File spoon-archives/lyotard.archive/lyotard_1997/lyotard.9711, message 13


Date: Sat, 15 Nov 1997 14:07:17 -0800
From: hugh bone <hughbone-AT-worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: Query


Beth Wilson wrote:
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REPLY:

"Le Differend" is the most completely indexed book on philosophy,
or language, I've seen.  Most of the author's paragraphs are numbered
and cross-indexed several ways in an "index of terms".

However "sovereignty" is not one of the terms indexed. "Authority"
is indexed, as are "genres of discourse", and phrase "regimens", and
"politics".  

The purpose of a tribunal is justice, but a plaintiff divested of the
means to argue becomes a victim.  Genres of discourse and phrase
regimens
dominate language:  What we can say, how phrases can be linked, how 
language works, how judgments (including truth/falsity) are made.

Such are the elements of ideologies/laws,customs etc. by which the
sovereign state (think 185 nation-states) justify life or death
decisions concerning their citizens. 

Sovereignty comes from God, or the more or less sacred documents
resulting from the American Revolution, and a little later, the French
Revolution. Or perhaps from any ideology which can gain power over
the "minds" of social groups, reward compliance, execute dissenters etc.

My interpretation of course, but not rigid.  If anyone is interested
it would be easy to discuss "Le Differend"  paragraph by paragraph.

Lyotard gives great deal of emphasis to certain Greek and German
philosophers, also Wittgenstein and Gertrude Stein, incorporating 
extensive quotes and comments. This material also is well-indexed.

Hugh

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> I'm afraid I've drifted a bit myself from much direct reading of Lyotard,
> which is one of the reasons I'm subscribed to this list -- I'd hoped to
> try and keep the braincells stimulated a bit in that regard, so it would be
> nice to see this list become more active again.....
> 
> With regard to sovereignty, I'm much more familiar with the term in the
> context of Georges Bataille's thought.  Where does this term arise in
> Lyotard?  (Does anybody more clued in than I am see a connection between
> the way the two use the term?)
> 
> Oh well, my $.02.
> 
> Beth


   

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