Theory Lang Mind

8/13/2019 Theory Lang Mind

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Preferred Citation: Bencivenga, Ermanno.A Theory of Language and Mind. Berkeley, Calif: University of California Press,

c1997 1997. http:ark.cdli!.orgark:1"#"#ft1$%n!#s&

A Theory ofLanguage and

Mind

Ermanno Bencivenga

UNIVERSITY OF ALIFORNIA !RESS

Berkeley Los Angeles Oxford

" #$$% The Regen&' of &he Univer'i&y of a(ifornia



!reface'his !ook co(ld not have !een )ritten if there )ere not many voices speaking inside of me, voices that!elong to *others.* Pro!a!ly the same may !e said !y any a(thor, !(t most definitely !y this one. +nd

the !ook )o(ld not have !een )ritten in the )ay it )as if a n(m!er of friends had not cared for it and

had not !een )illing to play )ith it. t-s nat(ral to remem!er them no) and to offer the !ook to them:

more than any other friends or enemies, they sho(ld !e a!le to find something of themselves in thesepages. +nd it-s a pleas(re as )ell as a d(ty to thank them: ent Baldner, /eff Barrett, 0(ccia

Bencivenga, aniel Berthold2Bond, Bill Earle, Calvin 0ormore, 3ig(el 4atter. 5ne of them tho(ght

the !ook very m(ch a *private* thing and did not )ant me to share it )ith the p(!lic. B(t at least t)oothers !ring me the !est possi!le evidence that that )o(ld not !e a )ise choice: they sho) me that if

it-s done right, not t(rned into a circ(s, p(!lishing is a good )ay of making ne) friends6friends yo(have never met, and perhaps never )ill.

By the )ay, this is not a tet!ook either.

rvine, /(ne 1998

1


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)*+

# 'he theory of lang(age and mind presented here is a dialectical one.

#.1 o it )ill not attempt to define either lang(age or mind !y gen(s and differentia: !y listing

a n(m!er of traits that m(st !elong to )hatever is to co(nt as lang(age or mind and that

;ointly represent


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#.1"% 'here is a strong ideological !asis for the a(tomatic association !et)een pathology and

deviance. 'hink for a second, !efore yo( !lindly !(y into it. m(ch fine str(ct(re it is possi!le to hide !eneath a collective reference +nd ho) m(ch

shame it is possi!le to el(de that )ay

#.%" ome other time *)e* might tell a different story, and in a )ay )e kno) it6it is in the

!ack of o(r mind. B(t )e m(st also do o(r !est to keep it !ack there


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can make no prediction a!o(t f(t(re developments.


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m(ch lang(age and mind as the origin is.

#.1 'his is in no )ay a red(ctionist effortA it is rather a genealogical one. 0ice try, partner. Head on.

#.G +ccording to )hat the narrative says of lang(age, mind, andnarratives, the self2descriptionprovided a!ove is del(sive: the point of a narrative, more or less )ell concealed (nder its

pretense of comprehension, is one of forcing the eisting str(ct(re


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)#+

1 'here are patterns to h(man moves.

1.1 3oves are events. 'hey happen, they take time, they !egin and end.

8

1.11 Events are types, not tokens. 'hat is, they can reocc(r: the sameevent can happen

repeatedly.

1.111 0o acco(nt is given here of )hat it is to !e


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7

1.%% 0o acco(nt is given here of )hat it is to !e the same pattern. B(t


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may!e never6someone$slife.=

1.""1 @hen !eing)ill to po)er is (nderstood as )e (nderstand it, this !eing mustret(rn

eternally. ts mode of !eing m(st !e a relentless


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!ehavior in general. 0ot if this mention is (nderstood as naming a pro!lem: as !ringing o(t

the inevita!ly historical character of o(r (nderstanding, the )ay in )hich o(r logic is


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same* event !elongs sim(ltaneo(sly to different patterns. epending on )hich one it

!elongs to, can )e epect it to al)ays remain *the same*> 5r isn-t it rather that differentpatterns )ill determine different identity

11

conditions for it, hence also determine differently )hat its repetitionamo(nts to> sn-t *thesame* event, then, sim(ltaneo(sly manyevents> +nd doesn-t each of those many events

resem!le apattern, a )ay for the event to !e *shaped,* to !e *modeled*> t is along s(ch

lines that )e arrive at the follo)ing position: Events are already patterns. 'he t)o differ asroles, not as distinct kinds of entities.

