Martin Jay, Intention and Irony (H&T 2013)

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History and Theory 52 (Fu 2013), 32-48 © Wsln Univsi 2013 ISSN: 0018-2656

The FiFTh AnnuAl H istory and t Heory lecTure1

INteNtIoN aNd IroNy: the MISSed eNcoUNter betWeeN

haydeN WhIte aNd QUeNtIN SkINNer

MartIN Jay

abStract

N nmp inllul isin s pu m influnil flins n

isin’s f n hn Wi n Qunin Sinn, i lg s nv nmningfull mp. ding s vls supising mplmni in i pp,

ls xn Sinn’s sss n ving inninli f us fis

wll wi Wi’s svin in is minn il m f isil

niv in u . In islf, su, s ivi l sping in is

mi Si vins n unsl n pxil lniv fn

pssuulis iis. t l pu in Wi n nxi u nisi

impliins f n llgl inn uniili in isil inpin n n-

in, wi n nfl is nil wi fiin. b ving ns-

s l f inninli s pquisi f m m vsin f Si n

mi in—in wi insig pvis sm pus n u ni s

im is is m—i is pssil su n ini iu n gis fqun f uninn nsquns wiu suning nlusin n

xplnin inpin is supi n. agins i lniv, wi

is nsu ps inll s plu psn, nwlging ini

unmining f innins vis giving ll pw nmp isin n

ss ilgi ln wn s in ps n i psn- inps.

Keywords: inninli, in, il nsuin, hn Wi, Qunin Sinn,

illuin

agul ms influnil anglpn pilsps/piins f is f ps f s hn Wi (. 1928) n Qunin Sinn (. 1940).2

b fis m i ms wi mj ws in l970s, Wi wi Meta-

history: The Historical Imagination in Nineteenth-Century Europe in l973 n

Sinn wi is w-vlum Foundations of Modern Political Thought in l978.3

1. tis pp is vis vsin f fif History and Theory Lu, psn n o 25,

2012 clumi Univsi in Nw y. t History and Theory Lu is givn nnull, n

is jinl spns History and Theory n cnsium f Inllul n culul his

n clumi Univsi (p://www.lumi.u/u/i/ [ss dm 5, 2012]).

2. F n inuin Sinn’s w, s ki Plnn, Quentin Skinner: History, Politics,

Rhetoric (cmig, Uk: cmig Univsi Pss, 2003); f Wi’s, s hmn Pul, Hayden White: The Historical Imagination (cmig, Uk: cmig Univsi Pss, 2011). M

ns M bvi, P Gn, dvi hlling, n Sini rusin f i spnss li

fs, Julin bug f mmning n pp vn clumi, n en kling

n Smul Mn f n f inviing m liv 2012 History and Theory Lu.

3. hn Wi, Metahistory: The Historical Imagination in Nineteenth-Century Europe (bli-

m: Jns hpins Univsi Pss, l973); Qunin Sinn, The Foundations of Modern Politi-



intention and irony 33

b v n inspi in n w n w s m ll “

linguisi un” in umn sins.4 b v n wn pfm-

iv n psninl funins f lngug, wil nnlss sising

nlusin ps is innl “x” mnuill

nsuivl. b v n m i n pilsp,

spill s i ws miliz l mn ins li Vi, in Wi’s s,

n hs n Mivlli, in Sinn’s. b v isin ll inlu

is mng sil sins, pfing sss ins is umnis ffini-

is. an ninu gn nsil nvs v w i mns

wi is in gnl n is f is nps in piul.

y, m nwlg, ni figu s spn n im fling n

impliins f ’s w, n s susin liu mg

mps i lgis. as ki Plnn ns, “ supising is l

f nnin wn Sinn n il isigp pi

hn Wi n Fn ansmi in piul.”5 t , f us, vius

sns f muul isg. ti ins in linguisi s fus

n v iffn sps f vs n inn umn pnmnn w

ll lngug. In Sinn’s s, i s n l Wignsin’s sss n

lngug s us min wi sp ssi wi J. L. ausin

n Jn Sl, ws Wi s wn m n suulis nlg

f li iss li knn bu, Np F, n rln bs.6 as

sul, Sinn’s pp s n nxulis n isiis, ws Wi

in ns is finl fmlis, in, sm wul gu, m nsnnl

in is nlusins n gnuinl isil.7 an spi i mmn ppi-

in f impn f i, Sinn inps i lgl in ms f s

f psusin, ws Wi is fix n un plgil n figul

pns sun n isusiv .

I is, wv, pimil us f v iffn ns f gvi in

i unsning f isil fil sm inmpil, fusing

n iffn lvls f isil s n wiing. F Sinn, wigi

f in fil is ul isil mmn isin is ing

n psn, mmn in wi gns invn inninll

cal Thought, vl. I, The Renaissance; vl. II, The Age of Reformation (cmig, Uk: cmig

Univsi Pss, l978). Sinn’s il sss ll in vlum I, Regarding Method , f

is Visions of Politics (cmig, Uk: cmig Univsi Pss, 2002).

4. F n vviw f funs f “linguisi un” in isil suis in gnl, s

Jui Suis, “Wn Ws Linguisi tun? a Gnlg,” American Historical Review 117, n.

3 (Jun, 2012). Insingl, ni Wi n Sinn figus in un.

5. Plnn, Quentin Skinner, 169.

6. Wi, su, i inv ausin in is un f “Wiing in Mil Vi,” Stanford Literature Review 9, n. 2 (Fll, l992), 187, w lim bs’s nin f innsiiv

wiing smw ws li ausin’s nin f pfmiv imnsin f sp s. h

il g wi Sinn’s sss n inninli s nil in , n s miv pi i,u in’ vlp is impliins.

