File spoon-archives/heidegger.archive/heidegger_2003/heidegger.0312, message 117


From: "Anthony Crifasi" <crifasi-AT-hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Liberal vs. social democracy - Gestell/Gewinnst
Date: Sun, 07 Dec 2003 20:28:28 +0000


Malcolm Riddoch wrote:

>On Saturday, December 6, 2003, at 06:45  AM, Anthony Crifasi wrote:
>
>>When Henry Scholar criticizes Wal-Mart on the basis of gestell, doesn't 
>>this amount to criticizing Wal-Mart for a pre-understanding that is not of 
>>its or anyone else's choosing?
>
>Yes...so? When Heidegger criticizes Nazism on the basis of the will to 
>will, doesn't this amount to criticizing Nazism for a pre-understanding 
>that is not of its or anyone else's choosing?

The same problem would apply there, if he is criticizing them for something 
that is indeed beyond their choosing. I'd have to see his criticism 
specifically in order to comment. But would you agree that criticism (not 
philosophical critique, but criticism with the connotations of guilt and 
blame which have accompanied, for example, Henry's comments about Wal-Mart) 
presupposes at least that something is or was within the purview of choice, 
even if by neglect?

If that looks like an ontic question rather than an ontological one, that's 
exactly my point. How can anyone be personally criticized (as Henry is doing 
with Wal-Mart) for an ontological sway that was completely beyond their 
choice? Isn't this to conflate ontic criticism with ontological critique? I 
can see how an ontological critique can unfold the will to will underlying 
Nazism, but that is different from the personal criticism that Henry (and 
others) has been directing at Wal-Mart and George Bush, which has clear 
ontic ethical connotations.

>Yes, according to Heidegger, such is the globalising sway of our modern 
>subjection to ordering, it crosses all national boundaries, spans all 
>international commerce including the global tourism industry and capital 
>works programs such as hydroelectric dams, and challenges us forth into its 
>economy of power and truth in the constant representation of the same world 
>reality.
>
>What's your problem?

The problem is that Henry wasn't just critiquing the sway - he was 
criticizing Wal-Mart and George Bush, and those like them. That crosses the 
line from an ontological critique to an ontic criticism with ethical 
overtones. Doesn't such criticism presuppose at least the purview of choice, 
which is exactly what ontological sway does NOT presuppose?

Anthony Crifasi

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