Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996 20:36:37 -0400
From: Michael Hardt <104373.21-AT-compuserve.com>
Subject: steve's note di discussione (continued)


Regarding Steve's recent post:
 
there is one other thing I would like to talk about that I didn't have
energy for earlier, and that is the question of optimism and pessimism. 
I'm not sure these terms have any meaning for us, and they should certainly
not be used to mean optimism=naive and pessimism=cynical.  In any case,
what I think important is that whatever meanings they are given, the two
are not in opposition.  For example, Gramsci uses them in the 30s to say
our situation has gotten really bad (pessimism of the intellect) but let's
try to do something anyway (optimism of the will).  Negri reverses them in
the 80s to say stop this struggle that has become futile and suicidal
(pessimism of the will) but let's try to seek out the elements that might
lead to a new struggle (optimism of the intellect).  Each of these are
merely rhetorical devises, but in neither case do the terms oppose one
another (nor for that matter do gramsci's and negri's dictums really oppose
one another).  

Now, why is pessimism important to you, and moreover important for
communism today?  I realize that the society we live in sucks (is that the
pessimism you want?), but nonetheless I and you too want to look for the
elements in this society that exist and that carry already the potential
for future struggles and a future society.  Isn't that optimism, and isn't
that optimism proper to communism?

Michael

ps: sorry for the tone of irritation in these notes.  I've tried to curb
it.  I'll do better next time.    


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