7. Wi m nl s sug vm s ppsiin wn fmlism n n-

xulism in nsiing, f xmpl, pp f Nw hisiiss. S is “Fmlis n

cnxulis Sgis in hisil explnin,” in Figural Realism: Studies in the Mimesis Effect (blim: Jns hpins Univsi Pss, 1999). bu is wn w s min iniffn

nxulis xplnins.



martin Jay34

m sming ppn. agins mps fix pp mning f w

f ll im, Sinn fllws Wignsin in sssing is us in spifi fms

f lif isil nxs. F Wi, w gs mpl mnings

impssil min, i is nnlss psn mmn, ls f

ps-f isil psnin f ps, is ms impn,

mmn in wi “is” is s l u ps, n ins vns

ppn in i. as sul, ws Sinn ps w psnis inlin-

in s ps s igin f niv ws ls is un mmn,

Wi fllws c in fning i “ll is is nmp is-

,” us mpsizing invil l f u pil, plgil, n

ilgil invsmns in sping nivs w fsin. In n f fw

xplii nss wn w, Mil r izs i iffns

in fllwing ms:

Wi’s nlsis f fml ppis f x is pnn ni n sm ninf u’s innin n n n ppl nx, n vn nvnins, n nws u

inpnnl f x. tus Wi’s mp iul w x ivs is ffs

is v f fm, l’s s, Qunin Sinn’s ff g w i really does.8

F Sinn, “w x ll s” is m fn w is u inns i

, w sp- iss ll “illuin f” n “p-

luin ff” imnsin f sp .9 t is, i invlvs innin

xpss in sing wiing sming m n is suss in inging u

w is inn. Sinn is ls ful isinguis puiv mivs, wi

pslgil ss nn ul puin f sp ,fm innins mi in i.10 r n “innins ” sming,

“innins in ing i.” agins s w s f mning f

xs usi f su uil innins, f xmpl Nw ciis w us nl

l n nv ll, Sinn ls fs lim wiu ing

in un w us inn in i vl ins, mning f xs will

sp us. h is ful, wv, n lim mning is uil n-

ing u uil innin:

I s n imppi in sping f w’s ving mning f m wi wi

ul n v inn. N s m sis nfli wi is pssiili. I v nnn nl wi nvs pin wv wi is doing in wiing w

wis mus lvn inpin, n us wi lim amongst in-

p’s ss mus v f wi’s innins in wiing w wis.11

8. Mil r, “culul ciiism n Pliil t: hn Wi’s ris f his,”

Political Theory 16, n. 4 (Nvm, 1988), 639-640.

9. Qunin Sinn, “Sm Plms in anlsis f tug n ain,” in Meaning and Context: Quentin Skinner and his Critics, . Jms tull (oxf: oxf Univsi Pss, 1988),

111-112. F n gumn ss Sinn smims nfuss w, s P J. Sing,“anlsis n his f Pliil tug,” American Political Science Review 103, n. 1 (Fu-

, 2009), 137.

10. Sinn, “Mivs, Innins, n Inpins f txs,” in Meaning and Context.11. Ibid., 76. Sing isinguiss wn sng n w vsin f Sinn’s inn-

inlis gumn, nwlging i is l Sinn pss upls (Sing,

“anlsis n his f Pliil tug,” 138).




disving w pisl isin nggs in v is, su,

llnging s. Sinn’s suggsin is w n lvn mix

f nvnins ug wi us mus xpss i innins, wi llws

us siu m in plmil fil f mningful lnivs. alug m

n m inlizins f quisiin f pw influn, xul

invnins inn pfmivl lgiim su gls. F isins

unsn sp , win wis, v l siu

i gins p f pviling nvninl nx f im f is

nuniin, n ls unsn pxim uin f wm i ws

inn.

t m iffiulis, s mn iis (mslf mng m), v gu,

in slising w xl lvn nxs mig v n, in ging

ss m wiu invnin f xul vin ns in-

p in un.12 as in s f siuing is in iniviul xpins f

s w gn, fn, issmin m, w f wi llng-

ing s f nwing w fin xpin islf, s wll s w gin ss

i in s f isil figus lng . W nn sil w

ws mn f us f w slis w m v mn

f s w u m in fis pl. an in iin, sm f s w

in is, spill inlluls, p i s will psi

xns wll n immi il sving s i pxim uin.

I m, mv, usful, if w slf-nsius u w w ing,

mp w s m nwn s “inl nsuin” f inn

lgi f gumns ws is w ing. tis mig invlv, s i

s in w f Jügn hms, ps-f ml f vlpmn s

n ln uls unling vluin f iin f ug.13 Su

ml n vn us s nmiv sn gins wi viins fm

il mig msu.14 empl m msl, i ms mnifs n

lifis unling ss invlv in vn ms ill miguus

xs. a vin f is pp n fun in mp f pilsps li

Luis aluss wi is f pliil ug s sis f ni-

ins pis ppl l iss slv n ig lvl

unslv issus lf i psss, fn lving pis f i wn

simul psi.15 as P Sing s gu,

I is n ing invsig, s Sinn s, piul mils f isusiv m-

muni—f “lngug”—f pupss f mining w piul ms us

n uns mms f mmuni. I is qui n nlz piul

12. Min J, “hisil explnin n evn: rflins n Limis f cnxuliz-

in,” New Literary History 42, n. 4 (2011), 557-571. S ls Sing, “anlsis n his

f Pliil tug,” f svl qusins nning lvn f sp- f win

xs, wi I i n is.

13. S Jøgn Psn, “hms’ M: rinl rnsuin,” Philosophy of the SocialSciences 38, n. 4 (dm, 2008), 457-485.

14. t s, wv, mig wll nsu s lss isin’s s n f sil

ii. hms, ws inl nsuins sign wi nmiv sn in min,

gnizs isinin in is ss “his n evluin,” Telos 39 (Sping 1979), 5-44.

