccls, Iurlam, Iulc lnivcrsifv Ircss, orflcoming. A slorfcr
vcrsion o Iadiou's fall on Iicfzsclc also acarcd as Wlo Is Iicfzsclc?," frans.
AlIcrfo Toscano, III: Thc Waruick Tournal o/ Ihilosophy , , . -.

Iadiou, Iogiqucs dcs mondcs, Iaris, Idifions du 8cuil, , . .

Iadiou, Conditions, . . 8cc also flc ollowing rcmarl in Iogiqucs dcs mondcs,
wlcrc Iacan is crcdifcd or ulolding flc nofion o flc suIjccf againsf ifs Hcidcggcrian
crifics, wiflouf lasing info lumanism: Tlis is wlv flc fravcrsing o Iacan's anfili-
losolv rcmains cvcn fodav an oIligaforv cxcrcisc or flosc wlo sccl fo fcar flcm-
sclvcs rcc rom flc rcacfivc convcrgcnccs o rcligion and scicnfism" (. ).

Iadiou, Saint Iaul, . .

Iadiou, 8ilcncc, solisismc, sainfcfc: I'anfililosolic dc Wiffgcnsfcin," AICA!
Iocsic, Iolitiquc, Isychanalysc, , , . .

Iadiou, Iogiqucs dcs mondcs, . .

Ibid., . .

Iadiou, 8ilcncc, solisismc, sainfcfc," . .
I A

Zizcl (Monsicur Zz anfililosolc," i I wcrc fo arodv Tzara's dadaisf gcs-

furc), roIaIlv flc grcafcsf living anfililosolcr o our fimcs (in flc words
o Ircdric |amcson: Clcarlv, flc arallax osifion is an anfi-lilosolical
onc, or if nof onlv cludcs lilosolical svsfcmisafion, Iuf falcs as ifs ccnfral
flcsis flc laffcr's imossiIilifv"

). Iinallv, in Irancc, flcrc is flc cxamlc

o Mcldi Icllaj Kaccm, wlo comIincs anfililosolv and o lilosolv
in a mixfurc o anfiacadcmic slang, ornogralv, and scculafivc flcorv
comaraIlc onlv fo Zizcl (Cnc could also sav flaf lc affcmfs a juncfurc
Icfwccn flc sfrucfuralisf (and Maoisf) gcncrafion o flc lafc sixfics and lis
own gcncrafion, Irouglf u - as lc airms - on ornogralv, wandcring,
and unworling"

). Tlc casc o Hcidcggcr, on flc oflcr land, rcscnfs a

lardcr nuf fo cracl, as Iadiou docs nof considcr lim an anfililosolcr (in
sifc o wlicl Icfcr Hallward asscrfs flaf Hcidcggcr limscl, o coursc, is
mosf casilv rcad as an anfililosolical flinlcr"

), or rcasons flaf will Ic-

comc clcarcr in wlaf ollows.
Wlaf Iadiou's cngagcmcnf wifl anfililosolv is ccrfainlv not mcanf
fo Ic, cvcn flougl lis lisfs somcfimcs mav givc flis imrcssion, is a mcrc
confriIufion fo flc lisforv o lilosolv - as flougl if wcrc a maffcr o
sccling ouf flc anfililosolcr flaf accomanics cacl o flc grcaf liloso-
lcrs as flcir sladowv douIlc: Hcraclifus fo Iarmcnidcs, 8ainf Iaul fo flc
Aflcnians, Iascal fo Icscarfcs, Kicrlcgaard fo Hcgcl, Zizcl fo Iadiou lim-
scl, and so on. Iaflcr, I would sav flaf ifs usculncss lics, on onc land, in
flc scciic rcadings flc anglc o anfililosolv allows us fo ocr in flc
casc o individual flinlcrs and, on flc oflcr, in flc cicacv o flcsc insiglfs
wlcn flcv arc uf fo worl Icvond flc ramc o rccrcncc in wlicl flcv arc
irsf dcvclocd. In manv cascs, flis mav falc onc info arcas o flouglf flaf
wc would nof aufomaficallv associafc wifl flc qucsfion o wlcrc fo draw flc
linc o dcmarcafion Icfwccn lilosolv and anfililosolv. Tlus, nof onlv
am I convinccd flaf somconc lilc |orgc Iuis Iorgcs can Ic rcad ruifullv
as an anfililosolcr, Iuf in mv cvcs flis is cvcn flc onlv wav fo accounf

Ircdric |amcson, Iirsf Imrcssions" (rcvicw o Thc Iarallax Iicu Iv 8lavoj Zizcl),
Iondon Icricu o/ ooks, ., .

Iadiou, Iogiqucs dcs mondcs, . . 8cc, in arficular, Mcldi Icllaj Kaccm,
Ircncmcnt ct rcpctition, Aucl, Trisfram, , wlicl is a good cxamlc o an anfililo-
solical frcafmcnf o a singlc Iool o lilosolv, Iadiou's own cing and Ircnt, in
fcrms o ifs cccfs on flc lisfcning and rcading suIjccf; and wifl Ililic Iassi, Iop
philosophic: cntrcticns, Iaris, Icnocl, .

Icfcr Hallward, adiou: A Subjcct to Truth, Minncaolis, lnivcrsifv o Minncsofa
Ircss, , . . Tlc cnfirc sccfion Anfi-anfililosolv," lilc cvcrvfling clsc in
Hallward's Iool, rovidcs an csscnfial and svsfcmafic rccrcncc oinf, cvcn flougl I
do nof agrcc wifl somc o mv dcar ricnd's infcrrcfafions.
I I

or flc fcnsion Icfwccn Iorgcs's undcniaIlc lilosolical infcrcsfs and lis

oflcrwisc no lcss infcnsc moclcrv o lilosolv's svsfcmafic amIifions.

I would go onc sfc urflcr so as fo ormulafc flc lvoflcsis flaf fodav

flc dominanf lilosolical affifudc is in acf florougllv anfililosoli-
cal in nafurc, cvcn i flc laIcl ifscl is nof alwavs uscd or acccfcd. To Ic
morc rccisc, i lilosolv fodav can rcfcnd fo Ic radical flcn flis is in
no small arf duc fo ifs anfililosolical fcndcncics. Wlcncc flc infcrcsf,
Iuf also flc diiculfv, o Iadiou's affcmf fo discnfanglc flc fwo. In acf, in
fimcs o ncar-gloIal rcacfion, if is nof surrising flaf flcrc slould Ic sucl
a sfrong usl or an anfililosolical acf flaf claims fo Ic lcss illusorv vcf
also morc radical flan flc lilosolical ursuif o frufl. Anfililosolv,
in flis scnsc, confriIufcs fo an cvcr morc owcrul olifical maximalism
(cvcn Wiffgcnsfcin, afcr all, is caaIlc o roclaiming limscl a communisf),
wlicl acfuallv ills in or a missing cmanciaforv arficulafion.

.
Wlaf arc flcn somc o flc undamcnfal claracfcrisfics flaf would malc
anfililosolv info a rclafivclv colcrcnf fradifion in ifs own riglf? Iascd on
lis dcfailcd rcadings o Iicfzsclc, Wiffgcnsfcin, and Iacan, as wcll as flc
occasional rccrcnccs fo Iascal, Kicrlcgaard, or Iousscau, Iadiou disfin-
guislcs a small numIcr o Iasic cafurcs as flc invarianf corc o anv anfili-
losolv. Af lcasf or flc modcrn criod, flcsc invarianf fraifs includc flc
ollowing: flc assumfion flaf flc qucsfion o Icing, or flaf o flc world,
is cocxfcnsivc wifl flc qucsfion o languagc; conscqucnflv, flc rcducfion o
frufl fo Icing nofling morc flan a linguisfic or rlcforical cccf, flc ouf-
comc o lisforicallv and culfurallv scciic languagc gamcs or frocs wlicl
flcrcorc musf Ic judgcd and, Icffcr vcf, moclcd in liglf o a crifical-linguis-
fic, discursivc, or gcncalogical analvsis; an acal fo wlaf lics jusf Icvond
languagc, or raflcr af flc ucr limif o flc savaIlc, as a domain o mcan-
ing, scnsc, or lnowlcdgc, irrcduciIlc fo anv orm o frufl as dcincd in li-
losolv; and, inallv, in ordcr fo gain acccss fo flis domain, flc scarcl or a
radical acf sucl as flc rcligious lca o aifl or flc rcvolufionarv Ircaling in

8cc mv cssav Iorgcs as Anfililosolcr," orgcs cscritor dcl siglo XXI, cd. 8ilvia I.
Iarci and Clrisfina Karagcourgou-Iasfca, sccial issuc o Iandcrbilt c-Tournal o/ Iuso-
Hispanic Studics, , , . -, rom wlcrc I will rcclv draw in wlaf ollows.

Tlc rcscnf sfudv in flis scnsc confinucs and cxands mv argumcnf rom Tlc
8cculafivc Icf," Thc South Atlantic Ouartcrly ., , . -.
I A

fwo o flc lisforv o flc world, flc slccr infcnsifv o wlicl would discrcdif
in advancc anv svsfcmafic flcorcfical or conccfual claIorafion.
Tlcsc cafurcs o flouglf (or o infcllccfion, sincc in flc cvcs o somc
fo scal o flouglf" wifl rcgard fo flc ocrafions in qucsfion miglf Ic fo
granf foo mucl fo lilosolv) fcnd fo usl flc anfililosolcr, rcsccfivclv,
in flc dirccfions o nominalism or consfrucfivism, solisfics, mvsficism, and
various orms o (olifical, rcligious, arfisfic, or cvcn scicnfiic and amorous)
radicalism. C coursc, nof all anfililosolcrs slarc flcsc cafurcs in flcir
fofalifv, or nof fo flc samc cxfcnf. Tlus, or cxamlc, wlcrcas Iicfzsclc's
iliafion wifl flc solisfs is quifc ocn and cxlicif in lis worl, flcrc arc
ccrfainlv manv flcscs in Iacan's conccfion o frufl and mcaning flaf Iring
lim closcr fo an anfisolisfic sfancc wlicl cvcrv confcmorarv lilosolcr
or Iadiou would lavc fo fravcrsc - jusf as cvcn flc carlv Wiffgcnsfcin docs
nof dcnv flc cxisfcncc o roosifional frufls, or cxamlc scicnfiic oncs,
in flc wav solisfs would, cvcn i lis ulfimafc aim is fo movc Icvond mcrc
roosifional scnsc.
8imilar cavcafs no douIf would lavc fo Ic infroduccd scciic fo cacl
anfililosolcr in fcrms o wlicl fraifs arc givcn rimacv fo flc dcfrimcnf o
oflcrs. In acf, Icvond flc varving dcgrccs o roximifv fo flc solisfs, flc
fcnsion Icfwccn flc irsf fwo o flc cafurcs jusf cnumcrafcd and flc lasf fwo
roduccs a claracfcrisfic vacillafion flaf, cvcn wiflin flc worl o a singlc
anfililosolical flinlcr, can rangc rom a urclv consfrucfivisf vicwoinf,
wlicl rcduccs frufl fo wlaf can Ic disccrncd in flc cxisfing languagc svs-
fcms, all flc wav fo flc vcarning or a quasi-mvsfical Icvond, wlicl would
oinf foward flc oflcr sidc o languagc.
Tlc lcv oinf, lowcvcr, is fo undcrsfand low flcsc cafurcs Iofl lang
fogcflcr and confradicf cacl oflcr, roviding various narrafivcs or flouglf-
sccnarios or moving Iacl and orfl amongsf flcm:
. Anfililosolcrs, arficularlv flosc modcrn oncs wlo flinl in flc
walc o flc linguisfic furn afcr Wiffgcnsfcin or Icrdinand dc 8aussurc, irsf
o all fcnd fo rcducc flc limifs o our world fo flc limifs o our languagc.
Tlis is flcir consfrucfivisf or nominalisf sidc, wlicl rcsolufclv suImifs flc
qucsfion o Icing fo flc sovcrcignfv o languagc: Ior if is sfill nof saving
cnougl fo sav flaf flc conccf is flc fling ifscl, wlicl a clild can dcmon-
sfrafc againsf flc 8clolasfics. If is flc world o words flaf crcafcs flc world
o flings."