1.1%% *Me!ras are striped !eca(se they are social animals. n the presence of a predator they closeranks, and the predator cannot tell )here one animal ends and another !egins.*#oesone

animal end and another !egin> s the predator wrongthen> o) is that to !e (nderstood>

1.1" 'he vie) )e re;ect is !y far the most pop(lar. n a )orld dominated !y this vie), a )orld

made of ones, the manifold is proscri!ed. 3(ltiplicity is given a !ad name and often ends(p living do)n to it, deserving it.


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there are


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)e identify )ith a specific


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this !ad eample of seepage. Bad !eca(se it is an eample, and an eample !eca(se it is

seepage: eemplarity isseepage.=

1.G11 0ot at all: it can !e defined in terms of the

competition among patterns, and of its o(tcomes. + pattern is conspic(o(s insofar as it is a)inner in that competition.


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18

ca(se: they )ill ;(st !e regarded as )allpaper of a different kind=.

%.1% Conspic(o(sness m(st not !e (nderstood as the property a pattern has )hen someone is


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%.%% *Evol(tion* is the )rong )ord.

%.%" @orse: (sing that )ord is a form of demagogic propaganda. t makes yo( feel good a!o(t

eisting things. t makes yo( think of )hat does not eist as a lo)er form, one that didn-tdeserve to eist.

%.% *Eisting* is a val(e ;(dgment. t validates a selection process that distills a single line in a

ma&e and then imposes it as )hat *is the case.* *0onadaptive* amo(nts to *=

loser in a po)er str(ggle.* +nd mean here: a po)er str(ggle


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ya)ning6nothing he )o(ld !e forced to come to terms )ith, to act on=.

%.% +nd, conse$(ently, it is epected )hen those circ(mstances arise.

%.%1 'here are s(!;ective resonances to *epected* and *predicta!le,* to )hich )e are not

committed. +nd yet )e )ill contin(e to (se this terminology.

%.%% @e are )orking )ith )ords laden )ith a!(sive ideologies.

%.%%1 @hy a!(sive> Beca(se they have carried the day for so long, )hich makes for

complacency and arrogance.

%.%%% Clearly, open confrontation is favored here, tho(gh in general it re$(ires more of an

ependit(re than an esta!lished po)er str(ct(re. Co(ld it !e that ** favor a general

economy, an economy of )aste> -d say, Ies. B(t there is more going on Five them = another chance>

%.%"% +nd enco(rage theirevent(al complacency and arrogance> 'here is no )ay of keeping

one-s hands clean. @hich doesn-t mean yo( o(ght not to try.


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imposed on the enemy.

saving reso(rce. 5r


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admitting to it6another )ay of not doing the )ork that philosophy is. @ork that )ill go

thro(gh yo(, that )ill happen any)ay, that yo( )ill not !e a!le to restrain. 'hank Fod=

%.G%1% 'here is, of co(rse, a resid(e of contingency to any attempt at an eplanation, !(t that is

precisely the limitof any s(ch attempt.

%1

Io( may call it an ins(rmo(nta!le limit, and even congrat(late yo(rself for having reached

it, if it makes yo( feel !etterA !(t it )ill !e s(rmo(nted, and yo( kno) it. 'he eplanation


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%%

%.G11 + morality for !igots, and for the faint at heart. Co(rage )as a virt(e once, remem!er


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!iography6in case yo( are )illing to trade yo(r life for a hard!o(nd !ook K*+!sol(tely

not6only if get a paper!ack edition too*L, or have eno(gh po)er to manip(late themedia and force them to !e discreet any)ay.= *'here is* !y no) !(t one pattern, the !est

possi!le one. Candide has come to life6and is no *o"e.

%.GG Heality has a solid, tyrannical advantage over the (nreal. Better: having that advantage is

reality. o ho) do speak a!o(t )hat preceded6and still s(ffers from6this tyranny, a!o(tthat other reality on )hich the real is !ased, )hich the real has made (nreal> ;(st do, and

scre) the *contradiction.* cre) )hat selfishness calls *impossi!ilities* Cry>

%.GG% 'hink of ho) many *revol(tions*


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%.GGG1 'he (ltimate eample of prostit(tion: the market of ideas. f yo( )ant to !e !(ggered, ;(st

keep on )alking !ack)ard. Io( may !e s(re that someone )ill accommodate yo(.