15. Luis aluss, Politics and History: Montesquieu, Rousseau, Hegel and Marx, nsl. bn

bws (Lnn: NLb, 1972).



martin Jay36

s f ppsiins wi viw ws isving n xpliing i unling gu-

mniv suu.16

t sul m mv ln f pw w fm isil sujs

wi f is, w is m ins in fining figus in ps n

lisning ps ms f wvs. as Jms cliff n n-il mi, sping f l pp ll “isus nlsis,”

i is “lws in sns unfi us. I is ins n in w they v

s fl s sujs, u is nn ml wi smns s l

smns in fil.”17 In ming is pp, inllul isins

m m li isins f pilsp ing pvi gnlg f

un psiin n isins ns f ps, n in s ing fn un

pp nms in ns f inllul gumns n fns n

living, -imnsinl iniviuls, ws igpis m mpli

pu impliins f i is.18

as sul, Sinn’s insig in uisi vlu f sing vl

innins m in sp s, unsning m s ins sign

pu n um in fil f mping fs pvil im f

i nuniin, is sill in mn ws mplling, spill f inllul

isins w m w f llgil in inl nsuins.

Is vlu ms spill vin wn w nsi i in lig f hn

Wi’s plgil unsning f isil nsuin. Wi’s g

pvin, sill iling ws in wi piing isins mp

swim, is sss invil figul imnsin f ll nivs, nnfiinl swll s fiinl. b swing u xplnins unnsiusl pfigu

fini s f pil mplmns— singls u g, m,

si, n mn—n pnpul ps—in piul, mp, mn-

m, sn, n in—Wi unmins n nïv fi in psn-

in f n un ws “wi s ignli gwsn.” all is-wiing is

us in sm sns misil.

Wi’s full xnmi ssm, wi ls inlus fu ps f gumn

(fmism, gniism, mnism, n nxulism) n fu minn il-

gis (nsvism, ilism, lilism, n nism), s n suj nsil iil suin, n n n nn us nw. W is m

impn n f u wn pupss is spil pl f in in is sm.

In Metahistory, isinguis i fm ps in svl ws.

Ws “nïv” in Sill’s sns f unfliv, in is “snimn-

l” in is slf-nsiusnss u is funin s m f li ngin.

Is si il i is “sis,” misus f lngug in wi us

inspi u w is iz lngug us iz i.

16. Sing, “anlsis n his f Pliil tug,” 142.

17. Jms cliff, The Predicament of Culture: Twentieth-Century Ethnography, Literature, and Art (cmig, Ma: hv Univsi Pss, 1988), 270. I i is pssg in Downcast Eyes:The Denigration of Vision in Twentieth-Century French Thought (bl: Univsi f clifni

Pss, 1993), 17, s jusifiin f m nsuin f n ni-ulni isus mig

n v n nsiusl inn sm f s w piip in is iulin.

18. In l ss li f Min higg’s m f Nzism, livl liu s

isn ing lvn l f f pliil llgins f pilspil qusins.




“t im f Ini smn,” wis, “is ffim il ngiv f

w is n lil lvl ffim psiivl, vs. I psuppss

ui l nws, is pl f gnizing, sui

f izin f ing sign in Mp, Mnm,

Sn us giv fm i.”19

In, f us, s lng is n ms in mn iffn fms, n

s n n f mps unp is mulipl mnings, s wll s

xpl ws in wi i n w ug wpl, niv vis,

implii us, su s n f vi lngug. Fm nis vl

pfmn ngl in pun ms spwling smi vsl f fun,

in usull invlvs sm s f ns wn w lvls f mning, fn

“ppn” n “l.” t lim i psuppss supi nwlg

u w is l n p f ui igins in w is usull

ll is Si vsin.20 h ignn is fign mn w psssss

u ps will uliml s ll nn. tus in Pl’s

Dialogues, Ss nws in vn nsws inus is inlu-

s i wn sning pw, wil ll im sll pning

is ignn f m. appn ivgs fm li, u n p is

w f ivgn n , ls iniill, is n. Li nl li

fn Pl, ini us f mni is uns s nss us f

uius mns iv psiiv n, miwif f pin in svi

f nlignmn. alug smims p f is ling n isus f

is ngivi, Si inis, ls sin ci, is nmll xn

us f nili f is mivs. In G mis, fm wi m is

n, figu f eirôn is issml w xpss n fls s-

ing alazôn (gg) ug upliius slf-pl s smn lss lv

n ull is. t smingl sm gu uns u ll supi n vi

vs. tus, i is mll pl p unn, piil pis n

gg in uliml u im wn siz, s i is jusifil i n

innn in lning u ug is wn sning pw.

an lniv in f in, spill pinn isil niv, is

mi vin ls pis supi nwlg gins ignn. Insf s

f Si ilgu is sving nvsin wn

n sun, s is in uin in . In is s, i is -

in m w is unw f lg impliins f is ins

mning f s f wi is p. t u f pl nvl llws

uin s supi nwlg umps ’s n-

us ls limi gsp f s impliins. In gis—in f

Oedipus Rex Othello—n mis—n l xmpl is aispns’ The

Clouds in wi Ss imslf is m u f ini m—niv

nsin is uin’s wnss f u ni ,

ls fn n vl unil n f s.