All dcscrifions o flc world, ar rom Icing fruflul roosi-

fions flaf would corrcsond fo a givcn sfafc o flings, flus furn ouf fo Ic

Iacan, Tlc Iuncfion and Iicld o 8cccl and Ianguagc in Isvcloanalvsis,"
Icrits, frans. Irucc Iinl, Icw Yorl, Iorfon, , . .
I I

urclv linguisfic classiicafions flaf arc as arIifrarv and conjccfural as flcv

arc unavoidaIlc.
Wc miglf rclrasc flis irsf major rcmisc Iclind confcmorarv an-
fililosolv Iv asscrfing flaf nominalism rom flis oinf o vicw is flc un-
fransccndaIlc lorizon o our fimc. Tlis mcans flaf wc cannof cvcn imaginc
anvmorc wlaf if mcans fo Ic a rcalisf, in flc scnsc o flc 8clolasfic dcIafcs:
Iow, lilc flc sonfancous and Icwildcrcd rosc-scalcr o comcdv, wc all
do nominalism sans lc saroir, as i if wcrc a gcncral rcmisc o our flouglf,
an acquircd axiom. lsclcss, flcrcorc, fo commcnf on if."

Ior flc uroscs

o anfililosolv, scciicallv, nominalism is aIovc all a sourcc o crifical
and olcmical lcvcragc. If is wlaf givcs anfililosolcrs flc ncccssarv im-
cfus, cacl in lis own wav, fo go againsf flc grcaf corncrsfoncs o Wcsfcrn
mcfalvsics: fimc, flc scl or cgo, flc univcrsc, God. Cncc flcsc nofions
arc suImiffcd fo flc razor-slar cdgc o a nominalisf crifiquc, flcv furn
ouf fo Ic lifflc morc flan linguisfic consfrucfs: flc cccfs o a grammafical
sliagc, an unoundcd Iaclward incrcncc, or a orfunafc or ill-conccivcd
rlcforical furn o lrasc. As a rcsulf, lilosolv is considcrcd fo Ic nof jusf
rcufcd or misfalcn Iuf uf on dislav as a flrcafcning monsfrosifv: an ill-
ncss or Iicfzsclc, claffcr and nonscnsical vcrIiagc cxliIifing ifscl as scnsc
or Wiffgcnsfcin, sfuidifv and rascalncss or Iacan.
Tlc diagnosfic o lilosolv as illncss, flougl, rocccds Iv wav o a
ainsfaling linguisfic and discursivc analvsis o flc sfafcmcnfs and frufl-
claims o flc lilosolcr. Irom flis, wc can casilv scc wlv flcrc cxisfs sucl
a closc roximifv Icfwccn flc anfililosolcr and flc solisf. Ior cxamlc,
in flc casc o Iicfzsclc's gcncalogical worl:
Ifs rincilc is common lnowlcdgc: fo Iring Iacl cvcrv sfafcmcnf fo
flc fvc flaf susfains ifs sfafing. Tlis is a disfriIufion flaf in mv cvcs
is fvicallv solisfic Icfwccn flc lilological cxaminafion o flc sfa-
fcmcnfs, on onc land, and flc rcgisfcr o owcr, on flc oflcr. Tlc
mcflod consisfs in dcfcrmining wifl flc grcafcsf rigor flc corus o
discursivc igurcs, in sucl a wav so as fo linl flcm gcncalogicallv fo flc
owcr-fvc flaf susfains flcm. Iicfzsclc, in flis worl, slows a grcaf
virfuc wlicl is flc comIinafion o a lind o grammarian's roIifv on
onc land and a owcrul docfrinc o orccs on flc oflcr. Wifl, as ifs
undamcnfal fargcf, flc cafcgorv o frufl.

|orgc Iuis Iorgcs, A Hisforv o Ifcrnifv," Sclcctcd Aon-Iictions, cd. Iliof
WcinIcrgcr, Icw Yorl, Icnguin, , . .

Iadiou, Casscr cn dcux l'histoirc du mondc?, . .
I A

If is nof cnougl, lowcvcr, fo suImif all flc major lilosolical cafcgo-

rics fo a fvc o discoursc analvsis; flc vcrv cnfcrrisc o flc ursuif o frufl
as sucl musf also Ic uf down, discrcdifcd, and goffcn rid o: Hcnccorfl, if
is no longcr cvcn ossiIlc fo discuss lilosolv; onc musf dcclarc ifs c//cctirc
cxirafion, along wifl flaf o cvcrv igurc o masfcrv."

. Tlc sovcrcign gras o languagc on Icing or suIsfancc, indccd, lcads

aIovc all fo an unorgiving dcsfifufion o frufl as flc ccnfral cafcgorv o li-
losolv. I flcrc is no cscac rom flc rison-lousc o languagc, flcn frufl
can onlv Ic a linguisfic or rlcforical cccf - flc clicifous or inclicifous
oufcomc o ccrfain languagc gamcs. Io douIf morc amiliar fo rcadcrs o
flc carlv Iicfzsclc rom flc so-callcd Ihilosophcr's ook, arficularlv as sccn
flrougl flc lcns o Iaul dc Man, flis rcducfion o logic fo rlcforic is flc sidc
o anfililosolcrs flaf malcs flcm ncarlv indisfinguislaIlc rom ancicnf
or modcrn solisfs. Wc could sum flis u Iv rccrring fo flc wav in wlicl
Iorgcs, afcr riglflv affriIufing fo Iicfzsclc flc flcsis flaf flc imorfanf
considcrafion is flc clangc an idca can causc in us, nof flc mcrc ormulafion
o if," in a oofnofc ocrs onc o flc morc sfriling summarics o flc solisfic
rcmisc Iclind anfililosolv, wlosc cclocs can Ic lcard in flc rumIlc o
dcconsfrucfion manv dccadcs lafcr:
Icason and convicfion dicr so mucl flaf flc gravcsf oIjccfions fo anv
lilosolical docfrinc usuallv rc-cxisf in flc worl flaf dcclarcs if. In
flc Iarmcnidcs Ilafo anficiafcs flc argumcnf o flc flird man wlicl
Arisfoflc will usc fo oosc lim; Icrlclcv (Dialogucs, ) anficiafcs flc
rcufafions o Humc.

To Ic surc, logic and rlcforic arc nof cquafcd in flis oofnofc; on flc con-
frarv, flcir radical dicrcncc is airmcd. Howcvcr, onc o flc conscqucnccs
o flis airmafion o dicrcncc is noncflclcss a dcvaluafion o urc logic,
or rcason, in avor o flc crsuasivc orcc o convicfion o an argumcnf. In
acf, so mucl wciglf is givcn fo flc cccfs o languagc and flc clangc flcv
can roducc in a suIjccf flaf flc rincilc o non-confradicfion, corncrsfonc
o classical logic i cvcr flcrc was onc, no longcr alics cvcn wiflin somc o

Iadiou, Saint Iaul, . .

Iorgcs, Iofc on Walf Wlifman," Othcr Inquisitions, frans. Iufl I.C. 8imms,
Ausfin, lnivcrsifv o Tcxas Ircss, , . . 8cc also Iadiou's commcnf in lis con-
friIufion fo flc concrcncc Iacan arcc lcs philosophcs: Wc could ccrfainlv asl our-
sclvcs i flc ininifc rccrral wlicl Iacan falls aIouf is nof indicafcd Iv Ilafo limscl
in flc anficiafion lc rcscnfs o flc argumcnf o flc flird man," in Iacan cf Ilafon:
lc maflcmc csf-il unc idcc?" . .
I I

flc mosf canonical o lilosolical worls, wlicl conscqucnflv confain flc

sccds or flcir vcrv own rcufafion or aufo-dcconsfrucfion.
. Wlcn falcn fo an cxfrcmc, flis rivilcging o rlcforic ovcr logic, o
flc saving ovcr flc said, can casilv lcnd flc argumcnf a miraculous or quasi-
mvsfical ovcrfonc. Indccd, i wlaf rcallv maffcrs is flc suIjccfivc (cxisfcnfial
or flcracufic or rcvolufionarv) clangc an idca can roducc in us, and i
flis cccf is Icvond flc scoc o mcrc logical (lilosolical or conccfual)
ormulafion, flcn if is lard fo rcsisf flc fcmfafion fo ind alfcrnafivc modcs
o acccss fo flis domain o mcaningulncss or scnsc. Cr, fo uf flis dicr-
cnflv, no sooncr do wc osif flc coincidcncc o flc limifs o mv world and flc
limifs o mv languagc flan flc qucsfion ariscs o lnowing wlaf lics Icvond
or Icncafl flcsc limifs, wlicl alonc is wlaf rcallv maffcrs. Tlis is flc qucs-
fion flaf aradoxicallv ocns a afl in anfililosolv rom consfrucfivism
foward mvsficism, af oncc confradicfing flc rincilc according fo wlicl
rcalifv is a vcrIal, linguisfic, or discursivc consfrucf. Tlcrc flcn sccms fo Ic
a dimcnsion o rcalifv, or crlas if would Ic Icffcr fo sav a dimcnsion o
flc rcal, flaf orcvcr rcmains Icvond flc scoc o languagc or conccfual
lnowlcdgc and, as sucl, rcsisfs svmIolizafion aIsolufclv.
Tlus ariscs flc nofion, common fo all anfililosolcrs, o an csscnfial
lcfovcr or rcmaindcr, wlicl Ircals wifl flc cocxfcnsivcncss o languagc
and flc world:
Tlis idca o flc rcmaindcr" can Ic ound in cvcrv anfililosolv,
wlicl Iuilds vcrv suIflc ncfworls o rclafions onlv so as fo fracl down
flc incomlcfcncss in flcm, and fo cxosc flc rcmaindcr fo ifs scizing
in flc acf. Tlis is rccisclv wlcrc anfililosolv dcsfifufcs lilosolv:
Iv shouing flaf wlicl ifs oor flcorcfical rcfcnsion las misscd, and
wlicl is nofling lcss, in flc cnd, flan flc rcal. Tlus or Iicfzsclc, lic
is flaf wlicl acars as a rcmaindcr o cvcrv rofocol o cvaluafion.
|usf as or Iascal Gracc is cnfirclv suIfracfcd rom flc ordcr o rcasons,
or Iousscau, flc voicc o conscicncc rom flc rcaclings o flc In-
liglfcnmcnf, or Kicrlcgaard cxisfcncc rom flc Hcgclian svnflcsis.
And or Iacan, wc lnow flaf flc lilosolcr nciflcr can nor wanfs fo
lnow anvfling o cnjovmcnf and flc Tling fo wlicl if is volcd.

Incidcnfallv, Iadiou adds a long rcmarl fo flis logic o flc rcal qua

Iadiou, 8ilcncc, solisismc, sainfcfc," . . Tlc lasf linc, o coursc, also mav
scrvc fo accounf or Zizcl's raorf fo Iadiou.
I A

rcmaindcr in ordcr fo qucsfion flc misogvnisf fcrms in wlicl if is almosf

alwavs couclcd:
Wlaf rcmains fo Ic sccn, flougl, is wlcflcr o flis rcal flc anfililoso-
lcr ocrs us anvfling clsc flan a slaffcring vanisling acf, or wlcflcr
flis acf is nof, lilc woman or Claudcl, a romisc flaf cannof Ic lcf.
lnlcss if is a qucsfion o woman all along in flis sforv, rccisclv woman
aIouf wlom wc will immcdiafclv agrcc flaf lilosolv las no amIi-
fion wlafsocvcr fo scal, Iuf aIouf wlom wc can also wondcr wlcflcr
fo flis dav, dislavcd as slc is in flc scrics o nouns (aifl, anxicfv, lic,
silcncc, cnjovmcnf.) wifl wlicl anfililosolv - wifl flc cxccfion
o Iacan - las inncd lcr down, slc las donc anv Icffcr flan fo disa-
car. Tlc anfililosolcr would wavc flc sccfcr o flc cmininc in
ronf o flc cvcs o flc lilosolcr wlo, lovallv, orccloscs flis sccfcr
rom lis flinling manocuvrc, cducafcd on flis oinf Iv scicncc. Tlis
gocs a long wav foward cxlaining somcfling o flc sfriling misogvnv
o all anfililosolcrs: flc unconscious woman scrvcs flcm onlv fo in
somc Iandcrillas on flc flicl nccl o flc lilosolcr. Wlicl is, afcr
all, an cxlanafion among mcn." Havc wc cvcr sccn morc dcfcsfaIlc
colc, in flcir cxlicif dcclarafions aIouf womcn, flan Iascal (did lc
cvcr oIscrvc onc, oflcr flan lis sisfcr?), Iousscau (Imilc's 8olic!),
Kicrlcgaard (flc ncurosis o marriagc!), Iicfzsclc (lcf's nof cvcn go
flcrc) or Wiffgcnsfcin (wifl flc lal-ranlncss o a lal-lomoscxualifv)?
8uosing flaf rom flc oinf o vicw o dcsirc flc rcal rcmaindcr o
lilosolical flcorics musf Ic souglf afcr on flc sidc o flc cmininc,
flc /atc rcscrvcd or flis rcmaindcr is ccrfainlv morc cnviaIlc wlcn onc
is callcd Ilafo, Icscarfcs or Hcgcl. To flc oinf wlcrc wc could malc
o flc rclafionsli fo womcn a disfincfivc crifcrion: flc morc lagranf
flc misogvnv, flc morc wc arc in flc vicinifv o anfililosolv.