%.GGG% f yo( stick to an idea


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%7

the most (n$(alified6articles and prepositions, may!e>=, so that thoro(gh *searches*

might t(rn (p empty2handed and people might act(ally !e forced to face yo(r tet in the

order yo( intended them to.

".%%1 B(t )hy then adopt this n(m!ering system in the first place> = Dor more than one reason. *

".% +niety accompanies any ne)s.

".%1 0ot s(rprisingly, if aniety is the anno(ncement of fragmentation. Pain )itho(t painA pain


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)ith nothing to sho) for it


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".%%G 'ho(gh it doesn-t )ork all the time. f it did, incidentally, there )o(ld !e no significance to

talk of *time.* 'here is time !eca(se there is aging, and there is aging !eca(se there is a)ar constantly fo(ght )ithin every one of (s ome people perceive them 0otice ho) m(ch dialectical confrontation s(rprisinglypermeates every )ord, ho) there al)ays t(rn o(t to !e adverse interests at )ork, trying to

appropriate the )ord. 'here are even those )ho think that *overstim(lation* applies to

)hat the '4 does. 'hey foc(s on the intensity of the stim(li, at the epense of their variety.

"." Unreality eercises constant press(re.


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"."1 Unreality is al)ays there. +nd so, conse$(ently, is pain. Io( need to !e constantly

anestheti&ed against it. Constantly forgetf(l. Endorphins are an indispensa!le component ofthe life process.

"."11 'here )here>Inreality. Contra the conventional )isdom, reality

)ill happen, *for no reason,* ho)ever solid and po)erf(l the forces of conservatism might

!e. Pain and aniety )ill invade (s.

".""1 n this sense


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and call it $(its !efore yo( even play6th(s p(rchasing a cheap, shallo), *pragmatist,* no2

$(estions2asked form of *rationality.* +voiding the tiresome, relentless *la!or of thenegative.* +t the cost of over)helming, revealing!oredom, for those of (s )ho were

overstim(lated children. Pragmatism is the negation of philosophy made into a

philosophical stance. @ith an ironically dialectical t)ist6!(t the ;oke is on them=

"%

".""11


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".""1% 'here are no progressive or repressive dr(gs. 'here are only dr(gs that are !oth.

".""1" 3ay!e everything m(st !e !oth


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lang(age to a)k)ard, a!s(rd convol(tions


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sketched a!ove. 'ho(gh more m(st, and )ill, !e said a!o(t this )ord.=

.% Fiven a set -of events and t)o a!stractions Tand of -, is more e'pressive than Tif

there are more


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.%" +ny set is a maimally epressive a!straction of itself. B(t that a!straction is


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s(ccess at s(ch an attempt, any feeling that the f(t(re has !een legislated, t(rned into a

linear str(ct(re, that one can !e reconciled )ith it after all


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of it. @ith the f(t(re, ho)ever, the forcing enco(nters more opposition: it is moreimmediately vivid, harder to deny, that what the future isis in $(estion. @e are not so

)illing to give that (p. @e are more attached to )hat )e are not yet/)e feel more strongly

that that-s eactly )hat )e are, that depriving (s of it is depriving (s of o(r !eing.

.""%1 on-t !lame this ro!!ery too $(ickly on *science.* +nd don-t feel relieved too $(ickly)hen science *goes indeterministic.* cience may !e the main opport(nity for freedom that

is left to (s: its


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pattern.

.G1 +nticipated violations of patterns are themselves patterns6on a par, *theoretically,* )ith

any others. on-t make too m(ch of their *fictitio(s* character, or yo( )o(ld !e denyingthem )hat impact they can have, despite their


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.711 'he first time am o(t at sea may find the )hole thing less scary !eca(se of ho) many

stories a!o(t it told myself


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they are often tempered !y the idle smile of those )ho *co(ld see it coming* and can tell

=: *ee, told yo( so.* 'hey are still getting something o(t of theiranticipatory )orkA they cansaythat that )as not a violation


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those ro(tines )ere not originally *intended.* +nd am talking a!o(t physical ro(tines,

involving hands and feet and


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;(st a sophisticated, stratified, compleified form of apingA in )hich instead an

incomprehensi!le, (nresolva!le, highly dignified chasm eists !et)een (s and *o(r nearestco(sins.* 'here )ill !e no real contin(ity as long as distinct kinds of eplanation are (sed.