19. Wi, Metahistory, 37.

20. t is, f us, n immns liu n Si in. F llnging n isus-

sin, wi nss i wi Plni, s alxn Nms, The Art of Living: Socratic Reflections from Plato to Foucault (bl: Univsi f clifni Pss, 2000).



martin Jay38

t lvn f mi in f isil nivs is vius, vn

m s n Si vin us f is fqun xpliin f gp

wn innins n ums. Insf s su nivs ps-f n-

suins f s m iv mningful lsu n vill

s in i, nwlg f ums n pvi ini isn fm

slf-unsning f pgniss. N un f ps w, f xmpl, n

fil xps illusins f ls n p nfli, n n ls-

ing si, n smims in f , if vi uns u pi. Insf s

is is fn umul sul f uninn nsquns f s ws

ffs m wll nsn ps n fs f s w wn influn

i wl, i is n i wiu sm in. tis is s n nl

wn psiiv xpins g w— Fis Wl W s “w n ll

ws” mns “m wl sf f m”—u ls wn s-

ps fm n pspiv pu psiiv ums fm n, s, s, in

s f fll f pgn rm n is f mivl cisnm. h

psi n lim supi nwlg, wi nsns limi izns f

s s w w invil ignn f um.

Su supi nwlg, s in s f Si in, is gun in

lif lug ppns m iv, is n ssil lniv

m ul xpsss u. as Wi ns, “in psuppss

upin f ‘lisi’ pspiv n li, fm wi nnfiguiv

psnin f wl f xpin mig pvi.”21 o s pus

i wi fn Vi’s us f m, “in psuppss wnss f

isinin wn u n fls, f pssiili f mispsn-

ing li in lngug, n f iffn wn lil n figuiv

psnin.”22 ofn i is pspiv f mpl isn, llwing

l-u niv pn mg, sms m iffn. tus

in s f isil in, psi is li n uin in , wi

ss nwlg f lg us sp piipns in in,

if n ug u’s fswing f um, n ug i

xpin f i nlusin f s.

o s i sms. F, s w nw, “psi” is islf ivi g, wi

ni minl pin wi s is finiivl v,23 n univsl

nsnsus u w i mns. an s Wi imslf lls us, n pns

lisi pspiv is llng n wnss f plgil imnsin

f ll nivs, wi ms m invil n-si n pil, us pn-

ing f in. empling is s g fm pin f viw f

s w lss n nfli wi mi mplmn f sm s,

win fm pspiv f vis. t sul is n inill un-

us , n ni n lim psiin f u-nwing Si

wis mn svign u f fiin, w s in nwlg

21. Wi, Metahistory., 37.

22. hn Wi, Tropics of Discourse: Essays in Cultural Criticism (blim: Jns hpins

Univsi Pss, 1978), 208.

23. on issu f minl pins, s m ss “Wn di hlus en? rflins n

hisil ojivi” in Refractions of Violence (Nw y: rulg, 2003).




wi ump inmpl nus unsning f . aing

pnil f sill m ini unin is pssiili uin

m nw more n isin insf s l is nv n pin

f inpiv pss. a i li unusw n vi mpl

sm nvliss, isin n nl pp up pl f “n

w nws” in Si in, wil in f ing nl mmn in unning

pss f mping, fn nfliing, ings f s.

In is m il vin f in, wi is smims ll “pxil”

“unsl,” psuppsiin f lisi psiin f supi ps-f u

is islf ll in qusin. ev sin su mnis s Slgl s

in Gmn ls nfin in pssiili f i ss li f

wl, in xpss ws in wi invil miguiis f lngug

pvn n simpl isinin wn ppn n li u n

fls.24 alug pxil in ul giv suj sns f f-

m, lv s ws v ll minins, i ls ul impl gniiv

nfusin n il iniffn. Wi ns sul wn ss in

“pvis linguisi pigm f m f ug wi is ill slf-i-

il wi sp n nl givn izin f wl f xpin

u ls v ff pu qul u f ings in lngug.”25

In ns f l mss f pxil in su s kig n hin,

gun is ffull unu fm n mningful isinin wn w

is s n w ml sms . Psiivi nv mgs fm

ssl suu f infini ngivi, lug iinl mmimn mig

nsu s n ni ini iniffn nil mn.

N supisingl, vs f linguisi uniili, infinil f

mning, n limis f npul sning, su s nmp n-

suiniss, fin pxil in ngnil i w f ining.26 F

Pul Mn, f xmpl, in is l il ps f psis

n nlun in wi nivs lws inup n snx mins

ipl fu. “In,” wis, “is pmnn psis f ll-

g f ps.”27 as sul, i is qusinl f isins s vm

in, f i is “v iffiul niv f isigp, ssm f is,

24. rmni in ws ms ll vlp in Fii Slgl’s Über die Unverständlickeit f 1800 n lui in su ws s k. W. F. Slg’s Erwin f l815. ofn, su, ini

spiism wn lng wi siul upin p xpss in llgil ms. F isussin

f s miguiis, s Msll bwn, The Shape of German Romanticism (I, Ny: cnll

Univsi Pss, 1979), 90-105.


26. S, f xmpl, Pul Mn, “t cnp f In,” in Aesthetic Ideology, . anzj

Wminsi (Minnplis: Univsi f Minns Pss, 1996), n kvin Nwm, Irony on Occa-sion: From Schlegel and Kierkegaard to Derrida and de Man (Nw y: Fm Univsi Pss,

2012). o suns f rmni in, in piul vsin fn Fii Slgl,v is impliins in lss ngiv ms. S, f xmpl, Gl N. Izng, Impossible Individuality: Romanticism, Revolution, and the Origins of Modern Selfhood, 1787–1802 (Pinn:

Pinn Univsi Pss, 1992), 55-67. h inifis pssgs in Slgl’s w ni

is inifiin f in wi f f mning, f xmpl, “u in quis

n simpl siving f infini u ls pssssin f infini” (i fm is Notebooks n p. 58).