Wc could flus airm flaf misogvnv, wiflouf orming a scarafc invari-

Ibid., . -. Tlis allows Iadiou fo dcinc Kanf's lacc in flc lilosolv/an-
fililosolv dcIafc: Tlis would also slcd an infcnsc liglf on flc casc o Kanf,
wlosc dcclarafions aIouf womcn arc lairraising, and wlosc forfuous goal can casilv
Ic summarizcd as ollows: fo givc a lilosolical orm fo anfililosolv ifscl. To
slow lilosolicallv flaf flc lilosolical rcfcnsion can onlv sfir u air. To suI-
limafc flc moral acf, wlicl is undouIfcdlv a-lilosolical, wifl rcgard fo flc lc-
nomcnal miscrics o lnowlcdgc. Irom wlicl wc can incr, sincc or lim flc rcmain-
dcr Icars flc namc 'noumcnon,' flaf a Kanfian dcsirc alwavs addrcsscs a noumcnal
oIjccf. Tlis is, sfronglv conccfualizcd, flc old ccrfifudc o flc 'mvsfcrv' o flc cm-
ininc. In Wiffgcnsfcinian languagc, 'woman' is flaf o wlicl wc cannof scal, and
wlicl wc musf flcrcorc ass ovcr in silcncc" (ibid., . ).
I I

anf fraif, noncflclcss consfifufcs a dcrivaforv cafurc flaf ollows in arficu-

lar rom flc anfililosolical logic o flc rcmaindcr, or o flc nof-all.
Tlc narrafivc ofcnfial o flis fcnsion Icfwccn linguisfic consfrucfiv-
ism and flc nofion o flc indivisiIlc rcmaindcr can casilv Ic illusfrafcd.
8omc o Iorgcs's mosf canonical icfions, or cxamlc, rcvolvc around flc
ga Icfwccn languagc and ifs incommunicaIlc, oIsccnc, or simlv cfcrnal
oflcr sidc. A Ycllow Iosc," a slorf rosc iccc rom Drcamtigcrs (Il haccdor)
flus fclls o flc rcvclafion flaf Icalls GiamIaffisfa Marino on flc cvc o lis
dcafl, in an illuminafion flaf Homcr and Ianfc mav lavc aclicvcd as wcll:
Tlcn flc rcvclafion occurrcd: Marino sau flc rosc as Adam miglf lavc
sccn if in Iaradisc, and lc flouglf flaf flc rosc was fo Ic ound in ifs
own cfcrnifv and nof in lis words; and flaf wc mav mcnfion or alludc
fo a fling, Iuf nof cxrcss if; and flaf flc fall, roud volumcs casfing
a goldcn sladow in a corncr wcrc nof - as lis vanifv lad drcamcd - a
mirror o flc world, Iuf raflcr onc fling morc addcd fo flc world.

Tlis ragmcnf, urflcrmorc, namcs somc o flc Iasic ocrafions flaf
arc involvcd in dcaling wifl flc urclv worldlv rcalm and flaf wlicl or flc
anfililosolcr lics Icvond flc worldlv, or af ifs oufcr cdgcs. As i fo ol-
low in flc oofsfcs o Wiffgcnsfcin, crlas Iv wav o Mallarmc, Iorgcs
flus draws a slar linc o dcmarcafion Icfwccn cxrcssion and allusion, or
Icfwccn saving and slowing: Tlcrc arc, indccd, flings flaf cannof Ic uf
info words. Tlcv makc thcmsclrcs mani/cst. Tlcv arc wlaf is mvsfical."

In flc
inal insfancc, lowcvcr, wlaf is af sfalc in flis rcvclafion or manicsfafion is
nof flc roccss o a laIorious and ongoing ocrafion Iuf raflcr a uncfual,
cvancsccnf, and wcll-nigl afcmoral acf.
. Tlis nofion o flc acf is wiflouf a douIf flc mosf imorfanf clcmcnf
in flc ormal claracfcrizafion o anv anfililosolv, namclv, flc rcliancc
on a radical gcsfurc flaf alonc las flc orcc o dcsfifufing, and occasionallv
ovcrfaling, flc lilosolical cafcgorv o frufl. If is rccisclv flc aIscncc
o anv sucl alfcrnafivc fo lilosolical frufl flaf consfifufcs onc o flc ma-
jor oIsfaclcs fo considcring Hcidcggcr an anfililosolcr, sincc cvcn in flc
guisc o flinling," flc dcsfrucfion o mcfalvsics rcmains orcign fo flc vi-
cious discrcdifing o frufl as sucl. Iv confrasf, Icvond flc lorizon o mcrc
languagc or roosifional lnowlcdgc, anfililosolcrs fvicallv osif flc

Iorgcs, A Ycllow Iosc," Drcamtigcrs, frans. Mildrcd Iovcr and Harold Morland,
Ausfin, lnivcrsifv o Tcxas Ircss, , . .

Iudwig Wiffgcnsfcin, Tractatus Iogico-philosophicus, frans. Iavid Icars and Irian
McGuinncss, Icw Yorl, Iouflcdgc, , ..
I A

ossiIilifv o somc radical acf sucl as Iascal's wagcr," Kicrlcgaard's lca

o aifl," Iicfzsclc's Ircaling in fwo o lisforv," or Iacan and Zizcl's own
nofion o flc acf," wlcflcr sfricflv analvfical (as in flc sfill unuIlislcd Iool
XV o Iacan's Scminar, rom -, rccisclv cnfiflcd Thc Isychoanalytical
Act and aroriafclv infcrrufcd Iv flc cvcnfs o Mav ': If is wcll-lnown
flaf I infroduccd flc svcloanalvfical acf, and I falc if flaf if was nof Iv
accidcnf flaf flc ulcaval o Mav slould lavc rcvcnfcd mc rom rcacling
ifs cnd"

) or cflical and olifical in a mucl Iroadcr scnsc (as in flc casc o

Zizcl's raidlv growing corus o wrifings). lnlilc in Iadiou's frcafmcnf o
flc cvcnf," wifl wlicl if is somcfimcs conlafcd, wlaf maffcrs in flis acf"
is nof ifs imcrsonal frufl so mucl as ifs - caflarfic o flcracufic - cccf
on flc suIjccf.
. Tlis dccisivc rolc o flc lisfcning and scaling suIjccf consfifufcs
anoflcr cafurc flaf is fvical o anfililosolv. Indccd, flc cxcricncc o
fravcrsing a radical acf nof onlv givcs rcccdcncc fo flc crsonal orm and
cccfivcncss ovcr and aIovc flc imcrsonal frufl confcnf, Iuf if also sccms
flaf flis cxcricncc cannof Ic fransmiffcd cxccf in a ncar-aufoIiogralical
sfvlc flaf is inscaraIlc rom flc suIjccf o flc cnunciafion. Tlis is flc cxcr-
imcnfal, wrifcrlv sidc o anfililosolcrs, rcscnf in Iicfzsclc's alorisms,
Kicrlcgaard's diarics, Iacan's scminars, 8ainf Iaul's cisflcs, or - wlv nof?
- Zizcl's vidcos and uniquc crormanccs as a scalcr:
Irom Iascal's Mcmorial fo flc inclusion Iv Iacan, af flc lcarf o lis
scminars, o lis crsonal and insfifufional afc, rom Iousscau's Con-
/cssions fo Wlv I am a Icsfinv" Iv Iicfzsclc, rom Kicrlcgaard and
Icgina's friIulafions fo Wiffgcnsfcin's Iafflcs wifl scxual and suicidal
fcmfafion, flc anfililosolcr climIs in crson onfo flc uIlic sfa-
gc fo cxosc lis flouglf. Wlv? Iccausc as ooscd fo flc rcgulafcd
anonvmifv o scicncc, and againsf cvcrvfling in lilosolv flaf claims
fo scal in flc namc o flc univcrsal, flc anfililosolical acf, wlicl
is wiflouf rcccdcnf or guaranfcc, las onlv ifscl and ifs cccfs fo ocr
Iv wav o affcsfing fo ifs valuc.

Iacan, Iadiolonic," Autrcs ccrits, . .

Iadiou, 8ilcncc, solisismc, sainfcfc," . . 8cc also Iogiqucs dcs mondcs, .
and Saint Iaul, . . Iadiou's commcnfs on Zizcl go vcrv mucl in flc samc dircc-
fion: Tlc Iacanian wlo is flc mosf inclincd fo invcsf nofions o masfcrv info flc
mosf varicd 'Iodics' o confcmorarv acaring is ccrfainlv 8lavoj Zizcl, wlosc lacl
o ailiafion fo anv onc grou o svcloanalvsfs givcs lim a rccdom lc gladlv aIuscs
wifl wifficisms, rccfifions, a dclicious lovc or flc lifclicsf movics, an unIoundcd
ornogralv, conccfual journalism, calculafcd lisfrionics, uns.. In flc cnd lc rc-
I I

As a rcsulf, flc anfililosolcr rarclv uIlislcs an organic worl Iuf

fvicallv wavcrs Icfwccn flc csofcric ragmcnf and flc dcliglfs o incom-
lcfcncss: Tlis ormaf, in wlicl flc oorfunifv or acfion falcs rcccdcnf
ovcr flc rcocuafion wifl maling a namc or oncscl flrougl uIlica-
fion ('ouIcllicafions,' as Iacan uscd fo sav), cvinccs onc o flc anfililoso-
lcr's claracfcrisfic fraifs: lc wrifcs nciflcr svsfcm nor frcafisc, nor cvcn
rcallv a Iool. Hc roounds a scccl o rufurc, and wrifing cnsucs wlcn
ncccssarv."

In ordcr fo roducc sucl a scccl o rufurc, flc anfililoso-

lcr's dcclarafions rcquirc flc immcdiafc rcscncc o flc scaling suIjccf
wiflin lis scccl. Wlcncc flc somcwlaf rcncfic, ligllv flcafrical racc fo
rcccdc and ofcn undcrcuf wlaf is said wifl rccrcnccs fo flc incomaraIlc
cxisfcnfial owcr o ifs saving:
Tlc anfililosolcr flus ncccssarilv scals in his propcr namc, and
musf slow flis rocr" as rcal roo o lis saving. In cccf, lc las no
validafion, nor anv comcnsafion, or lis acf cxccf immancnf fo flis
acf ifscl, sincc lc dcnics flaf flis acf can cvcr Ic jusfiicd in flc ordcr
o flcorv. |.| Tlc Iiogralical imulsc, flc fasfc or concssion, and
cvcn in flc cnd a lind o inafuafion wlicl is clcarlv rccognizaIlc and
wlicl commands flc wrifcrlv" sfvlc o anfililosolcrs (going Iacl
fo flc lisf, flcrc is nof a singlc onc wlo is nof a masfcr o languagc):
flcsc arc flc ncccssarv conscqucnccs o flc mosf infimafc anfililo-
solical ccrfainfv, flc onc wlicl consisfs, againsf millcnia o liloso-
lv, in laving fo announcc and racfisc, in onc's own namc onlv, an
acfivc salviic Ircal.

Insoar as flc anfililosolcr's diafriIcs againsf lilosolv arc su-

orfcd onlv Iv flc confrasf wifl flc radicalifv - nof fo sav auflcnficifv - o
flc dcclarafion o flc acf as sucl, onlv flc crsonal, cvcn lvsical manics-
fafion o flc suIjccf Iclind flc dcclarafion can givc if crcdcncc and, so fo
scal, malc if ass. Ior cxamlc, wlcn Iacan airms af flc vcrv cnd o lis
Allocufion on Tcacling": Trufl mav nof Ic convincing, lnowlcdgc asscs
in flc acf."

