From: "Eric" <ericandmary-AT-earthlink.net>
Subject: RE: Paradox, Protagoras
Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2002 23:05:28 -0500


Steve,

It is interesting to me that the term metanarrative drops out from "The
Differend". Lyotard is still working with a similar problematic, but he
frames it differently.

I do think it is necessary to differentiate between metanarratives and
simple narratives. The latter are, as you imply, endless. That doesn't
mean that all metanarratives are one, however, only that each one
appears to be governed by a logical structure that creates an
eschatology; an emancipation from time by means of time, and a last
judgment safely ensconced in eternity.

If Lyotard argues against the advent of the Holy Ghost, that doesn't
mean that he contests history itself or becomes a-historical. Also, I'm
not sure you can contest history without first making a judgment.
History as narrative implies a prior choice about what stories to tell;
what facts to relate.

Lyotard is certainly far from being a philosopher of science. I don't
think this situation necessarily makes him only Newtonian. Certainly,
the concept of an event as singularity is not just another apple falling
from an arboreal tree. Linkage for Lyotard does not just involve
straight lines, but multiplicities. The phrase occurs in a sublime
garden of forking paths.

I meant paradigm as a pattern or example. No reference to Kuhn was
implied.

I suggest we all should review the index. There you will find a cluster
of references for such things as time, occurrence, is it happening?,
history etc. This means, at least to me, that the differend is neither
static nor a-historical, but dynamic in a way that involves both time
and history.

What Lyotard is saying about temporality is very relevant to his concept
of the differend, which means it is not therefore just a legal term. We
still need to uncover the time of the differend and recognize the extent
to which the differend may signify a new beginning within time. History
as event. A sign which may inspire enthusiasm. 

I think we still need more time and further discussion to unpack the
meaning  of all this.

It is still not completely clear to me why you think the differend
remains a-historical.

eric