Creation in the Vortex of the Real: Badiou and Discourse Analisis

F ir s t p u b lis h e d 2 0 1 4 b y R o u tle d g e 2 7 C h u r c h R o a d , H o v e , E a s t S u s se x B N 3 2 F A a n d b y R o u tle d g e 711 T h ir d A v e n u e , N e w Y ork , N Y 1 0 0 1 7 R o u tle d g e is a n im p r in t o f th e T a ylo r & F r a n c is G ro u p , a n in fo r m a b u s in e s s © 2 0 1 4 I a n P a r k e r a n d D a v id P a v o n -C u & la r T h e r ig h t o f th e e d ito rs to b e id e n tif ie d a s th e a u th o r s o f th e e d ito r ia l m a te ria l, a n d o f th e a u th o r s f o r th e ir in d iv id u a l c h a p te rs , h a s b e e n a s s e r te d in a c c o r d a n c e w ith se c tio n s 7 7 a n d 7 8 o f th e C o p y r ig h t, D e s ig n s a n d P a te n ts A c t 1 9 8 8 . A ll r ig h ts re se r v e d . N o p a r t o f th is b o o k m a y b e r e p ri n te d o r r e p r o d u c e d o r u tilis e d in a n y f o rm o r b y a n y e le c tr o n ic , m e c h a n ic a l, o r o th e r m e a n s, n o w k n o w n o r h e r e a f te r in v e n te d , in c lu d in g p h o to c o p y in g a n d r e c o r d in g , o r in a n y in f o r m a tio n st o ra g e o r r e tr ie v a l sy s te m , w ith o u t p e r m is s io n in w r itin g f r o m th e p u b lis h e r s . T r a d e m a r k n o tic e : P r o d u c t o r c o r p o ra te n a m e s m a y b e tr a d e m a r k s o r r e g is te r e d tr a d e m a r k s , a n d a re u s e d o n ly f o r id e n tif ic a tio n a n d e x p la n a tio n w ith o u t in te n t to in fr in g e . B r itis h L ib r a r y C a ta lo g u in g in P u b lic a tio n D a ta A c a ta lo g u e r e c o r d f o r th is b o o k is a v a ila b le f r o m th e B r itis h L ib r a r y L ib r a r y o f C o n g re ss C a ta lo g in g in P u b li c a ti o n D a ta L a c a n , d isc o u r se , e v e n t: n e w p s y c h o a n a ly tic a p p r o a c h e s to te x tu a l in d e te r m in a c y / e d ite d b y la n P a r k e r a n d D a v id P a v o n -C u e lla r. pag es cm 1. L a c a n , J a c q u e s , 1 9 0 1 -1 9 8 1 . 2 . P s y c h o a n a ly s is . 3. D is c o u r s e a n a ly sis . I. P a rk e r, I a n , 1956-11. P a v o n C u e lla r, D a v id . B F 1 0 9 .L 2 8 L 3 1 6 5 2 0 1 4 1 5 0 .1 9 '5 0 9 2 — d c 2 3 2013016478 IS B N : 9 7 8 - 0 - 4 1 5 - 5 2 1 6 2 - 8 (h b k ) IS B N : 9 7 8 - 0 - 4 1 5 - 5 2 1 6 3 - 5 (p b k ) I S B N : 9 7 8 - 1 - 3 1 5 - 8 8 4 2 9 - 5 (e b k ) T y p e s e t in T im e s b y R e fin e C a tc h L im ite d , B u n g a y , S u f f o lk / > MIX 4« I» J — pf _ Paper from responsible sources www.fsc.ofg FSC® C013604 j P r i n t e d a n d b o u n d b y C P I G r o u p (U K ) L t d , C r o y d o n , C R 0 4 Y Y Edited by Ian Parker and David Pavon-Cuellar 17 C R EA TIO N OF IN THE THE V ORTEX REAL Badiou and discourse analysis C a rlo s G o m ez C a m a rena O u r e p o c h c a n b e sa id to h a v e b e e n s ta m p e d a n d s ig n e d , in p h ilo s o p h y , b y th e re tu r n o f th e q u e s tio n o f B e in g . T h is is w h y it is d o m in a te d b y H e id e g g e r. . . . W h e n all is s a id a n d d o n e , th e re is little d o u b t th a t th e c e n tu r y h a s b e e n o n to lo g ic a l, a n d th a t th