Iuf wlaf is mcanf Iv flc acf" o anfililosolv?

scmIlcs Iacan wifl flis crcfual flcafricalizafion, animafcd Iv an assumcd dcsirc
or Iad fasfc," in Iogiqucs dcs mondcs, . -.

Iadiou, Saint Iaul, . .

Iadiou, 8ilcncc, solisismc, sainfcfc," . .

Iacan, Allocufion sur l'cnscigncmcnf," Autrcs ccrits, . . Iadiou, in lis un-
uIlislcd scminar, will flus dcinc flc Iacanian acf as flc assing info lnowlcdgc"
o flc rcal, wlcrcIv flc Ircncl passc cn saroir slould also Ic undcrsfood as flc lom-
onvmous pas sans saroir, flaf is, nof wiflouf lnowing." Tlc fvical anfililosol-
I A

.
Icorc rcfurning fo Iadiou's avorifc cxamlcs rom Iicfzsclc or
Wiffgcnsfcin, if miglf Ic uscul, or urclv didacfic uroscs i nofling
morc, fo quofc Iorgcs's fwo dcinifions o flc acsflcfic acf. Tlc irsf o
flcsc concludcs flc ocning cssav in Othcr Inquisitions, Tlc Wall and flc
Iools," wlcrc Iorgcs sccls fo undcrsfand flc cnigma Iclind flc cmcror
8li Huang Ti's simulfancous dcsfrucfion o flc liIrarv and flc consfrucfion
o flc Clincsc wall:
Music, sfafcs o laincss, mvflologv, accs moldcd Iv fimc, ccrfain
fwiliglfs and ccrfain laccs - all flcsc arc frving fo fcll us somcfling,
or lavc fold us somcfling wc slould nof lavc misscd, or arc aIouf fo
fcll us somcfling; flaf immincncc o a rcvclafion flaf is nof vcf ro-
duccd is, crlas, flc acsflcfic acf.

Tlc sccond dcinifion o flc acf is arf o Iorgcs's affcmf, in flc ro-
loguc fo flc cdifion o lis Obra poctica (Collccfcd Iocfrv), fo dcinc
wlaf lc calls flc acsflcfics o Icrlclcv":
Tlc fasfc o flc alc (sfafcs Icrlclcv) lics in flc confacf o flc ruif
wifl flc alafc, nof in flc ruif ifscl; analogouslv (I would sav) o-
cfrv lics in flc commcrcc o flc ocm wifl flc rcadcr, nof in flc scrics
o svmIols rcgisfcrcd on flc agcs o a Iool. Tlc csscnfial asccf is
flc acsflcfic acf, flc thrill, flc lvsical modiicafion rovolcd Iv cacl
rcading. Icrlas flis is nofling ncw, Iuf af mv agc novclfics maffcr lcss
flan frufl.

In flis lasf scnfcncc, morcovcr, wc can scc low flc scarcl or a radical
acf - in flis casc an acsflcfic or arcli-acsflcfic onc - in acf allows flc an-
ical Iinarv o frufl and mcaning flus Iccomcs friangulafcd flrougl lnowlcdgc.
Tcclnicallv, flcrc would Ic no frufl o flc rcal - and lcncc, dcsifc Zizcl's claims
fo flc confrarv, no Iacanian olifics o frufl, af lcasf nof wiflouf quofafion marls
around flc frufl" - Iuf onlv a assagc o flc rcal info lnowlcdgc Iv wav o an im-
assc o ormalizafion, wlosc modcl is maflcmafical and wlosc mimicrv in flc acf
can flcrcorc Ic callcd arcli-scicnfiic.

Iorgcs, Tlc Wall and flc Iools," Othcr Inquisitions, . (franslafion modiicd
in ordcr fo rcndcr cl hccho cstctico as flc acsflcfic acf" raflcr flan as flc acsflcfic
acf," sincc Iclind hccho wc slould lcar cclocs o haccr and haccdor, as in Grccl poi-
cin and poictcs).

Iorgcs, Obra poctica -, Iucnos Aircs, Imccc, , . .
I I

fililosolcr fo rcdcinc frufl" ifscl, raflcr flan fo jcffison if alfogcflcr.

I flis cafcgorv is mainfaincd af all, wlaf maffcrs is flcn aIovc all flc cxc-
ricnfial confcnf or flc cccf causcd in flc suIjccf, arficularlv as scaling
suIjccf: Tlc rclafionsli o flc acf fo wrifing conccrns, nof uhat is said, Iuf
flc cccf o wlaf is said, wlicl imlics a uffing down o flc said."

Hcrc, jusf as flc logic o flc rcmaindcr sccms almosf incvifaIlv fo invifc
misogvnisf languagc, flc imorfancc o flc clangc flaf flc acf causcs in
flc suIjccf is wlaf uslcs almosf cvcrv anfililosolcr in flc dirccfion o
a roound fic - wlcflcr anfagonisfic or (morc rcqucnflv) avoraIlc - fo
Clrisfianifv. As Iadiou wrifcs aIouf flc acf in Wiffgcnsfcin's casc: Tlc c-
ccf o flc arcliacsflcfic acf musf nof conccrn flouglf or docfrinc Iuf flc
suIjccf, wlicl mcans lic (or flc world) scizcd rom ifs limif. Tlis is wlv flc
acf is in ifs clcmcnf in Clrisfianifv."

Tlc auflor o flc Tractatus limscl, in-

dccd, lad wriffcn in flc s: I flinl flaf onc o flc flings flaf Clrisfianifv
savs is flaf all good docfrincs arc usclcss. Tlaf vou musf clangc vour lic."

Alrcadv in a osflumous nofc rom , Iicfzsclc lad asscrfcd somcfling
vcrv similar, alIcif flis fimc against flc siclncss o Clrisfianifv: If is nof
cnougl fo fransmif a docfrinc; if is also ncccssarv violcnflv fo fransorm flc
colc so flaf flcv acccf if. Tlis is wlaf Zaraflusfra inallv undcrsfood."

Tlis is also, wc miglf add, wlaf cvcrv anfililosolcr undcrsfands, againsf
flc docfrincs flaf lilosolv is aIlc fo fransmif.
Afcr flc frcafmcnf o woman, flc dcining rolc o Clrisfianifv could
flus Ic considcrcd a sccond dcrivaforv cafurc o anfililosolv:
Tlc connccfion o Clrisfianifv fo modcrn anfililosolv las a long
lisforv. Wc can casilv draw u flc lisf o anfililosolcrs o sfrong
caliIcr: Iascal, Iousscau, Kicrlcgaard, Iicfzsclc, Wiffgcnsfcin, Ia-
can. Wlaf jums fo flc cvc is flaf our o flcsc sfand in an csscnfial
rclafion fo Clrisfianifv: Iascal, Iousscau, Kicrlcgaard, and Wiffgcn-
sfcin; flaf flc cnragcd lafrcd o Iicfzsclc is ifscl af lcasf as sfrong a
Iond as lovc, wlicl alonc cxlains flaf flc Iicfzsclc o flc Icffcrs
rom madncss" can sign indicrcnflv as Iionvsos" or flc Cruciicd";
flaf Iacan, flc onlv fruc rafionalisf o flc grou - Iuf also flc onc
wlo complctcs flc cvclc o modcrn anfililosolv - noncflclcss lolds
Clrisfianifv fo Ic dccisivc or flc consfifufion o flc suIjccf o scicncc,

Iadiou, 8ilcncc, solisismc, sainfcfc," . .

Ibid., . .

Ibid.

Iicfzsclc as quofcd in Gianni Vaffimo, Il soggctto c la maschcra: Aictzschc c il pro-
blcma dclla libcrazionc, Milan, Iomiani, , . .
I A

and flaf if is in vain flaf wc loc fo unfic oursclvcs rom flc rcligious
flcmc, wlicl is sfrucfural.

Iiflcr rcligion is flc fcmfafion o mcaning rcscnf wiflin all lilos-

olv flaf anfililosolv musf iglf o, or clsc flc cxcricncc o convcr-
sion on flc road fo Iamascus scrvcs as flc rimc modcl, flc cxcmlarv ma-
frix, or flc anfililosolical acf. In Iofl sccnarios, flougl, flc acf draws
mucl o ifs cncrgv, i nof ifs suIjccf-maffcr, rom rcligion, cscciallv rom
Clrisfianifv.
.
In flc casc o Iicfzsclc, Wiffgcnsfcin, and Iacan, Iadiou qualiics flcir
anfililosolical acf rcsccfivclv as arcli-olifical," arcli-acsflcfic," and
arcli-scicnfiic." Icaving Iacan's casc or anoflcr fimc and lacc, lcf us
falc a closcr lool af Iadiou's rcading o Iicfzsclc and Wiffgcnsfcin. Wlaf
maffcrs in flis rcading conccrns nof onlv flc anfililosolcr Iuf also flc
lilosolcr, sincc if is in dialoguc wifl flc laffcr's orfraval as arf o flc
anfililosolical diafriIc flaf lilosolv can and musf rcdcinc ifs own
ocrafions in rclafion fo flc frufl o an cvcnf.
Tlc crucial oinf lics in undcrsfanding flc dicrcncc Icfwccn acf and
cvcnf. Tlc samc lisforical or cmirical lacnings" mav Ic involvcd in
Iofl cascs, sucl as an acfual rcvolufionarv urising or an uniquc arfisfic
crormancc, Iuf anfililosolv's frcafmcnf o sucl lacnings as acfs"
ollows a scrics o rofocols flaf arc nof fo Ic conuscd wifl flcir frcafmcnf
as cvcnfs" flaf uncfion as flc condifions o frufl or lilosolv.
Tlus, Wiffgcnsfcin's acf ccrfainlv las mucl fo do wifl arf, cscciallv

Iadiou, 8ilcncc, solisismc, sainfcfc," . -. Tlc acf flaf Iacan or Iadiou
complctcs flc cvclc o confcmorarv anfililosolv mav sccm fo rcscnf an oIsfaclc
fo anvonc wlo would claim flc sfafus o anfililosolcr or flinlcrs afcr Iacan
sucl as 8lavoj Zizcl. Zizcl's casc, lowcvcr, could vcrv wcll Ic comarcd fo Kanf's,
as dcscriIcd aIovc (oofnofc ). Tlaf is, Zizcl's worl, wlicl ncvcr ccascs fo call if-
scl lilosolical (rimarilv ovcr and againsf culfural sfudics in wlicl willv-nillv if
ound ifscl inscriIcd in flc Anglo-Amcrican world), could Ic said fo rcaccomodafc
anfililosolv fo lilosolv, in arficular undcr flc orflodox auflorizafion o Kanf
and Hcgcl. Iricndslis and acaranccs o flcorcfical convcrgcncc nofwiflsfanding,
flis aroacl is flc oosifc o Iadiou's, wlo rooscs fo dicrcnfiafc flc fwo, all
flc wlilc drawing crucial lcssons rom anfililosolv or flc uroscs o dcining
flc ocrafions o lilosolv, wlcrcas all gcnuinc lilosolv fodav alwavs alrcadv
would sccm fo Ic an anfililosolv or Zizcl.
I I

music as flc cifomc o nonroosifional scnsc sincc af lcasf 8clocnlaucr,

Iuf anfililosolv also adds a radical and originarv dimcnsion fo ifs vicw
o arf, Iv aIsorIing ifs cncrgv Iacl info ifs own discoursc and aroriafing
if or ifs uniquc uroscs alonc. Tlis addcd dimcnsion cxlains flc arcli-
acsflcfic nafurc o flc acf in flc casc o Wiffgcnsfcin:
Tlc anfililosolical acf consisfs in lcffing wlaf flcrc is Ic manicsf-
cd, insoar as wlaf flcrc is" is rccisclv flaf wlicl no fruc roosifion
can sav. I Wiffgcnsfcin's anfililosolical acf can lcgifimafclv Ic dc-
clarcd arcli-acsflcfic, if is Iccausc flis lcffing-Ic" las flc nonroo-
sifional orm o a urc slowing, o clarity, and Iccausc sucl clarifv
lacns fo flc unsavaIlc onlv in flc orm o a worl wiflouf flouglf
(flc aradigm or sucl donafion is ccrfainlv music or Wiffgcnsfcin).
I sav archi -acsflcfic Iccausc if is nof a qucsfion o suIsfifufing arf or
lilosolv ciflcr. If is a qucsfion o Iringing info flc scicnfiic and
roosifional acfivifv flc rincilc o a clarifv wlosc (mvsfical) clc-
mcnf is Icvond flis acfivifv, and flc rcal aradigm o wlicl is arf. If
is flus a qucsfion o irmlv csfaIlisling flc laws o flc savaIlc (o flc
flinlaIlc), in ordcr or flc unsavaIlc (flc unflinlaIlc, wlicl is ulfi-
mafclv givcn onlv in flc orm o arf) fo Ic situatcd as flc ucr limif"
o flc savaIlc ifscl.