.7%% @e need to give gorillas and chimps their philosophical d(e. Bring them o(t of the closet

)here )e hid them


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else the storm-s !ehavior is Kincl(ding anything other than a storm$s!ehaviorL is forced

(ndergro(nd Kinto (nrealityL, )here it may remain indefinitely long. B(t that is all there isto a *correct* anticipation: no *carving of 0at(re at its ;oints* or any s(ch nonsense.=

.7" + ma;or practical effect of theory constr(ction and manip(lation is to give more )eight to

theories6and theori&ers.

.7"1 aying that the )orld is a tet might make tets more prominent. 5r saying that one )ill

!etter master something if he has access to its idea


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.J"% Io( might *)in* the cold )ar and s(ddenly lose all yo(r po)er and national identity. +nd

forever )onder ho) it co(ld happen, in the midst of s(ch great fort(ne. Io( did not seethat onecoming Ies, there is: )e have already s(ggested that playing things o(t in

tho(ght mayhelp avoid doing them for real. 5ne might vicario(sly *eperience* horror andregret, and usethose sentiments to a!stain from *tr(e* violence. B(t don-t go to sleep on

thisA don-t take it as the end of the story. 'here is no end to it: there is only the necessity of

constant vigilance. 5nce yo( create a *harmless,* protective environment for the n(rt(ring

of horrifying nightmares, those nightmares will be nurtured, and it )ill al)ays !e possi!lefor them to spread o(tside the la! )here yo( are trying to have it !oth )ays s advertising> Ies: tho(gh the !et and the risk are not


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s(!;ectively felt, they are still present.


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G#

=. ome definite interests are epressed there!y6not the ones endorsed

here, for s(re. Perfect emotional stillness )ill !ring a!o(t its demise.=

G.1%1 Be caref(l not to read this position as, again, anthropocentric. am notsaying that, !eca(seonly h(mans


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philosophies of lang(age. +nd, of co(rse, an alge!ra is never*ustan alge!ra6for some, it

may even !e a love o!;ect.=

G.1"11


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)ill lose any facility )ith it. +nd any pleas(re it might have given (s.

G.%%1 'here may !e a point then for ?ang(age Ditness Centers, )here to eercise )ith spoken

)ords for an ho(r a day. @e )ill need speech therapists to tell (s ho) to (tter sentencesand paragraphs6after forgetting all a!o(t it. Beca(se then the end )ill not *really*

G"

have happened. 0othing )ill have happened. 0othing )ill simply


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G.%" Can say this after deno(ncing anthropocentrism as m(ch as did> Ies: am trying to fight

fair and s$(are


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fodder to the rage of the pop(lace6and

GG

th(s def(sing it, !y conf(sing it. *f )e )ant things to stay as they are, things )ill have tochange*


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lots of money at them. Contra the dominant historical tendency, intellect(als o(ght not to

!ecome )hores. Dar !etter for them to !e civil servants instead6tho(gh it )ill not help ifthey get s)allo)ed !y their p(!lic role, if they don-t (se the opport(nity it gives them.

ee ho) patterns strive to

maintain themselves>=

G."%%G 0ote also that this diligent practical learning does more than ;(st create an environmentfavora!le to the occ(rrence of internal play. Dor that play takes place !y having several

characters


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and that acts o(t


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8#

G. +n articulatedlang(age esta!lishes e$(ivalence relations among the events it is an

a!straction of, determines the relevant e$(ivalence classes, and divides them into

categories. +nd it contains elements corresponding to those classes

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adopted, to a simple


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to a comple


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8.%11 (ch a definition reinforces the st(nting of lang(age-s anticipating character.