is d e s tin y is f a r m o re e s s e n tia l th a n th e ‘lin g u is tic t u r n ’ w ith w h ic h it h a s b e e n c re d ite d . ( A la in B a d io u , D e leu ze, T h e C la m o r o f B e in g , 1 9 9 7 /1 9 9 9 : 18) T h e p u r p o s e o f th is c h a p te r is to sh o w th e p o s s ib le c o n tr ib u tio n s o f th e F re n c h M o rr r o c a n p h ilo s o p h e r A la in B a d io u fo r d is c o u rs e a n a ly s is ; th is w ill b e a n a n te ­ c e d e n t f o r th e u s e o f th e id e a s o f th e R a b a t-b o r n . It is p o s s ib le to lis t th e s e c o n tr ib u tio n s a s fo llo w in g : th e r e a l a s c r e a tiv e p o w e r, a n e w c o n c e p tio n o f b e in g , d is c o u r s e a n a ly s is f o r B a d io u ’s fo u r c o n d itio n s in p h ilo s o p h y a n d th e p o e tic s ta tu s o r n o m in a tio n o f th e e v e n t. W h a t is w r itte n h e r e ta k e s u p th e c r itiq u e m a d e o f B a d io u b y E rn e s to L a c la u (2 0 0 8 : 11): * T h e lim its o f h is a n a ly s is [ B a d io u ’s] a re g iv e n , fro m m y p e r s p e c tiv e , b y w h a t I c o n s id e r a n in s u ff ic ie n t e x p lo r a tio n o f th a t w h ic h is s tr u c tu r a lly im p lie d in a ra d ic a l in te rr u p tio n . T h is is th e p o in t w h e re m y h e g e m o n ic a p p r o a c h d iff e rs fr o m h is, b a s e d o n w h a t h e q u a lifie s as ‘f id e lity to th e e v e n t’. It is a lso th e p o in t w h e re h is o n to lo g y - m a th e m a tic a l - d if fe rs fr o m m in e - r h e to r ic a l. It is n o t m y ta s k h e r e to ta k e s id e s in th is d ile m m a b e tw e e n r h e to r ic , la n g u a g e a n d m a th e m a tic a l o n to lo g y , b u t to m a k e m o r e e x p lic it h o w m a th e m a tic a l f o r ­ m a liz a tio n in g e n e ra l a n d B a d io u ’s th in k in g in p a r tic u la r m a y c o n tr ib u te to d is c o u rs e a n a ly s is . L e t u s sa y th a t, s tr a te g ic a lly , th e s ta rtin g p o in t f o r ta c k lin g B a d io u ’s c o n trib u tio n to d is c o u rs e a n a ly s is is a d ile m m a c o n c e r n in g la n g u a g e a n d o n to lo g y . 209 C A R L O S G O M E Z C A M A R E N A T o a c h ie v e th is , w e w ill n o t u n d e r ta k e a lo n g jo u r n e y th r o u g h h is p h ilo so p h y ; in s te a d w e w ill p r e s e n t a n o u tlin e o f th e m o s t im p o rta n t a s p e c ts o f h is w o r k to s e ttle th is iss u e . W e w ill a s s u m e th e r e a d e r h a s h a d g e n e ra l c o n ta c t w ith h is w o r k o r w ill m a k e th e ir o w n e f f o r t to m a k e w h a t is c o m in g in te llig ib le to th e m . Badiou’s ontology T h e G e rm a n P h ilo s o p h e r M a r tin H e id e g g e r (1 9 2 7 /1 9 6 2 ) d e n o u n c e s w h a t h e c a lle d ‘o b liv io n o f b e in g ’, th a t is to sa y , th e w a y th a t e a c h tim e p h ilo s o p h y a sk s a b o u t b e in g , it a n s w e rs w ith a n e n tity , w ith a th in g . P h y s ic s , G o d o r R e a s o n w e r e th re e a n s w e rs in a n c ie n t G re e c e , th e M id d le A g e s a n d m o d e r n ity re s p e c ­ tiv e ly , to th e q u e s tio n o f b e in g . F o r H e id e g g e