8imilarlv, in Iicfzsclc's casc, flc idca o grand olifics" as flc acf o

Ircaling in fwo flc lisforv o flc world ccrfainlv is insircd Iv flc olifi-
cal rcvolufion, Iuf again lilosolv (as anfililosolv) aroriafcs flc
rcvolufionarv cvcnf or ifs own uroscs, Icorc rclving on flc cxlosivc
radicalism o flc arcli-olifical acf flaf is flus ormcd as lcvcragc fo rcjccf
all acfuallv cxisfing olifics, including rcvolufionarv olifics, as Icing inau-
flcnfic in comarison:
Iicfzsclc adofs wifl rcgard fo flc rcvolufionarv acf a raorf o or-
mal ascinafion and suIsfanfivc rculsion. Hc rooscs or limscl fo
rcndcr ormallv cquivalcnf flc lilosolical acf as an acf o flouglf
and flc aarcnf cxlosivc owcr o flc olifico-lisforical rcvolufion.
In flis scnsc, flougl if is diiculf fo crccivc, I lold flaf flcrc is a
rimordial sufurc fo olifics ifscl af worl in flc Iicfzsclcan disosifi.
Tlc lilosolical acf is, I would sav, archi-political, in flaf if rooscs
ifscl fo rcvolufionizc all o lumanifv on a morc radical lcvcl flan flaf
o flc calculafions o olifics. Irom flis lcf us rcfain flaf arcli-olifics

Iadiou, 8ilcncc, solisismc, sainfcfc," . .
I A

docs nof dcsignafc flc fradifional lilosolical urosc o inding a

ground or olifics. Tlc logic, oncc again, is a logic o rivalrv, and nof
onc o ounding ovcrsiglf |surlomI ondafcur|. If is flc lilosolical
acf ifscl flaf is arcli-olifical, in flc scnsc flaf ifs lisforical cxlosion
will slow, rcfroacfivclv, flaf flc olifical rcvolufion rocrlv scaling
las nof Iccn fruflul, or las nof Iccn auflcnfic.

I, flrougl anfililosolv's linlagc onfo olifics, flc rcvolufionarv

cvcnf is rcaIsorIcd info flc anfililosolcr's own discoursc, flcn a circular
argumcnf Iccomcs incvifaIlc. Iicfzsclc musf Iofl and af flc fimc dcclarc
flaf lc prcparcs an cvcnf morc radical flan anv cccfivc olifico-lisforical
cvcnf and guarantcc flc auflcnficifv o flis Ircal solclv on flis Iasis o flis
vcrv dcclarafion. Wlcncc flc diiculfv o dcciding wlcflcr Iicfzsclc,
flrougl Zaraflusfra, mcrclv rcarcs flc ovcrman or wlcflcr lc is alrcadv
flc irsf ovcrman limscl:
I flinl flaf flis circlc, wlicl manicsfs ifscl lcrc in a suIjccfivc cxo-
surc wlosc sinccrifv is almosf flaf o a ccrfain sainflincss, is in frufl flc
circlc o all arcli-olifics. 8incc if docs nof counf flc cvcnf as ifs condi-
fion, Iuf raflcr dcfains if or rcfcnds fo dcfain if in flc acf o flouglf
ifscl, if cannof discriminafc ifs cccfivifv rom ifs announccmcnf. Tlc
cnfirc crsona o Zaraflusfra namcs flis circlc and givcs flc Iool ifs
fonc o sfrangc undccidaIilifv on flc qucsfion o wlcflcr Zaraflusfra
is flc igurc o flc acf's cccfivifv or flc igurc o ifs rolccv urc
and simlc.

Tlis is wlv Iicfzsclc, cvcn morc so flan anv oflcr anfililosolcr,

musf ncccssarilv acar in crson wiflin lis own scccl. Iadiou gocs so
ar as fo dcinc Iicfzsclc's madncss in fcrms o flis vcrv circlc, in wlicl
flc cnunciafing suIjccf so fo scal alls info lis own cnunciafions, wlcrcas
all lilosolv would rccisclv Ic aIlc fo do wiflouf flc qucsfion o Wlo
scals?":
I would lold flaf flc qucsfion wlo?," wlcncvcr if insisfs or rcfurns,
surcsscs flc mosf originarv gcsfurc o lilosolv, wlicl, undcr flc
condifion o maflcmafics, las rccisclv dclovcd flc dialogical flcmc,
flaf is fo sav, flc flcmc o a sfafcmcnf flaf is ossiIlv suIfracfcd rom
flc originarincss o flc qucsfion wlo?". Ililosolv las Iccn ossiIlc

Iadiou, Casscr cn dcux l'histoirc du mondc, . .

Ibid., . .
I I

onlv Iv admiffing flc ossiIilifv o an anonvmous sfafcmcnf, flaf is fo

sav, a sfafcmcnf wlosc cxaminafion and circulafion do nof dccnd im-
mcdiafclv on flc qucsfion o wlo ormulafcs if.

As wc will scc, Iicfzsclc's arcli-olifical and Wiffgcnsfcin's arcli-acs-

flcfic acf imosc on us flc fasl o clariving, Iv wav o confrasf, flc o-
crafions wifl wlicl lilosolv aroaclcs flc cvcnf. And vcf, wc will also
scc flaf anfililosolv, asidc rom roviding flc lilosolcr wifl a scrics
o rcsccfaIlc and crlas indiscnsaIlc infcrlocufors, rcscnfs a consfanf
fcmfafion wiflin Iadiou's own lilosolv.
Icorc ormulafing a scrics o qucsfions and lcssons fo Ic drawn rom flc
rivalrv Icfwccn lilosolv and anfililosolv in Iadiou's infcrrcfafion,
lowcvcr, I wanf fo sulcmcnf flc lisf o invarianf fraifs wifl wlaf is crlas
flc quinfcsscnfial lrasc in flc sfvlcIool o flc anfililosolcr, a quofc
wlicl Iorgcs Iv wav o |amcs Ioswcll affriIufcs fo William Hcnrv Hudson,
in lis cssav AIouf Thc Iurplc Iand," rom Othcr Inquisitions: Imroving flc
crccfion o a lrasc divulgcd Iv Ioswcll, Hudson savs flaf manv fimcs in
lis lic lc undcrfool flc sfudv o mcfalvsics, Iuf laincss alwavs infcr-
rufcd lim."

Iorgcs, lilc mosf anfililosolcrs, flus fvicallv discrcdifs

lilosolv's claims Iv acaling fo flc infcnsifv o a suIjccfivc or cxisfcnfial
cxcricncc, flc flrill o wlicl is alonc caaIlc o roducing acfual lai-
ncss. In acf, alrcadv Wiffgcnsfcin lad clf flc nccd fo rclv on arf, Iuf also
on rcligion, in arficular Clrisfianifv, so as fo alludc fo flaf unsavaIlc scnsc
o flc world wlicl malcs lic Iofl Icaufiul" and lav," as lc nofcd in
lis diarv, falling aIouf Iicfzsclc: To fcll flc frufl Clrisfianifv is flc onlv
afl flaf lcads wifl ccrfainfv fo laincss," wlcrcIv laincss, as Iadiou
commcnfs, dcsignafcs lic wifl scnsc (flc world racficcd according fo ifs
scnsc, wlicl is, as was flc casc or Iascal, aIscnf rom flc world ifscl)."

Tlis goal - wlicl in addifion fo laincss ofcn rcccivcs flc connofafion o
a ccrfain sainflincss - is ulfimafclv flaf or wlicl lilosolv, according fo
ifs anfililosolical dcfracfors or sccrcf comcfifors, can onlv Ic an oIsfa-
clc flaf musf Ic rcmovcd Iuf also ridiculcd.

Ibid., . .

Iorgcs, AIouf Thc Iurplc Iand," Othcr Inquisitions, . .

Wiffgcnsfcin, quofcd in Iav Monl, Iuduig Wittgcnstcin: Thc Duty o/ Gcnius, Icw
Yorl and Iondon, Icnguin, , . ; Iadiou, 8ilcncc, solisismc, sainfcfc," .
.
I A

.
As or flc lcssons fo Ic drawn rom flis conronfafion wifl anfililoso-
lv, wc miglf sav flaf flc laffcr imoscs imorfanf rcvisions on flc fwo con-
ccfs o sufurc and disasfcr, as flcv arc dcvclocd rcsccfivclv in Iadiou's
Mani/csto /or Ihilosophy and Ithics: An Issay on thc Undcrstanding o/ Iril.
8ufurc," in Iadiou's Mani/csto, namcs flc ocrafion wlcrcIv liloso-
lv, insfcad o giving cqual wciglf fo cacl o ifs our condifions flaf arc flc
frufl roccdurcs o arf, scicncc, olifics, and lovc, canccls ifscl ouf and dcl-
cgafcs ifs owcrs fo a singlc onc o flcsc roccdurcs, or cxamlc, fo scicncc
during flc osifivisf sufurc o lilosolv, fo olifics during flc Marxisf-
Icninisf sufurc, fo ocfrv wifl Hcidcggcr, and ofcnfiallv fo lovc (or ricnd-
sli) wifl Icvinas and Icrrida. A sufurc lacns, in oflcr words, wlcn
lilosolv dclcgatcs ifs uncfions fo onc or oflcr o ifs condifions, landing
ovcr flc wlolc o flouglf fo onc gcncric roccdurc. Ililosolv is flcn car-
ricd ouf in flc clcmcnf o ifs own surcssion fo flc grcaf Icncif o flaf
roccdurc."

Iadiou's rcading o Iicfzsclc's lcffcrs and nofcs rom lis inal

criod o madncss, lowcvcr, rcsuoscs a raflcr dicrcnf undcrsfanding
o flc roccss o sufurc. Hcrc, lilosolv docs nof aIdicafc ifs own acf in
avor o grand olifics or arf so mucl as if aroriafcs flc owcr o flc rcvo-
lufionarv Ircal - fogcflcr wifl flc ormal rcsourccs o ocfrv fo guaranfcc
ifs rolcfic fransmission - or ifs own salc, wifl a aradoxical dcnigrafion
o cccfivc olifics as ifs rcsulf. Tlc logic is mucl morc onc o mimicrv and
rivalrv flan onc o aIdicafion and scl-caccmcnf. Tlc lcsson is flus flaf in
ordcr fo avoid alling in flc fras o anfililosolv, lilosolv would lavc
fo dcvclo a rclafion fo ifs condifions flaf, flanls fo a mcasurc o rcsfrainf,
circumvcnfs flc fcmfafions o sufurc in flis oflcr scnsc as wcll. Ivcn dc-
sifc a long jusfiicaforv nofc in Iogics o/ Worlds aIouf flc comafiIilifv o
Iadiou's uncfion as a lilosolcr wlo Iv dcinifion flinls in fcrms o cfcr-
nal frufls and lis rolc as a milifanf cngagcd in a fimc-Iound lisforical modc
o olifics, lowcvcr, flis rclafion o lilosolv fo ifs condifions and flc oc-
rafions wifl wlicl if frcafs flcm - flaf is, flc lilosolical raflcr flan
flc anfililosolical undcrsfanding o ifs own acf - rcccivcs lifflc cxlana-
fions Icvond flc lav o scizing" and Icing scizcd Iv" alrcadv rooscd in
Mani/csto /or Ihilosophy, now franslafcd in flc dangcrouslv idcalisf conccf-
mcfalors o suIlimafion," ormalizafion," and (rc)nominafion."

Tlis rclafivc silcncc crlas cxlains wlv Iadiou's lilosolv docs nof

Iadiou, Mani/csto /or Ihilosophy, . .