8.%111 + st(nting that )e call repression. 'ho(gh no one is intentionally repressing anything.It


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a reference to a noneistentfalse

annoying presence of sing(lar terms that are not ;(st nondenoting: they cannot possi!lydenote. B(t no) at least can think of that as a small, marginal pro!lem6since a small,

marginal place is all have left for it. can see myself irresisti!ly marching to)ard acomplete sol(tion. +nd )hat if that sol(tion re$(ires sacrificing ro(nd s$(ares and assortedfreaks> o) m(ch of a loss is that going to !e>=

8.%1G% 'he end of magical *evocation* and the !eginning of *realism.*

8.%1G%1 +nother !it of sc(m. *n the real )orld* things are s(ch and s(ch6an igno!le cover for themost o(trageo(s schemes.

8.%1G%% Healpolitik6or, yo( )ill do )hatever yo( can get a)ay )ith, and then feel ;(stified

!eca(se yo( got a)ay )ith it


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!odies or va(lts.

8.%%1% 'he )eight of the real. 'he anoreic re!ellion of the (nreal. 'he delicate !alance !et)een

the t)o )hich is the )eight of each of (s. @hich is my )eight, too, the )eightIhave6thelimit of the po)er ** have on myself.

8.%%1" 'he (ltimate c(nning: losing )eight in order to !e healthier. Protecting the eistent from

the overetension that might give the noneistent a chance. ?ean and mean. 'hat is,

professionally concerned )ith one thing only: s(rvival itself. *eep the sales ta in to)n.

hop 0e)port Beach.*

8.%%1 )o(ld like to think that am different. B(t shopping in to)n is6ho)ever minimally6a

form of discipline. +nd have !een advocating disciplineA have !een promoting

h(manism6that is, shopping )ithin the h(man race. o it-s not like -m notmean, not

g(ilty. t-s rather that the choice is !et)een g(ilt and s(icide


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occ(rs often )holly independently of lang(age. +nd it is idiotically

hence, in the end, *;(stly* =assimilated )ith it. Body lang(age and other similara!errations.

yo( !y a pattern


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87

a foreign one, sometimes one of yo(r o)n=. Dor a moment


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themselves and their practice6tho(gh, if they did, some of them )o(ld even take the

analogy as a compliment.=

8.%%G" Heference is to a speaker-s *o)n o!;ects,* to mem!ers of his *o)n space* !oth sides are e$(ally availa!le to someone performing an operation on them=.

8.%%G 'hen one can also map the other person-s ling(istic performance )ithin one-s o)n space,

and viathis mapping e'plainthat performance6)hich is )hat finding the meaningof the

performance amo(nts to.

8.%%GG 'he right metaphor of meaning is not, *By (ttering S giveyo( something.* t is rather,*Io( can tell yo(rself a story that makes my (tterance (ns(rprising.* 'hat makes yo( feel

the necessity of it. 'hat makes it fall into place.

8.%%G8 + soothing operation. B(t, like everything else here, one that might strangle yo(.

8.%%G81 Io( start o(t trying to *interpret* )hat the g(y said, to make his very )ords so(nd as the

most rational occ(rrence, and find yo(rself generating more and more )ords, ever moredifferent )ords, and invoking phantasms of yo(r o)n, phantasms yo( )o(ld never have

admitted as yo(r o)n6!(t no) yo( can, !eca(se they are *really* someone else-s, so yo(

can voice them, and listen to them at length. +nd one day they )ill claim yo(r so(l.

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8." Even )hile con$(ered, lang(age remains d(plicito(s.

8."1 t is still possi!le to (se it to refer to )hat does not eist.

8."11 +nd this reference to the noneistent infects *ordinary* talk. 5rdinary declarative

statements do nothing !(t epress )ishes. Io( say, *-isp,* !(t all yo( cansay, all yo(have gro(nds for, hence all yo( mean


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and conveying one-s feelings, !(t as soon as !ring it to yo(r attention it )ill strike yo( as

a correct remarkA after all, o(r feelings and o(r apologetic rit(als6the )ays )e choose tothink of o(rselves feeling and apologi&ing6are so m(ch alike=. +nd if an o(tsider )ere to

s(ggest an alternative, he )o(ld !ecome the o!;ect of an inordinate may!e, !(t

remem!er that *rationality* is at stake here, that 3achiavelli )ill !e regarded !y many asthe epitome of the rational= amo(nt of aggressiveness, and the target of all sorts of vicio(s

ad hominem attacks.


