Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 21:37:56 -0500
Subject: Re: terrorism


Glen,

You have me at a disadvantage here.  I haven't had a chance to read
Badiou's Ethics yet.  I gather he is critical of the concept of ethics
based upon the concept of our duty to the other, but I am unclear what
he proposes in place of this.  

I recognize that paraphrasing runs the risk of trivialization, but it
would help me to understand you better if I had some idea of where his
ethics is situated. I take it there is some contrast made between
resolution of projected self and truth.

With regard to your last point, I fear for my body as well. The past
month has made it seem more vulnerable in ways I never previously
imagined. However,with regard to your point about nation states and the
fact that boundaries have to be reinforced by force, I believe that is
the inherent nature of the paradox we now face. More globalism means
less borders and more openness.

What 911 has shown is the extent to which the US is the true
anti-globalist.  What it really wants is nationstateglobalism, to have
the best of both worlds, 19th century imperialism (ie. the oil fields of
Saudia Arabia) and 21st century space-time compression (what used to be
called fast track.)

This might be possible if the rest of the world would simply remain
asleep and keep silent, but it won't and there's the inherent
difficulty. The clock is striking midnight and Minerva's cyberetic owl
takes flight at fright. 

eric