Iadiou, Iogiqucs dcs mondcs, . -.
I I

alwavs managc fo sfavc o ifs own anfililosolical fcndcncics. Wifl flis

nofion I am no longcr rccrring onlv fo flc fcmfafion againsf wlicl Iadiou
limscl, flanls fo lis dialoguc wifl anfililosolv, ufs us on guard and
wlicl is nofling morc flan flc rcligious fcmfafion o scnsc or mcaning:
Anfi-lilosolv ufs lilosolv on guard. If slows if flc ruscs o scnsc
and flc dogmafic dangcr i frufl. If fcaclcs if flaf flc rufurc wifl rcligion
is ncvcr dcinifivc. Tlaf onc musf falc u flc fasl again. Tlaf frufl musf,
oncc again and alwavs, Ic scculariscd."

Iuf I would sav flaf anfililoso-

lv fcaclcs us flaf flc rcal dangcr, including or Iadiou's own lilosolv,
is nof flc rcligion o mcaning Iuf raflcr flc radicalism o flc urc cvcnf
as aIsolufc Icginning, or flc frcafmcnf o flc cvcnf as somc lind o arcli-
cvcnf, flaf is fo sav, in flc cnd, flc conlafion o flc cvcnf wifl flc acf.
Tlc acf, wlicl oflcrwisc could Ic considcrcd simlv flc anfililosoli-
cal namc o flc cvcnf, uncfions vcrv dicrcnflv in anfililosolv rom flc
cvcnf in lilosolv. Iolifics, arf, or scicncc or flc anfililosolcr scrvc nof
as condifions Iuf as modcls fo Ic imifafcd and aIsorIcd info lilosolv
ifscl as flougl flc laffcr, qua anfililosolv, wcrc caaIlc o roducing, or
cvcn o Icing, a grand cvcnf in ifs own riglf. Tlis would marl a disasfcr,"
Iuf nof in flc scnsc o Iadiou's Ithics, wlicl dcincs flc fcrm as a comlcfc
orcing o a givcn sifuafion, including flc oinf flaf slould rcmain unnamc-
aIlc, in flc namc o frufl: Tlis is wlv I will call flis igurc o Ivil a disas-
fcr, a disasfcr o frufl induccd Iv flc aIsolufizafion o ifs owcr."

Insfcad,
anfililosolv rcscnfs us wifl a disasfcr flaf is closcr fo flc wav flc fcrm
is uscd in flc cssavs rom Conditions acndcd fo flc Inglisl franslafion
o flc Mani/csto, wlcrc lilosolv is said fo cxosc flouglf fo disasfcr Iv
imagining flaf ifs cmfv cafcgorv o frufl can Ic illcd and lcgifimafcd wifl
cxfrcmc, cvcn criminal rcscrifions:
Tlc lcv fo flis furnaIouf is flaf lilosolv is worlcd rom wiflin Iv
flc clronic fcmfafion o faling flc ocrafion o flc cmfv cafcgorv
o Trufl as idcnfical fo flc mulfilc roccdurcs o flc roducfion o
frufls. Cr clsc: flaf lilosolv, rcnouncing flc ocrafional singularifv
o flc scizing o frufls, is itscl/ rcscnfcd as Icing a frufl roccdurc.
Wlicl also mcans flaf if is rcscnfcd as an arf, a scicncc, a assion or a
olicv. Iicfzsclc's lilosolcr-ocf; Husscrl's wisl o lilosolv as a
rigorous scicncc; Iascal or Kicrlcgaard's wisl o lilosolv as infcnsc

Iadiou, Wlo is Iicfzsclc?," . .

Iadiou, Ithics: An Issay on thc Undcrstanding o/ Iril, frans. Icfcr Hallward, Iondon
and Icw Yorl, Vcrso, , . .
I A

cxcricncc; Ilafo's lilosolcr-ling: as manv infra-lilosolical sclc-

mafa o flc crmancnf ossiIilifv o disasfcr.

Tlis lcads mc, in a inal scrics o qucsfions, fo asl wlcflcr flcrc arc
nof also similarlv disasfrous anfililosolical fcndcncics af worl in Iadiou's
own flouglf. And i so, wlcrc?
.
If is nof jusf flaf lilosolv, in ifs corfs fo discnfanglc ifscl rom ifs an-
fililosolical ooncnfs, musf confinuc fo scvcr ifs fics fo rcligion. Iadiou,
in lis unuIlislcd scminar on Iacan's anfililosolv, is ccrfainlv clcar and
adamanf cnougl aIouf flis oIligafion, wlicl consfanflv orccs lilosolv
fo crorm an immancnf scission rom flc rcligious clcmcnf.

In flis scnsc,
flougl, and in sifc o flc crucial rolc lavcd Iv Clrisfianifv, if is somcwlaf
ovcrlasfv fo cquafc anfililosolv ifscl wifl rcligion's rcdilccfion or flc
incaIlc, in flc wav Icfcr Hallward docs in lis oflcrwisc cxcmlarv sfudv
o Iadiou's lilosolv: Anfililosolv is rcligion in lilosolical guisc,
argucd on lilosolical fcrrain," or again: Anfililosolv roclaims an
incaIlc, fransccndcnf Mcaning, grascd in flc acfivc rcufafion o lilo-
solical rcfcnsions fo frufl."

Wlilc flis ccrfainlv lolds fruc or flc casc

o Wiffgcnsfcin or Iascal, fo acccf flis cquafion as a gcncral acf would Ic
fanfamounf fo ignoring Iacan's affacl on lilosolv rocr as drivcn Iv
a rcligious scarcl or mcaning, wlicl is rccisclv flc sfuidifv rom wlicl

Iadiou, Mani/csto /or Ihilosophy, . -. Iadiou's lisf o namcs slould suicc
fo concludc flaf flc fcmfafion o disasfcr, undcrsfood in flis scnsc, is nof uniquc
fo anfililosolcrs Iuf alics fo Husscrl or Ilafo as wcll - and no douIf cvcn fo a
Ilafonisf sucl as Iadiou, as I arguc lcrc.

Irom Iadiou's - scminar on I'antiphilosophic lacanicnnc, scc in arficular
flc scssion o |anuarv , .

Hallward, adiou, . . Tlcrc miglf Ic good rcasons fo lold on fo flis cqua-
fion: Hallward can flus claim flaf Iadiou avoids flc rcligious dimcnsion o anfili-
losolv onlv Iv radicalizing flc urclv suIfracfivc, nonrclafional, or anfidialccfical
claracfcr o flc cvcnf - fo wlicl Hallward can flcn oosc flc dcmand or a rcla-
fional lilosolv, wlicl would Ic sorclv missing rom Iadiou's ocuvrc. Mv ongo-
ing olcmic wifl flis infcrrcfafion could Ic summarizcd Iv saving flaf Hallward's
orfraval (lilc flaf o Ianicl Icnsad) acfuallv dcicfs a onc-sidcd imagc o Iadiou
as a comlcfc anfililosolcr, or as somconc wlo is morc radicallv anfililosolical
flan all lnown anfililosolcrs, wlcrcas in mv cvcs flcrc arc lcnfv o clcmcnfs in
flis flinlcr's rcIuffal againsf anfililosolv flaf can scrvc flc urosc o a morc rc-
lafional (cvcn dialccfical) undcrsfanding o flc cvcnf.
I I

anfililosolv sccls fo awalcn us. 8imilarlv, wiflouf laving fo involc

Iicfzsclc's Anfi-Clrisf, cvcn Iadiou's Iool on 8ainf Iaul undcrscorcs flc
cxfcnf fo wlicl flis ancicnf anfililosolcr, wlilc cvidcnflv ccnfral fo all
suIscqucnf Clrisfian docfrinc, ncvcrflclcss lccs flc mvsfical or oIscuran-
fisf discoursc af arm's lcngfl, fo flc oinf flaf if cannof Ic dcnicd flaf flcrc
is in lim, and lc is alonc in flis among flc rccognizcd aosflcs, an cfli-
cal dimcnsion o anfioIscuranfism. Ior Iaul will nof crmif flc Clrisfian
dcclarafion fo jusfiv ifscl flrougl flc incaIlc."

Tlus, nof onlv would if

Ic imrccisc fo cquafc anfililosolv and rcligion Iuf if is rccisclv onc o
anfililosolv's ncgafivc lcssons flaf rcligion confinucs fo lic in waif Iclind
lilosolv's lovc o frufl as mcaning.
Howcvcr, asidc rom flc rcligious urgc, flcrc is also anoflcr wav o dc-
ining flc anfililosolical fcmfafion af worl wiflin Iadiou's lilosolv,
or wlicl flc Iool on 8ainf Iaul again can scrvc as a good casc in oinf.
Indccd, I would sav flaf flcrc is a roound oscillafion flaf runs flrougl
flis sfudv Icfwccn, on onc land, an corf fo dclimif Iaul's anfililosolv
as a discoursc fo Ic fravcrscd and vcf lcf af a disfancc, and, on flc oflcr,
a dcc ascinafion wifl flc ulfraradicalism o flis discoursc, wlosc fraifs
- including sfvlisfic oncs - as a rcsulf comc fo franscrrcd almosf invisiIlv
onfo Iadiou's own lilosolv as wcll, Iofl in flis Iool and clscwlcrc. If
flus Iccomcs rcqucnflv imossiIlc in Saint Iaul fo disccrn wlcflcr gcncral
sfafcmcnfs rcgarding frufl, flc acf, flc suIjccf, and so on, Iclong fo flc an-
fililosolical asccf o flc Aosflc's docfrinc, wlicl flcrcorc would lavc
fo Ic rcjccfcd, or wlcflcr flcv can in addifion Ic affriIufcd, as i wriffcn in
a rcc indirccf sfvlc, fo Iadiou's own flcorv o flc cvcnf. Tlis flcorv, in acf,
is Iv no mcans imcdcd Iuf flrivcs on sucl indisccrniIilifv.
I wc arc fo falc Iadiou's word or if, Iaul's anfililosolical fcndcncv
can Ic circumvcnfcd airlv casilv Iv scarafing flc invarianf orm o lis ro-
osal rom flc aIlc o ifs rcligious or mvflical confcnf. If will Ic oIjccfcd
flaf, in flc rcscnf casc, or us 'frufl' dcsignafcs a mcrc aIlc. Granfcd, Iuf
wlaf is imorfanf is flc suIjccfivc gcsfurc grascd in ifs ounding owcr
wifl rcsccf fo flc gcncric condifions o univcrsalifv, Iadiou wrifcs: Tlaf
flc confcnf o flc aIlc musf Ic aIandoncd lcavcs as ifs rcmaindcr flc orm
o flcsc condifions and, in arficular, flc ruin o cvcrv affcmf fo assign flc
discoursc o frufl fo rcconsfifufcd lisforical aggrcgafcs."

Iuf I would ar-

Iadiou, Saint Iaul, . .

Iadiou, Saint Iaul, . . 8cc also flc conclusion: In rcalifv, flc Iaulinc Ircal las
a Icaring uon flc ormal condifions and flc incvifaIlc conscqucnccs o a conscious-
ncss-o-frufl roofcd in a urc cvcnf, dcfaclcd rom cvcrv oIjccfivisf assignafion fo
I A

guc flaf flcrc is also somcfling aIouf flc orm ifscl - flc orm o flc urc
cvcnf - flaf is radicallv anfililosolical, as Iadiou limscl slows morc
clcarlv in flc casc o Iicfzsclc and Wiffgcnsfcin. Considcr, or cxamlc, flc
ollowing sfafcmcnfs (manv morc could Ic quofcd), in wlicl flc affriIufcd
scccl is quicllv ollowcd Iv a rcc indirccf sfvlc flaf malcs if imossiIlc fo
dccidc wlcflcr flc osifion Icing dcscriIcd is Iaul's or Iadiou's, or Iofl.
Ior Iaul, flc cmcrgcncc o flc insfancc o flc son is csscnfiallv ficd
fo flc convicfion flaf Clrisfian discoursc" is aIsolufclv ncu. Tlc ormula
according fo wlicl God scnf us lis 8on signiics rimarilv an infcrvcnfion
wiflin Hisforv, onc flrougl wlicl if is, as Iicfzsclc will uf if, Irolcn in
fwo," raflcr flan govcrncd Iv a fransccndcnf rccloning in conormifv wiflv
flc laws o an cocl.