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7%

to this concl(sion> =

8."1"% 5f co(rse, )hatyoumean !y *rational choice* does not have the dignity of a choice


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7"

eceptional6there )ill have to !e something etraordinary a!o(t it.

8."G%1 5ne )ill make a !ig deal of ling(istic connections !eing *ar!itrary.* 0ot reflecting on the

other ma;or resonance of that )ord: *despotic,* *tyrannical.* 0ot grasping its s(!terranean

message.

8."G%% + classic case of regimentation: the illoc(tionary *force* of certain epressions. @hich

amo(nts to their no longer having any force, to their !eingforcedinto a single reading. +necessary premise for lang(age finally *doing things*


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insin(ating themselves into the most *private* contets. ncl(ding ling(istic r(les6the

rack on )hich lang(age is chained. n the res(lting system of total administration, yo(rlovers and children and parents )ill take yo( to co(rt, demanding payment for the

promissory notes yo( = talked yo(rself into.


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little )ord 5ver those little people

8."G% @hat good is ?atin to me> 'here is a point to this $(estion. +s long as it does not mean:

o) m(ch richer am going to get !y learning +s longas it means: @hat good is it to me to practice a lang(age asdead, as a tired ro(tine> +s

essentiallypast>

8."G%1 'he tri(mph of repression: having a )hole dead lang(age *on line.* Con$(ered once and

for all6indeed, con$(ered t)ice, !y death and !y this postmortem. Permanently dissected

and organi&ed. f only all lang(ages co(ld !e treated that )ay, like certain dissected,organi&ed neigh!orhoods @o(ldn-t it !e nice, and safe>


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8."81 +n alternative pattern might occ(r infre$(ently


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8."8G"1 0o s(ch pro!lem eists for traditional theories6at the cost of (nder)riting the silliness of

the practical syllogism. Io( wantsomething, "nowho) to get it, and proceed to actaccordingly. 'hro(gh lang(age, yo( disseminate yo(r kno)ledge, so as to make others a!le

to perform the same ro(tine. B(t, of co(rse, this scheme is constantly contradicted !y the

)ay people *)ork.* 0o one is ever moved to action !y kno)ledge, even )hen a strongdesire is present. 0o one is ever c(red of a ne(rosis !y !eing told a!o(t its ca(ses


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!ody. 'hen yo( )ill pro!a!ly )ake (p, and *reali&e*

79

)hat yo( did. +ction is al)ays in retrospect.= 'hat-s )hat rhyme does to yo(, or a song-schor(s. 'hat-s the origin of the very first chants


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8."8G"7 'his m(sic and dance )ill then !e remem!ered, that is, reenacted )ith relentless

periodicity, as the

!e heads rolling as a res(lt, and !lood spilled, and some!ody )ill cry fo(l. +nd a moral


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spectacle of it.

8."7% +nd, conc(rrently, !laming it, stigmati&ing it, loading it )ith g(ilt.

8."7" 5ne th(s ac$(ires a conscience, that is, a conscio(sness


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8."7"%1 0ot insofar as it is one more voice speaking *inside*6one more element of that

o(tsideness )hich *inside* is, )hich has largely !een confined inside6!(t insofar as itintends to cancel all other voices, ecept to the etent that it can r(le over them, have them

agree )ith itself.

8."7"%% 'he parado of li!eralism: yo( cannot !e li!eral )ith those )ho )o(ld cancel li!eralism

itself.


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8."7""" 0o )onder the so(l is considered immortal then. 'he p(!lic that has appropriated me )ill

certainly s(rvive, long after mygame is over, and so )ill its image of ho) )ell or ill !ehaved.

J


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8."7"" +nd ;(dging conscio(sness to !e a mirac(lo(s occ(rrence, something in )hich the )hole

(niverse finds its ;(stification, )hich the )hole )orld history )as preparing6and certainlysomething that holds the key for making sense of that (ni$(e, ama&ing kind of occ(rrence

)hich am.


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constit(ting= the relevant pattern can play o(t its tendency to


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Fod6or the party, or Big Brother6has indeed entered their !edroom, and is reg(lating the

proceedings there. +nd they no longer notice.=

8."J%1 ?i!erating games6differentli!erating games6co(ld !e played )ith


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J9

that )o(ld not !e appeased. t kne) all a!o(t (s, and hated (s. t ca(sed fear and

trem!ling.

