Date: 	Thu, 26 Feb 1998 14:19:48 -0500
Subject: Re: HAB: Money, power, and ... images?


On Tue, 24 Feb 1998 18:12:20 -0500  Antti Kauppinen wrote:

> (It would seem that the generation of such images is beyond 
the reach of discourse; that is the job of imagination, instead...

I would argue that discourse is always generative and 
creative.  Images are always conjured up out of arguments 
and conversations.  The interesting thing here is that what do 
you do when you recognize this?  If language is creative, in 
the sense of creating something, then any attempt to flatten 
this transitive context will involve a certain degree of 
decontextualization.  I would argue, following Adorno, that this 
attempt to freeze meaning, stems from an ontological longing - 
the desire for things to truly be the same - a moment of 
identity thinking.  In a very real way this is unavoidable which 
is why philosophy is required, on its own merit, to ruthlessly 
criticize itself.  However the remainder, that which is not 
subsumed under the concept, indicates the generative and 
creative force of language and action - precisely because it 
cannot be brought under control or manipulation.  In this 
sense discourse is an imaginary product - it stems from the 
imaginary attempt to conform reality to thought.  This attempt, 
however, is not only a mode of domination but it also 
expresses a utopian vision - of that which would be different.  
The attempt to change things through domination also reveals 
the possibility of changing things to meet the needs and 
desires that would make happiness and freedom possible.

ken




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