If is urc cvcnf, ocning o an cocl, fransormafion

o flc rclafions Icfwccn flc ossiIlc and flc imossiIlc:

Ior Iaul, flc cvcnf las nof comc fo rovc somcfling; if is urc Icgin-
ning. Clrisf's rcsurrccfion is nciflcr an argumcnf nor an accomlisl-
mcnf. Tlcrc is no roo o flc cvcnf; nor is flc cvcnf a roo.

Io wondcr flaf Iadiou, in mosf o flcsc insfanccs in Saint Iaul wlcrc

flc urc cvcnf" or flc nalcd cvcnf" is involcd as a radical Icginning,
fcnds immcdiafclv fo furn fo a comarison wifl Iicfzsclc's arcli-olifical
acf o Ircaling flc lisforv o flc world in fwo lalvcs, cvcn flougl clsc-
wlcrc, or cxamlc in Iadiou's Ithics, flis acf is callcd a disasfcr: Iicfzsclc
is Iaul's rival ar morc flan lis ooncnf. Iofl slarc flc samc dcsirc fo
inifiafc a ncw cocl in luman lisforv, flc samc convicfion flaf man can and
musf Ic ovcrcomc, flc samc ccrfainfv flaf wc musf lavc donc wifl guilf and
law."

Wlaf cmcrgcs morc clcarlv rom Iadiou's discussion o Iicfzsclc is

flc ossiIilifv flaf flis dcsirc or an aIsolufc Icginning is a dcviafion duc
fo flc inlucncc o anfililosolv, wlosc cxfrcmism flc lilosolcr would
flcrcorc lavc flc fasl o fcmcring, cvcn i lc allows ifs acal fo cxfcnd
fo flc flcorv o flc cvcnf. Ivcn in Saint Iaul, wlilc discussing flc rivaling
roximifv Icfwccn Iaul and Iicfzsclc, Iadiou insisfs: Tlc frufl is flaf
Iofl Irouglf anfililosolv fo flc oinf wlcrc if no longcr consisfs in a 'cri-
fiquc,' lowcvcr radical, o flc wlims and cffincsscs o flc mcfalvsician or
flc arficular laws o a world or socicfv vcf concrcfclv dcsfincd fo Iccomc inscriIcd
wiflin a world and wiflin a socicfv" (. -).

Ibid., . .

Ibid., . .

Ibid., . .

Ibid., . . Iadiou discusscs Iicfzsclc's disasfcr in Ithics, . .
I I

sagc. A mucl morc scrious maffcr is af issuc: flaf o Iringing aIouf flrougl
flc cvcnf an unqualiicd airmafion o lic againsf flc rcign o dcafl and
flc ncgafivc."

Is flis nof also flc casc o Iadiou's conccfion o flc cvcnf,

wlicl as a conscqucncc would lavc fo Ic considcrcd as carrving an irrcsisf-
iIlc clcmcnf o anfililosolv wiflin if?
In olifical fcrms, wc could call flis clcmcnf flc scculafivc lcfism, or
ulfralcfism, flaf is common fo all anfililosolcrs. Tlis imaginarv wagcr
uon an aIsolufc novclfv - 'fo Ircal in fwo flc lisforv o flc world' - ails
fo rccognizc flaf flc rcal o flc condifions o ossiIilifv o infcrvcnfion is
alwavs flc circulafion o an alrcadv dccidcd cvcnf," Iadiou wrifcs in cing
and Ircnt: Wlaf flc docfrinc o flc cvcnf fcaclcs us is raflcr flaf flc cn-
firc corf lics in ollowing flc cvcnf's conscqucnccs, nof in gloriving ifs
occurrcncc. Tlcrc is no morc an angclic lcrald o flc cvcnf flan flcrc is a
lcro. Icing docs nof commcncc."

In mosf i nof all cascs, urflcrmorc, flis

scculafivc lcfism is ncarlv indisfinguislaIlc - in vcf anoflcr claracfcris-
fic vacillafion - rom ifs idcological oosifc. Going ovcr flc lisf, flcrc is
nof a singlc onc among flc anfililosolcrs wlosc ofcnfial lcfisf lcanings
arc nof counfcrIalanccd Iv susicions o rcacfionarv conscqucnccs, maling
flcir olifics ncarlv imossiIlc fo in down: Anfiolifics, onc could sav,
arallcl fo anfililosolv."

If is rccisclv sucl ulfraradicalism flaf lurls

Iclind flc urc orm o flc cvcnf as dcincd on flc Iasis o Clrisfianifv in
Iadiou's Iool on Iaul. In oflcr words, flc crucial oinf fo Ic grascd in
flis rcgard is nof jusf flc slif Icfwccn good orm (flc rofocol o cvcnfal
univcrsalizafion) and oIjccfionaIlc confcnf (flc aIlc o Clrisfianifv and flc
Icsurrccfion) Iuf low anfililosolv lcads fo a slcwcd undcrsfanding o
flc radical Ircal o flc cvcnf, including in ifs urclv ormal asccf, as somc
lind o arcli-cvcnf (wlicl is wlaf I would call flc anfililosolical dcvia-
fion o flc cvcnf qua acf).
.
Icf mc rclrasc flis in flc fcrms scciic fo Iadiou's infcrrcfafion o
Iaul - an infcrrcfafion wlicl, as a rcsulf o ifs vcrv own anfililosoli-

Ibid.

Iadiou, cing and Ircnt, frans. Clivcr Iclflam, Iondon, Confinuum, , .
-. 8cc also Thcoric du sujct, Iaris, Idifions du 8cuil, : Tlc dcviafion on
flc lcf ollows a crsccfivc o liglf. If is a radicalism o novclfv. If Ircals all mir-
rors" (. ).

Milncr, op. cit., . .
I A

cal fcndcncics, will furn ouf fo Ic ar morc amIivalcnf flan acars af irsf
siglf. In flc clafcr Tcxfs and Confcxfs," Iadiou discusscs onc o flc mosf
imorfanf dcviafions" or flrcafcning divisions" rom wiflin Iaul's doc-
frinc, namclv, flc usurgc o a lcrcsv flaf onc could call ulfra-Iaulinc, flaf
o Marcion, af flc Icginning o flc sccond ccnfurv," according fo wlicl flc
Ircal Icfwccn flc Cld and flc Icw Tcsfamcnfs is so aIsolufc as fo lcavc
no room wlafsocvcr or mcdiafion, and or wlicl Iaul would Ic flc onlv
gcnuinc aosflc: Iv usling a lifflc, onc could arrivc af Marcion's concc-
fion: flc ncw goscl is an aIsolufc Icginning."

Iadiou or surc is clcar

aIouf lis convicfion flaf flis docs in acf consfifufc a lcrcsv, dcvoid o anv
rcal oundafion in flc Iaulinc corus. Tlcrc is no fcxf o Iaul's rom wlicl
onc could draw anvfling rcscmIling Marcion's docfrinc," lc savs, adding:
Tlaf Iaul cmlasizcs rufurc raflcr flan confinuifv wifl |udaism is nof
in douIf. Iuf flis is a milifanf, and nof an onfological, flcsis. Iivinc unicifv
Iridgcs flc fwo sifuafions scarafcd Iv flc Clrisf-cvcnf, and af no momcnf
is if casf info douIf."

And vcf, as wc alrcadv saw aIovc, Iadiou on numcr-

ous occasions sccms fo idcnfiv lis own osifion wifl flc docfrinc o flc
cvcnf as a comlcfc Ircal, an aIsolufc cacsura, or a radical Icginning: If
was a flundcrIolf, a cacsura, and nof a dialccfical rcvcrsal."

Tlus, if is nof
diiculf fo susfain flaf flis docfrinc, undcr flc alluring inlucncc o flc
anfililosolical acf, slows fraccs flaf Iclv ifs own roximifv fo flc lcrcsv
o ulfra-Iaulinism.
Anoflcr wav o discussing flis sfrong anfililosolical fcmfafion in
flc fcrms rocr fo Iadiou's Saint Iaul is flrougl flc qucsfions o dialccfi-
cal mcdiafion, flc rclafion o an cvcnf fo ifs sifc, and flc connccfion Icfwccn
suIjccfivafion and flc suIjccfivc roccss o idclifv. In acf, flcsc arc mcrclv
flrcc crsccfivcs rom wlicl fo osc onc and flc samc undcrlving roIlcm,
conccrning flc rclafion o anv givcn frufl fo flc sfafc o aairs in wlicl if
irsf ariscs. In cacl casc, flc anfililosolcr's fcndcncv will consisf in sfrcss-
ing flc unmcdiafcd, disconnccfcd, and wlollv suIjccfivc nafurc o flc frufl
o an cvcnf. Iadiou's own anfililosolical fcmfafion flus rccafcdlv lcads
fo an ovcrcmlasis on flc anfidialccfic o frufl and acfualifv. Ivcrv anfili-
losolv, in oflcr words, af flc samc fimc roounds an anfidialccfic. Tlis
dc-dialccfizafion o flc Clrisf-cvcnf allows us fo cxfracf a ormal, wlollv
sccularizcd conccfion o gracc rom flc mvflological corc," wc rcad in

Ibid., . -. In Thcoric du sujct, Iadiou also comarcs flc olifical dcvi-
afions" fo rcligious lcrcsics," cscciallv riglf-wing Arianism (or wlom Clrisf is
mcrclv luman) and lcf-wing Gnosficism (or wlom Clrisf is urclv divinc).

Ibid., . -.

Ibid., . .
I I

Saint Iaul: Gracc, conscqucnflv, is nof a 'momcnf' o flc AIsolufc. If is a-

irmafion wiflouf rcliminarv ncgafion; if is wlaf comcs uon us in cacsura
o flc law. If is urc and simlc cncountcr."

Gracc, cacsura, cncounfcr - so

manv anfililosolical and anfidialccfical conccf-mcfalors or flc cvcnf
qua urc acf.
Tlis sfrcss uf on flc cvcnf as radical novclfv, aIsolufc Icginning, or
clcan slafc ignorcs flc cxfcnf fo wlicl an cvcnf is alwavs ficd fo a scciic
sifuafion Iv wav o ifs sifc. Iadiou limscl flus orcwarns us: Tlaf flc cvcnf
is ncw slould ncvcr lcf us orgcf flaf if is sucl onlv wifl rcsccf fo a dcfcr-
minafc sifuafion, wlcrcin if moIilizcs flc clcmcnfs o ifs sifc," wlicl malcs
flaf an cvcnf is alwavs an cvcnf /or flis or flaf sifuafion and nof jusf an cvcnf
rccrring onlv fo ifscl as sovcrcign scl-Iclonging: Tlc cvcnfal sifc is flaf
dafum flaf is immancnf fo a sifuafion and cnfcrs info flc comosifion o flc
cvcnf ifscl, addrcssing if fo this singular sifuafion, raflcr flan anoflcr."

In
acf, mucl o Saint Iaul rcvolvcs rccisclv around flis qucsfion o flc rcla-
fion o flc cvcnf o Clrisf's coming fo ifs sifc, as dcincd Iv flc discourscs o
Grccl lilosolv, |cwisl rcligion, and Ioman law. Tlis is onc wav in wlicl
flc Iool dcvclos and cxands a rclafivclv undcrsfudicd qucsfion rom cing
and Ircnt: Wlaf is flc cxacf rclafion Icfwccn flc suoscd univcrsalifv o
flc osfcvcnfal frufl (flaf is, wlaf is incrrcd rom Clrisf's rcsurrccfion) and
flc cvcnfal sifc, wlicl is, induIifaIlv, flc nafion Iound fogcflcr Iv flc Cld
Tcsfamcnf?"

A rcading o Saint Iaul flaf ocuscs on flc urc, nalcd cvcnf,

wiflouf including ifs linlagc fo flc sifuafion via ifs sifc, af Icsf is unilafcral
and af worsf misscs flc Iool's acfual innovafion. And vcf, wc arc also sccing
flaf flcrc arc good rcasons fo lold onfo sucl a rcading. Iaul limscl and flc
anfililosolcr wlo is alwavs lurling in Iadiou, in cccf, fvicallv down-
lav flc dialccfic Icfwccn flc old and flc ncw, Icfwccn frufl and ifs sifc, or
Icfwccn sainflincss and acfualifv, wlosc diiculf mafclu would Ic Iaul's
mosf daunfing lcgacv fo flc lilosolcr.
8imilarlv, i all flaf maffcrs is flc Iric infcnsifv o flc cvcnf's usurgc,
flcn wc miglf as wcll cquafc, in sfricf anfililosolical aslion, suIjccf and
suIjccfivafion: In flc guisc o flc cvcnf, flc suIjccf is suIjccfivafion."

