Subject: illusory subjectivity
Date: Wed, 15 Mar 95 1:45:28 MST
From: "Nathan Bauer" <njbauer-AT-acs.ucalgary.ca>


On March 13, David Westling cited (and supported?) an article by
Kathleen Higgins:
"It is argued here that Nietzsche completely rejected the
quintessential postmodernist notion that human subjectivity is an
illusion."

On March 14, Nathan Widder replied:
"As for Nietzsche's rejection of the idea the subjectivity is an
illusion, I wonder what the entire attack on Cartesianism and the
entire work of genealogy is supposed to be about."

At first glance, the two seem to be holding contrary views, but I
think that much of this dispute results from two distinct uses
of the term "illusion".

When Nathan W. defends the notion that subjectivity is illusory,
I don't believe that he is rejecting it altogether--rather, he
seems to be offering subjectivity in a modifed form.  This can be
seen in one of his previous posts (March 13), where he notes that:
"...Nietzsche 'deconstructs' the notion of willful agency by
showing how an agent is really an actor who is never entirely
sure of what he/she is doing."
This is a very perceptive and useful notion of subjectivity, as
it recognizes the fact that much of what motivates us remains
beyond our understanding (or even our awareness).  Note, however,
that it dismisses not subjectivity per se, but merely the notion
of a unified, fully aware self.

When David criticizes those who holds subjectivity to be
illusory, I suspect that he means "illusion" as a dismissal of
subjectivity altogether, and not "illusion" as Nathan W. uses it
(as a constraint on the traditional notion of a subject).

Seen in this light, I would suggest that the views on
subjectivity presented by David and Nathan W. are more similar
than they might at first appear.  This makes sense to me, but
I apologize profusely if I have misrepresented either of your
positions.

Nathan Bauer
(njbauer-AT-acs.ucalgary.ca)


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