r, th e o n ly w a y to n o t ‘e n t i t y ’ o r o b je c tif y b e in g , is b y a c tiv a tin g th e p o w e rs o f la n g u a g e , n o t th ro u g h r e c o u r s e to p r im itiv e m y th - as in th e p r e - p h ilo s o p h ic a n tiq u ity - b u t n o w th ro u g h p o e try . P o e tic la n g u a g e c a n sc r a tc h o r a lm o s t to u c h b e in g w ith o u t th in k in g o f it a s an e n tity , w ith o u t o b je c tif y in g it. A f te r H e id e g g e r, p h ilo s o p h y h a s b e e n fa c e d w ith th e c h a lle n g e o f c r e a tin g a th o u g h t th a t d o e s n o t fa ll in to th is o b liv io n o f b e in g , in to m e ta p h y s ic s . T o b e c le a r, as fa r as H e id e g g e r is c o n c e r n e d , m e ta p h y s ic s is s o m e th in g to b e re fu se d . F o r h is o w n p a r t, B a d io u fo llo w s H e id e g g e r in h is c r itiq u e o f th e m e ta p h y s ic s o f id e n tity a n d p r e s e n c e (as v a r ia tio n s o n th e e n tific a tio n o f b e in g ). F o r B a d io u , h o w e v e r, th e r e a re o th e r ty p e s o f m e ta p h y s ic a l th re a ts th a t a re j u s t a s im p o r ta n t, i f n o t m o re so , su c h a s th e m e ta p h y s ic s o f ‘O n e ’ a n d o f ‘s e n s e ’. B a d io u ’s s u s p ic io n is th a t th e a tte m p ts to fr e e p h ilo s o p h y fr o m m e ta p h y s ic s b y m e a n s o f p o e tr y a re , p re c is e ly , w h a t m a k e s H e id e g g e r fa ll in to th e m e ta p h y s ­ ics o f se n se , a n d all m e ta p h y s ic s o f s e n s e is th e re fo re a m e ta p h y s ic s th a t re s id e s in th e O n e , th e o n e o f s e n s e .1 F o r th is r e a s o n H e id e g g e r e n d s u p in s e a rc h in g fo r th e s a c re d a n d c r y in g o u t fo r a re tu r n o f th e g o d s (B a d io u , 1 9 9 8 /2 0 0 6 : 34 ). O u r p h ilo s o p h e r, B a d io u , w ill as a c o n s e q u e n c e o p p o s e m o re a n d m o r e th e ‘lin g u is tic t u r n ’ a n d in s te a d o p t fo r a n ‘o n to lo g ic a l t u r n ’, w h ic h h e c o n s id e r s m o r e e s s e n tia l. H e c la im s th a t th e o n ly w a y to a ffirm a tru e o n to lo g y w ith o u t f a llin g in to m e ta p h y s ic s is to f o u n d th is in m a th e m a tic s , to su c h an e x te n t th a t le a d s h im to fo r m u la te th e f o llo w in g e q u a tio n : o n to lo g y = m a th e m a tic s (B a d io u , 1 9 8 8 /2 0 0 7 : 15), o r e v e n to ta lk a b o u t th e ‘o n to lo g ic a l v o c a tio n o f m a th e m a tic s ’ ( 1 9 9 8 /2 0 0 6 : 5 9 ). B u t w h a t d o e s th is m e a n ? F o r B a d io u , p h ilo s o p h y h a d to w a it fo r m o d e m (p o s t- C a n to r ia n ) s e t th e o r y to b e a b le to d e p lo y a su b tra c tiv e o n to lo g y ; in o th e r w o rd s , a n o n to lo g y n o t b a se d o n id e n tity , th e O n e , se n se , p re s e n c e o r a n y fo rm o f e n tific a tio n o f b e in g . T h is m e a n s th a t f o r h im th e f u n d a m e n ta l s u b s tr a tu m o f r e a lity {b ein g -q u a -b e in g ) is m u ltip lic ity . T h is m u ltip lic ity is n o t c o n s titu te d b y so m e ‘o n e ’ o r fro m a to m s b u t fro m a v o id . S ta rtin g fro m th