Iuf,
unlcss flc cvcnf is rcduccd fo a vanisling causc o lvsfcrical suIjccfivafion,

Ibid., . . I cvcrv anfililosolv rooscs an anfidialccfic, lowcvcr, wc arc lcf
wondcring low Iadiou can airm flaf Iascal, Iousscau, Mallarmc, and Iacan, wlo
arc all anfililosolcrs, sfand Icorc us as flc our grcaf Ircncl dialccficians. 8cc
Icllaj Kaccm, Ircncmcnt ct rcpctition, . .

Iadiou, ibid., . .

Ibid., . .

Ibid., . .
I A

wlicl disacars no sooncr flan if acars, all frufl in addifion rcquircs

flaf a ncw consisfcncv and cvcn a ncw law Ic claIorafcd in flc roccss o
an ongoing idclifv: Tlc frajccforv o a frufl, wlicl insfifufcs ifs suIjccf
as dcfaclcd rom flc sfafisf law o flc sifuafion, is noncflclcss consisfcnf
according fo anoflcr law: flc onc flaf, addrcssing flc frufl fo cvcrvonc,
univcrsalizcs flc suIjccf."

Iaul, in flis scnsc, would acfuallv lavc lad an

infuifion flaf runs counfcr fo an invarianf fraif o all anfililosolv, wlicl
rivilcgcs flc lvsfcric's insfanfancous dcclarafion ovcr and aIovc flc lilos-
olcr's discoursc o masfcrv: Iaul las flc infuifion flaf cvcrv suIjccf is flc
arficulafion o a suIjccfivafion and a consisfcncv. Tlis also mcans flaf flcrc
is no insfanfancous salvafion; gracc ifscl is no morc flan flc indicafion o a
ossiIilifv. Tlc suIjccf las fo Ic givcn in lis laIor, and nof onlv in lis sud-
dcn cmcrgcncc."

Morc ofcn flan nof, flougl, flc cmlasis alls lcavilv on

flc suIjccfivc usurgc as radicallv and comlcfclv suIfracfcd rom all roc-
cssual and oIjccfivisf inscrifion: Ior flc cvcnf's suddcn cmcrgcncc ncvcr
ollows rom flc cxisfcncc o an cvcnfal sifc. Alflougl if rcquircs condifions
o immancncc, flaf suddcn cmcrgcncc ncvcrflclcss rcmains o flc ordcr o
gracc."

Iinallv, flcrc is flc qucsfion o sfvlc. Iadiou's own wrifing, Iofl in Saint
Iaul ifscl and clscwlcrc, could Ic dcscriIcd in fcrms o flc claracfcrisfics
affriIufcd fo flc Aosflc's lcffcrs. Tlc cvcnf o Clrisf's coming rcduccd fo a
urc Icginning, flus, can Ic fransmiffcd onlv in flc mosf laidarv o wrif-
ing sfvlcs: Cnlv a conccnfrafcd sfvlc, slorn o flc manncrisms o rolcfic
and flaumafurgical lifcrafurc, can Ic aroriafc fo sucl a rcducfion. Tlcrc
is no douIf flaf Iaul is a sucrlafivc wrifcr: condcnscd, laidarv, lnow-
ing jusf wlcn fo unlcasl unusual and owcrul imagcs."

Tlcsc affriIufcs,
wiflouf cxccfion, arc all alicaIlc fo Iadiou's own wrifing, arficularlv
in flc classical fransarcncv and concision o cing and Ircnt. Ivcn flc rolc
o maflcmafics is mcanf lilc a Iulldozcr fo clcar flc ground o all oIscurc
imagcrv, all vcilcd indccision, and all alc roundifv, jusf as Iaul sfavs clcar
o |csus Clrisf's araIlcs and miraclcs. Iuf ulfimafclv, wlaf maffcrs so ar
as flis rosc is conccrncd is argumcnfafion and dclimifafion, flc orccul
cxfracfion o an csscnfial corc o flouglf," wc rcad in Saint Iaul: Tlcrc is
in lis rosc, undcr flc imcrafivc o flc cvcnf, somcfling solid and fimc-
lcss, somcfling flaf, rccisclv Iccausc if is a qucsfion o oricnfing flouglf

Ibid., . .

Ibid., . -. C. carlicr: Iidclifv fo flc dcclarafion is crucial, or frufl is a
roccss, and nof an illuminafion" (. ).

Ibid., . -.

Ibid., . .
I I

foward flc univcrsal in its suddcn cmcrging singularity, Iuf indccndcnflv o

all anccdofc, is infclligiIlc fo us wiflouf laving fo rcsorf fo cumIcrsomc
lisforical mcdiafions."

Iuf is flis nof also wlaf malcs o Iaul an anfili-

losolcr? Cr, fo uf flis flc oflcr wav around, slould wc nof sav flaf flc cx-
fracfion o an csscnfial corc o flouglf - a docfrinc o flc urc cvcnf - slorn
o rom all lisforical mcdiafions and acfual occurrcnccs confriIufcs fo, or
sfcms rom, flc anfililosolical frcnd in Iadiou's own flinling?
.
Ior surc, flcrc is a ricc fo Ic aid or flis sfvlc o fimclcss singularifv.
Wc saw flis mosf clcarlv in flc casc o Iicfzsclc, wlosc grand olifics" rc-
lafcs fo cccfivc lisforico-olifical cvcnfs sucl as flc Ircncl Icvolufion, nof
as condifions Iuf as modcls fo mimicl and, i ossiIlc, fo oufcrorm. Iuf
somcfling similar occurs, I would arguc, wifl Iadiou's lilosolical frcaf-
mcnf o ccrfain cvcnfs, sav Mallarmc's ocfrv or Icclcff's rosc. Tlc laffcr,
flus, in flc lands o flc lilosolcr almosf Iv ncccssifv, i nof Iccausc o
somc lind o rocssional dcormafion, fcnd fo Iccomc scl-confaincd cx-
cmliicafions o flc cvcnf qua cvcnf.

In acf, crlas in no oflcr insfancc

is flis fcndcncv morc alaIlc flan in Iadiou's rclafion fo flc radical acfs
dcclarcd Iv anfililosolcrs, rom Iaul fo Iicfzsclc fo Iacan, wlosc rc-
crcnccs arc fvicallv nof cccfivc cvcnfs - wifl flc ossiIlc cxccfion o
Iacan wlo is caaIlc o involing Ircud as a rcallv cxisfing rior acf and
wlo Iccausc o flis comlcfcs flc cvclc o confcmorarv anfililosolv -
Iuf aIlcs or cascs o urc ollv and scl-imloding rolccics: Tlaf flc
cvcnf (or urc acf) involcd Iv anfililosolcrs is icfifious docs nof rcscnf
a roIlcm. If is cquallv so in Iascal (if is flc samc as Iaul's), or in Iicfzsclc
(Iicfzsclc's 'grand olifics' did nof Ircal flc lisforv o flc world in fwo; if
was Iicfzsclc wlo was Irolcn)."

Iadiou's rclafion fo Iaul or fo Iicfzsclc, in oflcr words, is similar fo
flc rclafion o flcsc fwo anfililosolcrs flcmsclvcs rcsccfivclv fo Clrisf's
Icsurrccfion and fo flc Ircncl Icvolufion. If is a rclafion o rivalrv and
mimicrv, dcvclocd info an amliicd mimcfics o flc acf qua arcli-cvcnf,
wlosc radicalism cannof ail fo scducc flc lilosolcr or if suggcsfs flaf

Ibid., . and .

I discuss flc cxamlc o Mallarmc in Arf, Iolifics, Hisforv: Iofcs on Iadiou and
Iancicrc," Inacsthctik, , .

Iadiou, ibid., . .
I A

cvcn lilosolv, afcr all, mav Ic aIlc fo roducc or Ic an cvcnf in ifs own
riglf. Wlicl is somcfling flc lilosolcr, fcclnicallv scaling, cannof
roclaim wiflouf alling in flc fra o a disasfrous rcscrifion flaf would
af oncc uf lim in flc cam o anfililosolv: Icf's sav, rovisorilv, flaf
flc anfililosolcr in flis scnsc is thc crcnt o/ philosophy," as Mcdli Icllaj
Kaccm wrifcs in an ocn lcffcr fo Iadiou: Only /or thc antiphilosophcr can
philosophy bc an crcnt."

Wlcncc, clcarlv, flc scducfivc owcr o flc anfili-

losolcr or Iadiou as wcll. Ivcn as a ncvcr-cnding fasl, flc suoscd ga
Icfwccn lilosolv and anfililosolv allows flc olcmicisf fo lavc lis
calc (fo dcinc, Iv oosifion fo flc acf, flc cmfv lilosolical conccf o
flc cvcnf, condifioncd Iv cccfivc frufl roccdurcs) and caf if foo (fo rcaI-
sorI flc irrcufaIlc radicalifv o flc acf as arcli-olifical, arcli-acsflcfic, or
arcli-scicnfiic Ircal or aIsolufc Icginning, Icorc discarding if as a mcrc
acf, also in flc flcafrical scnsc o flc fcrm). Tlis is wlv flc lilosolcr
acfuallv flrivcs on flc cndlcss sarring mafclcs wifl flc mosf illusfrious
anfililosolcrs.
Wlcrc docs all flis lcavc rcadcrs lilc mc, wlo arc nciflcr lilosolcrs
nor anfililosolcrs and wlo lool uon flis olcmic wifl flc amuscd cu-
riosifv o somconc wafcling a mucl uIlicizcd mafclu in a sorf uffcrlv
orcign fo flcir own culfurc? Ior onc fling, if lcavcs us wifl flc ofion o
inding a middlc coursc - wlosc fasl I would call flcorv" in closc roxim-
ifv fo infcrmcdiarv discourscs flaf worl on scciic frufl roccdurcs sucl
as svclonanalvsis or lovc or inacsflcfics or arf - af an cqual disfancc o
lilosolical discilcsli and anfililosolical rcvolf: nciflcr Ilind oIcdi-
cncc fo flc masfcr nor lvsfcrical confcsfafion.

Ior Iadiou, o coursc, flc fasl is morc sfraiglf-orward. Tlc liloso-
lcr, lc will alwavs sfafc, musf sfav in flc closcsf roximifv fo flc anfili-
losolcr, wlo alonc lccs lim on guard againsf flc fcmfafions o rcligion,
disasfcr, or flc scrvicc o goods" urc and simlc. In flc cnd, flis would
Ic flc lcgacv flaf Iicfzsclc, Wiffgcnsfcin and Iacan Icqucafl fo flosc wlo
sccl fo airm flc ossiIilifv o lilosolv fodav:
I flinl flaf all flrcc - Iuf Iicfzsclc's casc is wiflouf douIf flc mosf
dramafic - in flc lasf insfancc sacriiccd flcmsclvcs or lilosolv.
Tlcrc is in anfililosolv a movcmcnf o uffing ifscl fo dcafl, or

Icllaj Kaccm, ibid, . .

8cc flc conclusion o mv Tlinling flc Ivcnf: Alain Iadiou's Ililosolv and
flc Tasl o Crifical Tlcorv," Imcrging Trcnds in Contincntal Ihilosophy, cd. Todd Mav,
vol. o Thc History o/ Contincntal Ihilosophy, cd. Alan I. 8clrif, Iondon, Acumcn,
orflcoming.
I I

o silcncing ifscl, so flaf somcfling imcrafivc mav Ic Icqucaflcd fo

lilosolv. Anfililosolv is alwavs wlaf, af ifs vcrv cxfrcmcs, sfafcs
flc ncw dufv o lilosolv, or ifs ncw ossiIilifv in flc igurc o a ncw
dufv. I flinl o Iicfzsclc's madncss, o Wiffgcnsfcin's sfrangc laIv-
rinfl, o Iacan's inal mufcncss. In all flrcc cascs anfililosolv falcs
flc orm o a lcgacv. If Icqucaflcs somcfling Icvond ifscl fo flc vcrv
fling flaf if is iglfing againsf. Ililosolv is alwavs flc lcir fo an-
fililosolv.

Iadiou, Wlo Is Iicfzsclc?," . .
I A