Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2001 21:15:38 -0500
Subject: Re: terrorism


Glen,

Thanks for writing. Badiou is still not competely clear to me yet, but
your examples are helping.

On the subject of the porno video, to place it in the context of
translation seems to put it in the Habermasian realm of communicative
action which tends to assume the parties are neutral, on an even footing
and simply attempting to "make their ideas clear."

>From Lyotard's concept of the differend and Levinas' concept of the
inequality of the ethical relationship, I think this situation may be
interpreted in a very different manner. 

What is at root here is not merely discussion or an aesthetic category
of taste, but male power and privilege. 

I don't think, from what you are saying, that Badiou is making the same
argument that Habermas does, but how does his differ from Habermas or
the arguments of Lyotard, for that matter?

eric