27. Mn, “t cnp f In,” 179.



martin Jay40

wul sl fm in.”28 In f, n wning vm i

vn wi s f is is n fll, isins sul gniz in is

v su f is islf. d Mn’s isipl kvin Nwm gs s f s

s “ n n is f in, us in is niin f ps-

siili f is. . . . In, n sin n in, is isil us

i inups ign f fml usli wul wis minli

in is impviusnss ning n is wn pmin n using

mvmn.”29

Simill, ri r fun w ll “lil inis” psiin

nuiv m f ningn n suspiin f finl vulis in

wi ws mn nl n ing. Ins, in ws innl “nminlis n

isiis.”30 r’s isiism, s Fn ansmi s n, gvi m

inis n mpil mmn in iin: “is ul is ls

bu n rn, s sp. I wul pl m s

mp n in v i j pfm in is ug u

ppns susi f mp s i f is pi ss

is igs gins in.”31

F s, wv, w p f w n su nsnnl ss-

in f ini uniili, impliins f m il vsin f p-

xil in plmi, ling ls pnill quiism, niilism,

n ml iniffn.32 F ll is pviv sisn m iinl

ws f wiing is, Wi vls imslf pfunl uns wi

minin f in, spill in is m il guis, v pi

mplmns ulins. In is isussin f J bu, ws isi-

l lism gus ws win in sii m, ns wi sm ism

g Swiss isin’s “ini visin” l im fl fm ing in

wl. In gnl, Wi svs,

vins f sllizin f n Ini lngug is f spiism in pils-

p, f spisi in puli sping, n f in f gumn Pl ll “is-

i” in pliil isus. Unling is m f sp is gniin f fu

nu f sil ing, f uplii n slf-sving f pliiins, f n gism wi

gvns ll pfssins f ins in mmn g, f n pw ( kratos) uling

28. Ibid., 184.

29. Nwm, Irony on Occasion, 11.

30. ri r, Contingency, Irony, and Solidarity (cmig, Uk: cmig Univsi

Pss, l989), 74. F isussin f is psiin, s b tl, Rorty and Kierkegaard on Ironyand Moral Commitment: Philosophical and Theological Connections (Lnn: Plgv Mmilln,

2006).

31. F. r. ansmi, Sublime Historical Experience (Snf: Snf Univsi Pss, 2006),

42. t f mp ansmi gus r ps is iv fm dnl dvisn,

wi sis s “spi” us f lngug invlving “n invnin in lngug fm

above fm outside ffing smll upu in nml us f lngug m, ls f

in p f lngug, nnun nw ispnsin” (37). I is n s pllls wi Mn’s sss n impn f psis n nlun.

32. tw iis f mni in w Miil bin n hni Lfv, w, su,

in ims in i s fun vius in m Si lniv, wi gs n suj-

iv slf-inulgn n funins xps ilgil lusin. S isussin in Mil e.

Gin, “Ps-rmni In in bin n Lfv,” History of the Human Sciences 25, n. 3

(2012), 51-69.




w lw n mli (ethos) ing inv jusif ins. Ini lngug, s

hgl m l, is n xpssin f “unpp nsiusnss.”33

Wi’s ismf wi niilisi impliins sw in m p-

xil vin f in is plpl in is 1976 s gins pssuulis

iiism, “t asuis Mmn in cnmp Li t.” h spifill s w lls di’s “fv p . . . sis,

ironic p p xlln. In is viw, i is gins su impsiin f

mning upn mninglssnss ll f ps (mp, mn-

m, n sn) is. an i is gins su impuls nw

mninglss wi mning di’s wn nipilspizing s sp.”34

asuism is, wv, nl xm um f w ws ll “isis

f isiism” in l ninn nu, wi Wi gus “plung eu-

pn isil ining in Ini niin f min” “s ninu

fluis s minn m f pfssinl isigp, s uliv in m v sin.”35

a v n f Metahistory, Wi ufull nwlgs is wn f-

mlis, nilis nlsis f plgil pfiguin f isil nivs

islf xpsss sm ini isning fm n nïv lims u-lling

u ps. Wi in spin, lims n w nwlg

in is islf funin f plgil impsiin n ps ls

n inn niv sp, w f imps s will. “If i n

swn,” wis, “ In is nl n f number f pssil pspivs

n is, f wi s is wn g sns f xisn n pi nml lvl f wnss, Ini iu will v gun piv f is

sus s nss pspiv fm wi viw isil pss.”36

In inuin Tropics of Discourse, wul v sm m:

“kn’s isinins mng mins, will n sn n v

ppul in is g, n g wi s ls is lif in will n psss is

sns f ml impliins f m f inli i fvs. bu

ml impliins f umn sins will nv piv unil ful

f will is ins in .”37

Wi’s vlunis sluin—wi llw iis li cl Ginzug g ws nnling xm sujivism f Givnni Gn-

il, fsis pilsp, vi is l ins in bn c n cl

anni38—i n ll l s niilisi f pxil in, s


34. Wi, Tropics of Discourse, 281. Ilis in iginl. In “t cnp f In,” Mn xpli-

il invs sis, “ ili f lngug ill nm ning, fls usg, u

nm n us psi ning lngug is willing psi” (173).

35. Wi, Metahistory, xii.

36. Ibid , 434.

37. Wi, Tropics of Discourse, 23. In fling n is gumn, hns klln llsNizs’s svin will nn will ws n ng ps. S is “tingul

anxiis: t Psn S f eupn Inllul his,” in Modern European Intellectual His-tory: Reappraisals and New Perspectives, . dmini Lcp n Svn L. kpln (I, Ny:

cnll Univsi Pss, 1982), 136.

