Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 14:37:08 +1100
From: hbone <hbone-AT-optonline.net>
Subject: Re: Wildcard: Skin and Constitution


Dear All,

 The last 5 messages are from members who wish to particpate in Le Differend
 project, and seem to agree on starting Monday, May 27.

 Three suggestions:

 1) Issues - Every one on the List who has read Le Differend will
 post/identify  two or three subjects or questions that interest them most,
 and indicate priority.  When consolidated, this information will establish
 priority for the close-read project.

 2) Using the Page index for Notices, and paragraph numbers for other
 material, the
 close-readers will confirm or revise their opinions on priority issues, and
 contribute to the List what they consider significant.

 3) Suggest that Eric, as sponsor of the project, give the final decision on
 any disputes or conflicts re: terminating study/ discussion of  issues in
 dispute.

 Other thoughts:

 The  lack of serious writings on Le Differend may have come about because
L.'s  concepts of phrase universe, and genres of discourse were
 taken as linguistic and/or semiotic technicalities rather than instruments
 for exploring basic of philsophic concepts.

 Language is the key to thoughts, feelings, community; all that makes the
 species "human".

 Lyotard's approach transcends the differences in native languages by
asserting how language preceeds and limits the social equation.

 Language, phrases, genres of discourse, underlie/support the political,
scientific, religious and artistic expression, interaction, and bonding that
 is the subject matter of philosophy.

regards,
Hugh

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Mary Murphy and Eric Salstrand <ericandmary-AT-earthlink.net>
> To: <lyotard-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu>;
> <lyotard-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu>
> Sent: Friday, May 17, 2002 1:29 PM
> Subject: Re: Wildcard: Skin and Constitution
>
>
> > All,
> >
> > Steve, I think you are being somewhat unfair to Hugh here. He has
> certainly
> > raised an interesting question:
> >
> > Why isn't there a direct commentary specifically devoted to "The
> > Differend?"
> >
> > Since Lyotard joked in his reading dossier that there was no real need
for
> > someone in a hurry to read his book once he stated its contents, it
seems
> > fitting there should exist a critical work at least equal in length to
the
> > original, especially if you consider,as I do, that "The Differend" is
> > Lyotard's most important work.
> >
> > The truth is even though there is a fair amount of criticism on Lyotard
> out
> > there, I don't know of anything that does what Hugh says - namely, deal
> > directly with "The Differend" on a chapter by chapter basis.
> >
> > Of the books you mentioned, I must admit I am only familiar with
"Lyotard
> > and the Political" by James Williams. (I don't think Badiou's Ethics
> really
> > counts as direct Lyotard criticism. He apparently wrote a critical
review
> > of The Differend, however, and this I would love to read!)
> >
> > Williams also wrote another introductory book entitled "Lyotard, Towards
a
> > Postmodern Philosophy."  I personally think that James Williams is
> > critical, but fair, with regard to Lyotard and feel both of his two
books
> > are very much worth reading. Neither of these books, however, really
> > constitute the specific detailed critique of The Differend that Hugh is
> > asking for. Nor do the other books you mention appear to really do the
> job.
> >
> > My two favorite book-length studies on Lyotard are Bennington's
"Lyotard:
> > Writing the Event" which Rod also mentioned. It does spend close to
> seventy
> > pages discussing "The Differend" but Bennington's approach is more
> thematic
> > than direct. (I agree with Rod, however, that this book is a must read
if
> > you are really interested in Lyotard.)
> >
> > The other favorite book is "Introducing Lyotard: Art and Politics" by
Bill
> > Readings. This book is more of a general account of Lyotard's
philosophy,
> > but it is very insightful and very well written. Tragically, Readings
died
> > a few years after this book was published.
> >
> > Since we have been discussing Nancy lately, let me give you his
criticism
> > of "The Differend" in paraphrase form from Williams: "the essence of
> > Nancy's argument...is that Lyotard's opposition of the differend and a
> > differend cannot be maintained. That is, if there is a general differend
> > between the presentation brought forth by any phrase and any situation
of
> > that presentation, then to speak of a particular differend is already to
> > fail to do justice to the differend in general. This is because the
> > isolation of a particular conflict is already a situation of a
> > presentation."
> >
> > To me, this appears to merely use one sophistry to counteract another
(if
> > you lose i win and therefore must be paid) and fails to deal with the
main
> > issues at stake in the differend as well as the question of presentation
> > that Lyotard addresses, but this argument may help to shed some
additional
> > light on Nancy's own approach to the inoperative community.
> >
> > With regard to you, Rod, I certainly wouldn't think of accusing you of
> > attempting to supplant Lyotard, but rather I think, in a certain sense,
> > this is exactly the obligation Lyotard has passed on to all of us who
> > remain interested in him. This task of rewriting Lyotard, rewriting The
> > Differend, has fallen into our hands, now that he has gone. We must
> because
> > we can!
> >
> > It is interesting, Rod, what you write about Bennington. I just read an
> > essay by him in which he acknowledges that he lost the thread of Lyotard
> > during the last decade of Lyotard's life and was only lately beginning
to
> > catch up with him again.
> >
> > I agree as well that Lyotard's later work shows the fugitive signs of
> > another Lyotard beginning to slowly emerge. We need to link up these
works
> > together to rewrite the differend - in order that the tattooed petaled
> > flesh may flower and the branded child who remains in bondage may sing.
> >
> > The task at hand:
> >
> > 1. create a detailed commentary on "The Differend"
> >
> > 2. write a sequel to "The Differend" based upon the following set of
> books:
> >
> > The Inhuman
> > Postmodern Fables
> > Lectures d'enfance
> > Signed, Malraux
> > Soundproof Room
> > The Confession of Augustine
> >
> > Am I missing anything here?
> >
> > eric
> >
> >
> >
> >
>