8."J%1 'hat, incidentally, is )here the esse est percipifirst fo(nd its


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made to !e, )hatever the cas(alties=.

8."J" 'hro(gho(t this development, privacy is intimately related to silence. 0ot !eca(se there is

something necessarily (nspoken a!o(t


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isconnecting the s(!;ect from its h(m(s, from the gro(nd )here it still needs to ret(rn

periodically to regain strength, making it mis(nderstand the significance of those ret(rns,of the need for them, having it read them as dist(r!ances, as


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8."9% +s any traitor, this one, too, )ill operate (nder cover. ressed (p as the enemy.

3as$(erading as a thing. Io( )ill collect all that has !een silenced, all those *s(!;ective*activities )hich resist the real, )hich involve o(r !eing in denial, play, eperiment, and

make (p a s(!stance to !e their *s(!;ect*: make them the activities of a mind.

)%+

7 *'here is* no mind. +nd yet to claim that there is is to make an important political

statement.

7.1 5ne that o(ght not, ever, to !e *made tr(e*6or its )hole point )o(ld !e lost. t m(st

contin(e to !e (ttered foolishly, in defiance of the *facts,* straining their *meaning*A itm(st keep on )orking as an etraneo(s !ody, re;ected !y the organism, carrying infection,

!reeding p(s. f the mind did indeed

9"

!ecome a thing, if *there )ere* a mind as *there are* ta!les and chairs, if a finalreconciliation !et)een the t)o )ere to o!tain


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yo( care so m(ch a!o(t s(!stantiality6!eca(se s(!stantiality defines yo(6)e )ill take it

a)ay from yo(, and (se it to assert its negation. +nd yo( )ill scream, and !lame (s forcontradicting o(rselves, and invoke the necessity of a consistent )orld. Io( )o(ld like

that, )o(ldn-t yo(> 'he peace of a *so(nd,* )ell2organi&ed cemetery. B(t )e are not going

to !e taken in, coloni&ed. 'his is a t)o2)ay street. @e )ill coloni&eyou.=

7.%11 'his pres(mpt(o(s prono(ncement )ill have more concrete political significance, the lessthe res cogitansis mortified into the conscio(s, consistent image the p(!lic has already

imposed on the self6the more the self is a!le to t(rn even that image into an ec(se for

resistance.


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7.%%1% + *pro!lem* s(rfaces: bad faith. o) can possi!ly lie to myself, make myself not kno)

something6)hich m(st kno) in order to do anything a!o(t it> +nd ho) co(ld thatpossi!ly )ork, since kno) that am lying>


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disinformation,

9J

of propaganda=, tho(gh in the a!stract yo( )on-t !e a!le to determine )hose )eapon it is.

7.%%1 'here are those )ho are o!sessed )ith acco(nting for the (nity of a form of life6

specifically, *o(r* o)n. 'hey are not satisfied )ith !ringing o(t vario(s aspects of itA they

need to kno)


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7.%"" P(rifying o(r lang(age of all references to that mythological st(ff is one more attempt at

ne(tering it, andat ne(tering the non!eing for )hich lang(age is the !est chance. +tcon;(ring a str(ct(re that is lang(age-s kiss of death: *the lang(age of total administration.*

7.%""1 B(rea(crats move their tong(es and emit so(ndsA they scratch paper )ith their pensA they

move their fingers on comp(ter keys. B(t they are silentA lang(age never enters their lives.

@hat is not is never there, in thestoriesthat they are, that ma"e them!(rea(crats. @e can see this no) as a clever $(estion: one that cleverly Pro!a!ly not: )ant to contin(e to make s(!;ectivitys(!servient to myends.Ias this !ody of *mine,* this pile of cells and tics, this desperately

defensive str(ct(re.Ias this partic(lar story, )hich is one of many, of infinitely many6a


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story that the s(!;ect )ill soon la(gh at, that indeed it is already la(ghing at, tho(gh that

la(ghter has not yet


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perfectly general concl(sion.

)1+

J 5nly )hat )e cannot speak a!o(t m(st )e not pass over in silence.



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Theory Lang Mind