e o re m s a n d a x io m s it is p o s s ib le to p o s tu la te , e v e n s e iz e , th e in c o n s is te n t p u r e m u ltip lic ity o r b e in g -q u a -b e in g . B u t fro m th is in c o n s is te n t m u ltip lic ity w e c a n o n ly h a v e a n in d ic a tio n o f w h a t is a t s ta k e b y m e a n s o f a d iff e re n t k in d o f m a r k , w h a t B a d io u te rm s th e 210 C R E A T I O N IN T H E V O R T E X OF T H E R E A L * c o u n t-a s-o n e ’. F o r e x a m p le , a p e r s o n c a n b e ta k e n a s a u n it, b u t c a n a lso b e a g ro u p o f o rg a n s a n d th e o rg a n s c a n a t th e s a m e tim e b e a g r o u p o f c e lls, a n d so on. In th e la st te rm , th e r e w o u ld b e a m u ltip lic ity o f m u ltip lic itie s u n til w e re a c h a fin al re a lity , th a t o f a v o id set. A ll m u ltip lic itie s a r e m u ltip le s o f v o id s. T o ‘s ta ­ b iliz e ’ th is in c o n s is te n t m u ltip lic ity , v o id h a s to b e ta k e n a s a m a r k :2 ‘it w o u ld be in th is in s ta n c e o f th e le tte r - an in s ta n c e b o r n e o u t b y th e m a r k o f th e v o id - th a t th e th o u g h t “ w ith o u t- O n e ” , o r w ith o u t m e ta p h y s ic s u n f o ld s ’ (B a d io u , 1 9 9 8 /2 0 0 6 : 4 2 ). T h e m a r k a llo w s u s to tu rn in c o n s is te n t m u ltip le s (v o id s ) in to c o n s is te n t m u ltip le s . T h is is th e p r e s e n ta tio n , th e sy m b o lic s tr u c tu r e th a t a llo w s h a n d lin g w ith th e in c o n s is te n t m u ltip lic itie s b y m a k in g th e m c o n s is te n t. H o w e v e r, a t th e sa m e tim e as m a k in g a p re s e n ta tio n o f th e in c o n sis te n t m u lti­ p licity , it is p o s sib le to re p r e se n t it. H e re is w h e re th e fig u re o f th e ‘S ta te ’ a p p e a rs, th a t is to say , th e lin g u istic re g im e th a t re d u p lic a te s p re se n c e (it re -p re se n ts it), le g ­ islatin g w h a t c o u n ts a n d w h a t d o es n o t co u n t. T h is m e a n s th e re are m u ltip le s th at, e v e n th o u g h th e y ex ist, a re n o t a c c o u n te d fo r by th e S tate, th e re g im e . T h e c o n c e p t o f S ta te d o e s n o t re fe r o n ly to th e p o litic a l b u t to a n y in stitu tio n , d isco u rse , re g im e o r e sta b lish e d o rd e r th a t le g isla tes w h a t is a c c o u n ta b le a n d w h a t is n o t. T h is e x p la in s w hy, fo r e x a m p le , im m ig ra n ts ( w h ic h do e x is t) a re not a c c o u n te d fo r b y th e S ta te la w s u n d e r w h ic h th e y w o rk : th e y a re p r e s e n te d ( s in c e th e y c le a n b a th r o o m s a n d ta k e c a re o f th e n a t i o n ’s c h ild r e n ) b u t th e y a re n o t r e - p r e s e n te d (s in c e th e y d o n ’t c o u n t fo r th e S ta te ). H a v in g s a id th a t, it s h o u ld b e n o te d th a t fo r B a d io u th r e e ty p e s o f m u ltip le s e x is t (F a r ra n , 2 0 1 0 : 82 ): m u ltip le s th a t a re p r e s e n te d a n d r e - p r e s e n te d , c a lle d n o rm a l; m u ltip le s th a t a re p r e s e n te d b u t n o t r e - p r e s e n te d , c a lle d s in g u la rs a n d m u ltip le s th a t a re r e - p r e s e n te d b u t n o t p r e s e n te d , c a lle d e x c re s c e n c e s. In th e th ir d c a se , th e r e is a d is lo c a tio n b e tw e e n th e stru c tu re o f ‘r e a lity ’ a n d th e e x c e s s o f re - p r e s e n ta tio n . W e w ill c a ll th is d is lo c a tio n ‘la c k ’ o r ‘f a ilu r e ’, w h ic h is liv e d a s s o m e th in g e x c e s s iv e , a n e x c re s c e n c e . In B a d io u ’s te rm s , th is is w h a t is c a lle d ‘e v e n t’, th a t la c k in th e o n to lo g ic a l stru c tu re th a t a llo w s it to c h a n g e its o w n c o o r d in a te s , th a t a llo w s f o r m a k in g u n e x p e c te d h e te r o g e n e o u s c o n n e c tio n s , th e r e a liz a tio n o f a s e q u e n c e b y th e c h a n c e e n c o u n te r. F ro m a ll th is d e r iv e s th e c la im th a t th e re a re th re e le v e ls o f ‘r e a lity ’: th e o n to lo g ic a l- m a th e m a tic a l, th e s itu a tio n a l- lo g ic a l- id e o lo g ic a l a n d th e e v e n tu a l g e n e ric . T h e s e th r e e le v e ls d o n o t m a tc h c o m p le te ly w ith th e th r e e ty p e s o f m u l­ tip lic itie s d is c u s s e d so fa r, b u t r a th e r re f e r to a n o th e r w a y o f e x p la in in g h o w c h a n g e a n d n o v e ltie s o c c u r. W h a t is im p o r ta n t is th e o n to lo g ic a l fo u n d a tio n n e c e s s a r y in o r d e r to a c c o u n t f o r th e e m e r g e n c e o f an e v e n t in th e s p h e r e o f a rt, s c ie n c e , lo v e o r p o litic s .3 T h e s e th r e e le v e ls o f ‘r e a lity ’ (w h a t is, h o w it a p p e a rs a n d h o w c h a n g e h a p p e n s ) c a n b e th o u g h t o f, a s F a rr a n s u g g e s ts ( 2 0 1 0 ) , as a B o rr o m e a n k n o ttin g (ia la L a c a n ) in sp e c if ic situ a tio n s b u t n e v e r as a f ix e d th e o r y th a t c o u ld a c c o u n t f o r e v e ry th in g : B a d io u ’s p r o p o s a l is a s y s te m a tic b u t o p e n p h ilo s o p h y , a n d fa ilu re s , d is lo c a tio n s a n d d is c o n tin u itie s a re p r o d u c tiv e . W e w ill c o m e b a c k to th is p o in t in d u e c o u r se . 2 11 C A R L O S G O M E Z C A M A R E N A Ontology, linguistics and Lacanian registers W e c a n fin d h e u r is tic v a lu e in th e th re e L a c a n ia n r e g is te r s ( o f th e re a l, im a g in ­ a ry a n d s y m b o lic ) a n d th e n b e a b le to a p p r e c ia te th e d iff e re n c e s b e tw e e n o n to ­ lo g ic a l a n d lin g u is tic a p p r o a c h to d is c o u r s e a n a ly s is . W e w ill d iff e re n tia te , th r o u g h th e L a c a n ia n re g is te r s , th e th e o ry o f d is c o u rs e in th e w o r k o f L a c la u a n d o f th a t w h ic h a llo w s fo r B a d io u ’s p h ilo s o p h y . L a c la u a ss u m e s th a t so cia l p ra c tic e s a n d re la tio n sh ip s a re c o n f ig u re d b y sig n ify ­ in g stru c tu re s, a n d th is m e a n s th a t p o litic a l d is c o u rse a n a ly sis sh o u ld b e e x p e c te d to a c c o u n t fo r th e w a y s y m b o lic re a lity a n d p o litic a l e ffe c ts are stru c tu re d . F ro m th e re , it is p o s s ib le to e x p la in th e p o litic a l c h a n g e s in