From: "Harald Beyer-Arnesen" <haraldba-AT-online.no>
Subject: AUT: Re: RE: The "Multitude" and Rights
Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2004 17:12:40 +0200



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From: ".: s0metim3s :." <s0metim3s-AT-optusnet.com.au>
To: <aut-op-sy-AT-lists.village.Virginia.EDU>
Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2004 7:23 AM
Subject: AUT: RE: The "Multitude" and Rights


> Marxism has often oscillated between wierd
> versions of either a reactionary critique of
> capitalism (in its more communitarian, identity
> forms) and a cheering on of its progressive,
> destructive aspects (the RCP, wierdo maoist cults,
> Stalin, Lenin). (And both assume the perspective
> and fantasy of control, imo.)  In doing a version
> of the latter -- albeit creatively wrapped up in a
> Spinozian gloss about immanence and absolute
> democracy, and urged on by the usual leftoid panic
> merchandising about 'barbarism or Empire' -- N&H
> reverse the insights of an analysis of class
> composition which place movement before its
> instituted or visible expression.

Angela, actually I'm inclined to increasingly see
Negri's project as being -- in part -- of a
religious nature in a Judeo-Christian tradition.
As such opening "Kairos, Alma Venus, Multitudo" 
with a quote from Revelation 21:1: "And I saw
a new heaven and a new earth were passed away:
and there was no more sea," fits into a pattern,
as for instance in the following passage from
the latest book: "There is really nothing meta-
physical about the Christian and Judaic love of
God: both the God's love of humanity and
humanity's love of God are expressed and
incarnated in the common material political
project of the multitude." 
       Oh, really?  
        

You used the term 'eschatology'. Hard to disagree
with that.  Personally I believe the road there
precisely has been travelled through Spinoza (the new
Mao) and "absolute immanence".   However that
is, The Multitude-God certainly seem to work in mysterious
ways.  Communism is no longer a potential human
project, but brought to us by the invisible hand
of Being. And then this strange term, ABSOLUTE
democracy, taking the place of the "Cultural
Revolution" perhaps?

Now this is not all that is there but none the less.

Hardt, on the other side comes over more as a liberal
humanist, wanting to please each and everyone.

Harald  


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