38. cl Ginzug, “Jus on Winss,” in Probing the Limits of Representation: Nazism and the“Final Solution,” . Sul Filn (cmig, Ma: hv Univsi Pss, 1992), 87-92.



martin Jay42

mmns w qui n.39 Ml will n lniv, spill n

nsns “snimnl,” isillusining flxivi f in n ss

us “nïvé” f pi mplmns, sm igl uius,

i li nsiusl ing will lif ex nihilo n simpl ing p-

fliv liv. as ew dmns s pin u, isis f isiism

l gmn f ini iu ws islf flin f lin

f s in mn eupn lif, n is sluin ss in gnl if-

fiul f sing fi is pvius siv sus.40 Nging ngins—

in is s, inizing in—n pu psiiv um nl if u p

hglin mi niv, wi n n n plusil iv fm plssl

isil s n lf f us inp. ril iniss

fm kig Mn v s in fusing fl i in m p-

ius ilil sulin f ngin, vn if fm sn rmni

l f mmimn.

bu pps n ing vm in nil ug n f

s will ilil Aufhebung, i mig nin n lniv

wiin ns fil f in islf. as w v l n, Si n

mi in lss ning isil niv n pxil

unsl vins unmin n sis f jugmn u wi nivs

m plusil n s. alug Wi smims nfls w

inisiminl, impliil invs isinin in svl ws s m

ffiv sluin mn f niilisi livism n is vin f will.

Wn isinguiss wn ps-f plgil mplmns n

mnifl f ps vns, uns, ins, n s n will mpl,

is il wing n isinin kn wul v ppi wn

pnmnl ppns n numnl ssns, ls wn ps s

i ws n s i is l psn. alug li kn, nis pssiili

f v ssing fm wiu miin f l, siss

impliin i is ppn ll w wn. h ls milizs ls

i f u n mispsn ( n jus viusl p-

sn) wn gus nïv lism s n psiivis nins f sinifi

jivi is fls, n pi mplmn f nivs is w in u isins

qua misins ll . his wn vng pin is n il ssums

pssiili f nsnn fmlism f il sgis n

xus pi f pssil plgil vis vill m sns f

ps. an wn xpsss p nwlg u ningn

quli f ini nin, w lls “uning f Ini nsiusnss

gins In islf,”41 will f us fm ssumpin i is invil—n

ssumpin s wi n siin nsiinl mmn in l

ninn-nu eupn is— is upliing Si sg f

39. S, f xmpl, nn viw f Metahistory Jn S. Nlsn in History and Theory 14, n. 1 (1975), 74-91.

40. ew dmns, “hn Wi: bn In,” History and Theory 37, n. 2 (1998), 173-

181. on mig ls gu gning nmp isin svign pw will

piul mplmn, Wi ws upliing lvin f sujiv nsiusnss in

rmni In v unmin li fing im.

41. Wi, Metahistory, xii.




using in ing u nlignmn, vn if xpsss i in n unnl

ilil fm.

t vlu f is pp is ppn nl if w un nw Qunin Sin-

n’s ugs n ving inninli. t qusin f in ms up,

su, nl infqunl in Sinn’s wn w, n n lgl in ms

f issu f inping innins f ps s ws sp s m

v n liv inill.42 as in s f sp s in gnl, Sinn

nns i is n n issu f mning f ws us, u f

i illuin inn, w i us w ping ug i u-

ns. Sinn minins in pimism u pssiili f ving

illuin f vn f sp s w inill liv, n s

sn’ sm fz jin suf mnings m i p ns.

Sinn i n v s mu nin issu f pvln f in

in nins f nmp isins s i Wi. bu n i ll n

inviw f Times Literary Supplement wiing is f lilism

mnsing ws in wi i sil l lin f pliil pii-

pin wul “m in f in gs isins v lws

piull lis. F i is sul ini vlpmn f Wsn

mis sul v n mpni ping f il

gvnmn f ppl sul nu ppl.”43

Sinn’s wn pssing ugs n l f in in isil wiing

lss impn f u gumn, wv, n is sss n impn f

ving inninli s pinipl s f isin. as n sun f

n pilspil s n wll s, is n f nvs

v issu f innin, wi pnmnlgiss, sp- iss, n-

suiniss, n s suggling iv psusiv f is mning

n funin in linguisi, il, n sil ms. as nius “”

wn di n Jn Sl in l970s mns, gumns fn

gn m n lig. Sinn imslf ws pins lign imslf

wi s w sis nsuin’s lim i ws impssil nw

innins f s wi n iu:

If w insis, s di s, n su n quin wn slising sming is s n ing l mns i ‘f su,’ n mil i fllws w n

nv p slis innins wi wi x m v n win. bu qull

i fllws w n nv p slis lif is n m. . . . [t] spi is

insising n f singn n un f w i mns v sns f u lifs.44

alug is g m nnius inpin f nsuin—

di xpliil sss, f ll, “ g f innin will n isp-

p; i will v is pl, u fm pl i will n lng l gvn

ni sn n ssm f un”45—i svs min us f vlu f

ls ing slis innins s s w n.

42. Sinn, “a rpl m ciis,” in tull, ., Meaning and Context , 270-271.

43. Sinn, “t Missing his: a Smpsium,” Times Literary Supplement , Jun 23, l989,

690, i in Plnn, Quentin Skinner, 98.

44. Sinn, “a rpl m ciis,” in tull, ., Meaning and Context , 281.

45. Jqus di, Limited Inc., . Gl Gff (evnsn, IL: Nwsn Univsi Pss,

1988), 18.



martin Jay44

I is, in f, nl if w n s wi ls sm g f nfin

m m vin f in, wi sn’ sn in pxs f

infini, silizing inizin, mig vil. t is, wiu isinin

wn w s ug w ing, ls w illuin

g f i sp s w, w nn ssum psiin f supi wism

f f. t unsn uninn nsquns ms sns nl if w

n inif w iginl innins w. alug u wn pspiv is

nv finiiv— is lws n i will islf iniz fuu n-

s f m xn sis wi iffn ums—w n ls nfi

fm pssg f im, wi givs us nwlg is ni s

mslvs. In f, i is nl pssg ffs us wv mium

f supi nwlg w mig lim v s s, w, f ll, m

il xpin w w n nl impfl .46

W ms Sinn’s unsning f inninli piull insigful

is pisl is snsiivi w mpins f pxil in pis

f unmining n inninli lims pu n slf-suffiin, n

inninli pups l mning ll wiin nsiusnss

f inning suj. t is, Sinn’s sss n mix f nss

nvnins in wi s pl llws us g n i, s pus

i, “v gn s pivilg ss is wn innins, s w f

‘lsing nx’ n isil mning f x.”47 as su, i ms v

ls nsuinis mpsis n “iili” s nss lmn f

ving sms uniqu n slf-suffiin, gniin n sp

n isl fm pssiili f i ing p f w p i n

fswing f w fllws. hwv singul n uniqu i m sm, v

sp ivs w mning i m v nl in nx f nvn-

ins llw i unsnl s.

