Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 11:23:25 +0100
From: fiastr-AT-village.ios.com (Alessandro Coricelli)
Subject: Re: steve's note di discussione (continued)


Michael wrote :
>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).

I believe that gramsci's "pessimism of the intellect,optimism of the will" is
a "metahistorical" statement.Something related to how things ought to be seen
in general(not only in the '30s).Andre' Glucksman called it "cynicism and
passion".
The first time I've heard gramsci's statement reversed had been in the '70s.
Rossana Rossanda said "we need the optimism of the will and the optimism of the
intellect".Potere Operaio,Lotta Continua and the Manifesto were talking about
"the maturity of communism".
As usual,I believe that Toni got it right.I mean,better than anybody else.

ciao,
Alessandro

P.S. a personal note.As an old (getting older) former militant of Potere Operaio
considered one of the youngest at the time,I'd like to congratulate Michael
Hardt for the inspiring "Il Lavoro di Dioniso".Pure and fresh air.Much
needed for somebody who had to leave Toni's country.

Alessandro Coricelli
tel(212)593-2529




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