te rm s o f c h a n g e a n d d is c u r­ siv e stru c tu re . C o n tra ry to so c ia l c o n str u c tio n ism , fo r L a c la u d isc o u rse c o in c id e s w ith th e stru c tu re , w h ic h , o n th e o th e r h a n d , h a s an in te r n a l lim it ( o r a n ta g o n ism ). L a c la u c la im s th a t h is a p p r o a c h to d is c o u rs e a n a ly s is is s e p a r a te d fro m e s se n tia lis m as p o litic a l r e a lity is c o n s titu te d b y a s ig n ify in g stru c tu re (a s d e s c rib e d b y L a c a n in th e 1 9 5 0 s), b u t a t th e sa m e tim e th e s e stru c tu re s p la c e a lim it o n all fo r m s o f re la tiv is m . T h is lim it, w h ic h h e te rm s ‘a n ta g o n is m ’, h e (w r itin g h e re w ith C h a n ta l M o u f f e ) d e s c rib e s lik e th is: T h e lim it o f th e so c ia l m u s t b e g iv e n w ith in th e s o c ia l i t s e l f a s s o m e ­ th in g s u b v e r tin g it, d e s tr o y in g its a m b itio n to c o n s titu te a fu ll p re s e n c e . S o c ie ty n e v e r fu lly m a n a g e s to b e so c ie ty , b e c a u s e e v e r y th in g in it is p e n e tr a te d b y its lim its, w h ic h p r e v e n ts it fro m c o n s titu tin g it s e l f a s an o b je c tiv e r e a lity . ( L a c la u & M o u ff e , 2 0 0 1 : 127) T h is a r g u m e n t c o n c e r n in g a n in te rn a l lim it is so m e th in g w e c a n c o m p a r e to a n d c o n n e c t w ith th e n o tio n o f th e ‘r e a l ’ in L a c a n , as th a t w h ic h c a n n o t b e s y m b o l­ iz e d . A n y a tte m p t to b u ild d iv e r s e d is c u rs iv e f o r m a tio n s fo u n d e rs o n such a lim it w h e re th e s y m b o lic m e e ts its o w n in te r n a l c o n tr a d ic tio n a n d c a n n o t th e n m o v e f o r w a rd a n y fu r th e r. W e s h o u ld a d d th a t th is in te rn a l lim it is a ls o a c o n d i­ tio n fo r p re v e n tin g th e s y m b o lic fro m s o lid ify in g . It is in th is w a y th a t d is c u rs iv e fo r m a tio n s c o n fig u r e o u r r e la tio n s h ip s an d so c ia l p ra c tic e s . A s fo r F r e u d a n d L a c a n , a d re a m , a n im a g e , p h r a s e o r w o re a r tic u la te s o r c o n d e n s e s d iv e rs e m e a n in g s , so th e s ig n ific a n t s tru c tu re s th a t c o n ­ fig u r e o u r s o c ia l re la tio n s h ip s a re p r e c a r io u s a n d th u s sta rtin g fro m m u ltip le in te rn a l c o n tra d ic tio n s th a t a llo w fo r th e ‘d e te r m in a tio n ’ (in m u ltip le se n se s o f th e te r m ) o f m e a n in g ; th e s e a re a r tic u la tio n s th a t c a n a lw a y s o v e r flo w th e ir ow n lim its a n d b e r e c o n f ig u re d . T h e s e n s e a n d n o - s e n s e th a t a llo w s th e o rg a n iz a tio n o f a n e w s e n s e a re a lw a y s a t sta k e in th e s tru c tu re s . B u t th e re is a n o th e r c a u s e ot su c h n o -s e n se : a n ta g o n is m . F o r L a c la u , a n ta g o n is m is th a t w h ic h is fo u n d in the re g is te r o f th e re a l; th a t w h ic h is p r e s e n te d a s a n a b s e n t c a u s e (th e so c io sy m b o lic is s tr u c tu r e d a n d tu rn s a r o u n d a tr a u m a tic fis s u r e ) a n d as an in te rn e lim it ( b u t a lim it n e v e rth e le s s ). 