t iffn wn Sinn’s vsin f inninli n m

in f in i ms pssil n w nin f inninli f

pxil iniss is, wv, susnil. F ws ss nx

s lgl nling pssil unsning f w is inn,

mmn f iniil nuniin n f l isil ivl, pxil

iniss un m is isling ffs, unmining mmuni-

in im n u -psnin l. I sms m impssil

ff nwn gumn n i si f . t is, w inl

v mn xmpls f mivln mning f lngug n sls

sussful mmuniin, wi nl x wi pssg f im.

W n u s m mpsis f psn llgl

infms iinl pilsp, i inl n nv fun in isil inqui-

, wi n nl gis inviili f mpl sn n spil is-

46. W n immi “xpin” f s winsss in is is islf suf-fiin g f npulizing w isins is islf vx qusin. I v i

ss i in Songs of Experience: Modern American and European Variations on a UniversalTheme (bl: Univsi f clifni Pss, 2005), p 6.

47. Sinn, “Sm Plms in anlsis f Pliil tug n ain,” in tull, .,

Meaning and Context , 103. h is izing psiin n nusl l, u

s sin is.




plmn. t im f isins is lws “u f jin,” m “unlgil”

n nlgil, s di wul pu i.48 an s, n pf -xpining f

iginl inn mning— nx f nvnins in wi sp s

i sming ug ws—is v pssil. N in, if i w,

wul i suffiin xplnin f susqun isil vlpmns,

wi invlv ls f innins puing nsquns n n sis.49

bu w is mns w m isling pxil in

s isss Wi, n p wi sm g f nfin m Si

mi in in wi ppn n li n mningfull isin-

guis, is iffn qusin. cinl, piing isins wul l

nn ls sm pivilg sns f nwing ums, vn gning

sm sill pvisinl, n s in media res. hinsig, w mig

s, pvis isin’s quivln f Si mi inis’s sup-

i pismlgil psiin f nwing w s i n nw. In f, i

is pisl us f ini iu in m ms mi sns

w n n Sinn’s injunin siu sp s in i iginl

illuin nxs n gis ws in wi l pis m v

nsfm, is, vn s innins.50 ys, Jn L m

n v inn f f iin m ll lilism,

n i wul nnisi pin ll n im, s if w slf-n-

sius funing f. bu if w siusl fqun l f uninn

nsquns in is, n i ms sns unsn um in n

ini mnn. an liwis, w n fin in smingl v iffn m-

lgil pjs f hn Wi n Qunin Sinn mplmni

48. Jqus di, Specters of Marx: The State of the Debt, the Work of Mourning, and the New International, nsl. Pgg kmuf (Nw y: rulg, 1994). on mig ls n mn

snni nlss f wings f si w n ini impliins f uninn ns-

quns, w f g ill. tus, f xmpl, v sin bn Mnvill’s Fable of the Bees, i piv vis n l puli vius s jusifi ungul m vi.

eil iis f n s n ls fin w un pil vil in m gnl g.

In s, vn n pv wi innins.

49. In inllul is, s wi Sinn’s min f ins, issluin f singl

uil innin, xpss in is xul , in mlsm f iffn innins

m up iin invil invlvs uninn nsquns. tis is u n nl wn pp nm is susum in iin—s, L n lilism Mivlli n pulin-

ism—u vn wn i is in, s f xmpl in Mxism Fuinism. cn, f ll,

is f cisini win wiu ini fn unliz innins f is funing

figu?

50. an w m is pin wul p isinin m Jügn hms

wn “sil ingin,” s n mmuniiv inin, n “ssm ingin,” s

n impsnl sing mnisms li mn n uui inli. as Sl bni s

n, “ws ssm ingin n u vn wn is discrepancy wn innin n

nsqun, sil ingin nn pl unlss in nsquns mpil wi

innins f sil is. I fllws ws in ssms n nlz, n in f n

only gsp fm xnl pspiv f i, f observer, sil ingin mus

nlz fm internal pspiv f s invlv. . . . [I]n n s, nsqunsf sil in p ‘in f iniviuls’; in l s un f sil

in ns xplin vi nsuin f is mning s gsp sil s.” Sl

bni, Critique, Norm, and Utopia: A Study of the Foundations of Critical Theory (Nw y:

clumi Univsi Pss, 1986), 231. If w ssum isil nsuin nmll nils

nmi ln wn s w pspivs, nssi f sm in s n uninn

nsquns is inspl, u s is pssiili f ums lil inn s.



martin Jay46

ni wul v inn n mig sill, if pss, n. aus, f

ll, n lws s jugs f isil mning f i wn is.

University of California, Berkeley

addeNda

I sn f f is ss w pgniss, w v gnusl spn wi

mmns lif n mplif i psiins. alug mps in n n

infml w, wi m m m suggsiv n finiiv, nius

fu nsiin f pins is in ss. Wi i pmissin, I ppn m

, sn f gius plsnis fm m. bu I will n fin fm

xpssing m wn giu in un n nl f i suppiv spns pi,

u ls f mn s I v n ing i w wi plsu n pfi.

From Hayden White, November 5, 2012:

au innins n inninli, lin wn n intention n n action is

qui l n sil gnizl in n aislin wl in wi gn is psum

v isnil n ins sm fm nsius isins n is

n fm sm minin f nsius n unnsius mivs. In ws,

psum lin wn innins n ins in wi ins implmnins

f innins sis unsil wi psnlil nin f ins s suls f unn-

sius s wll s nsius mivs mivins. In “di ti un sin Sisl,”

Fu ls wi ivs s ving g lss innsi, n im ( pups, gl

wi is liv nsin us l f n j pssss), n n j( ing wi, n pssss, s ff f lsing nsin—mmnil).

t pin is iv is pul psil n vn gn-spifi (l, nl, gnil)

n ling in nsiusnss (xp s nsiusnss f si wn) n mgs

nsiusnss s wn in n f n j f sisfin. I is is nsiusnss f n

wi ls uning f s f n j, n f pssssin f wi

pus iv un pw f li-pinipl.

bu f us u nw ll is. M pin wul s f desire

mivs ivi in fil li pliil ug pilsp wul qui

iffn fm s f innin. F innin sisf si wul qui

iffn fm innin u sm pil in, su s uiling ig

signing n ng-ffiin umil. t plm, f m, wi n mp

lin pliil , su s aisl’s Mivlli’s L’s, signing

f ig is lws pinipls f ig-uiling nwn in ws

pinipls m f g si n. a g ig is n s j f

nving vls ss n xpns sfl. W nsius g si pli is

min w is mn “g,” uns n s funin f n givn psn

psns’ innins u in sm innsinl (n inninl) sns. I is pisl w

u ini wn u pin u mning ll s wi numnli (

n pnmnli ln).

Nw, I n nw u Sinn, u s f s I m nn, mni is finl

spifill lss f lif in v i f numnl gun f ning. Wiis s, lss f lif in metaphysical susn. an sm gs f np

f wi unl n uiz i f lgil nnin wn

nsiusl niv innin, n n si, n n in, n . t np

f innin fv Sinn mig simil wi is sill liv in lw n

juispun, w innin s wll s sin n mns mus pvn in




m psn guil f im. bu “innin” is uns in mmnsnsil

w n in w ms i pssil isinguis wn ims f pssin n l-

ul ims. Fm psnlil snpin, v i f “im” is liv

lgl ssm un ws juisiin im in qusin flls. In nsius ug

n spill nsiusl il ug, innin is g inx f mning. bu

i innin n mning l in lgil usl w is piv.t is s, lin f lin wn innin n mning (f n in,

f isus, sp , .) wiin nsiusnss ln nn un f

“niins” in isus wi n u, wv illin, pfun, ln,

nv sms fl su, u wi is ii nws su. an

is w ini nsiusnss f ii is in. h fins niin (lgil

pfmiv) n n, if is smpi is u, is , if is

unsmpi, s s invliing f wl isus. o if is ll ini,

ii will s u “ilill” n sw w w ns f niin

simpl n invsin ismus f sm in ll fuls isus n givs i

is puli iginl “.” hisins f pliil ug g is, i.., n

in pning nw u pliil n Pl Mivlli wmv,u in pning l i us n i us ul m-

slvs. F us ps-Fuins, niin, li n fm f ppxis, is pl

w unnsius innin f u ( x) gins sw islf. hgl’s

illin ws sw niin is w lgil n pslgil m

inisinguisl, vng f ni. I is li “siv” in Spinz’s Deus sivenatura, w “” s n signl muul xlusin (either is or u n )

u inlusivnss n xnsinli (is u ls ).

From Quentin Skinner, November 12, 2012:

Wil Wi’s n m ps ivgn—n ul ivg in u il—i wsfsining fin I g wi ving u s u m n p. [33], in spi f

f is un u lign m s lsl wi Wi. as u s, n I v

nv ll in—lug I mm v njl nfn u is w

Wsln in 1970s, wi I n wi di r. I’s u I v nv

pfssinll ngg wi pi f in (xp s pminn p in hs’s

pilsp, s I i pin u in p 10 f m 1996 ). I nfss I v

n fin Wi’s fin fmlism, s u nil ll i, mlgill f

fm m wn pjuis l pfi fm i. his is viusl Vi, ws

min is Wignsin.

I’s u, wv, w s sng ins in i, lug w

ivg, n i u m i mig vn w ing w u w isis s. F Wi, s f di, f i is ssnill g s sis f

luin vis— pu i in lssi ms, mpsiz “luin.” F m,

ns, i is nm f f gumn— pu i in lssil ms gin,

I mpsis “invni” n “ispsii,” n i llg ls in mximizing p-

susiv f f uns. I ws hs’s ll-u in “t elmns f Lw” n

f invnin, n spill n i w n fil sn fm s-ll

mmnpls, iginll w m is ins in suj.

I sms m in sls wn in ing min pi f u il, lug

w un v lgnl inninli in lin ini un n. I’m

fi pfssinll I v nv ngg wi Si in, u I v n mu

impss Jnn L’s n n kig’s unsning f in s

m f filing gsp u mning f u pis. assing cisin

mmuni, k. ss: n cisins? yu n pfss ligin n l

lvn lifs wil sill filing “g” w i mns cisin, n ’s

ini gp. I wn if i mig w sing w u is viw f np?



martin Jay48

cll i’s v ls in f mi in u isuss, u i’s n qui sm.

b w, lug u i Othello, i s lws sm m ms ini pl

in nn is Macbeth: ving uns u xl s pi, n nvlss uns

u nil unpil. I sms m v insing—s u vlul sss—

n w g s ins f ps, Wi uns u v uns u np

f ll.t sn I n’ mslf v ning insing s u in is f m

i’s sill in in lin w is mn w is si. M suggsin is

, lug inis is smn w mns sming n is si, wi lu

n nxulizin u n nvlss p unv w ws mn.

Documents

Martin Jay, Intention and Irony (H&T 2013)