212 C R E A T I O N IN T H E V O R T E X OF T H E R E A L B a d io u ’s p o in t h e r e is th a t in th e a r tic u la tio n o f th e L a c a n ia n re g is te r s , tw o e le m e n ts o f th e o r d e r o f th e re a l a r e a t sta k e : th e o n to lo g ic a l- m a th e m a tic a l s tru c tu re a n d th e e v e n ta l- g e n e r ic d im e n s io n . B o th e le m e n ts o f th e r e a l a re th in k ­ a b le th r o u g h m a th e m a tic s ; n o t j u s t a n y k in d o f m a th e m a tic s , b u t th r o u g h lite ra liz e d m a th e m a tic s (th a t w h ic h is b a s e d o n th e p o w e r o f th e le tte r) . W e w ill c o m e b a c k to th is p o in t f u r th e r o n . F o r n o w w e c a n sa y th a t B a d io u ’s (2 0 1 1 a ) m a in c o n c e rn is th e q u e s tio n o f c h a n g e , o f n o v e lty . C h a n g e c a n o n ly b e p ro d u c e d th r o u g h a f a ilu re in th e stru c tu re , in th e a p p e a r a n c e o f a m u ltip lic ity o r e x c r e s ­ c e n c e th a t h e c a lls even t. T h e r e a re m u ltip le in c o n s is te n c ie s a t th e o n to lo g ic a l- m a th e m a tic a l le v e l, w h ic h a re la te r p r e s e n te d a s b e in g w h a t B a d io u c a lls th e (c o u n t- a s - o n e ’ o p e r a ­ tio n . T h is p re s e n ta tio n is la te r r e - p r e s e n te d , so n o w w e a re a t th e s y m b o lic le v e l, th a t w h ic h c o u n ts f o r th e S ta te , fo r a h e g e m o n ic d is c o u rs e o r re g im e , in su c h a w a y th a t as th e p r e s e n ta tio n is r e - p r e s e n te d th e re a re a lso n e c e s s a r y s tru c tu r a l fa ilu re s , w h ic h p r o d u c e e x c r e s c e n c e s th a t s p e a k o f a re a l b e y o n d d is c o u rs e . T h is re a l o f th e e v e n t e n a b le s c h a n g e in its o w n s tru c tu re a n d , th e r e f o r e , a n e w r e - p r e s e n ta tio n : th e e v e n t is s o m e th in g fro m th e o r d e r o f re a l th a t m o d if ie s th e c o o r d in a te s o f th e s y m b o lic . It c a n b e s a id th a t th e o n to lo g ic a l- m a th e m a tic a l r e a l w o rk s in a s im ila r w a y to th e a n ta g o n is tic r e a l in L a c la u (th is is, a b s e n t c a u s e s a n d in te rn a l lim its ); b u t th e re a l in th e e v e n t h a s a n o th e r fu n c tio n , th e c r e a tio n o f n o v e lty th r o u g h th e p r o ­ d u c tio n o f an u n k n o w n th a t in a u g u ra te s n e w s e q u e n c e s . T h is is w h y th e o n to lo g ic a l tu rn is m o re im p o r ta n t a n d fu n d a m e n ta l fo r B a d io u th a n th e lin g u is tic ,4 sin c e th e la tte r is in c a p a b le o f a c c o u n tin g fo r (o r e v e n a v o id in g ) th e e m e r g e n c e o f a ris k y s u p p le m e n t, i f n o t a lw a y s lia b le to fa ll in to th e m e ta p h y s ic s o f se n se . T h e m a th e m a tic a l fo r c i n g te c h n iq u e a n d c r e a tio n o f g e n e ric se ts th a t B a d io u p r o p o s e s w o u ld a v o id s u c h m is ta k e s . T h is m e a n s , in p r a c tic a l te rm s , th a t th e o n ly th in g d is c o u r s e a n a ly s is b a s e d o n th e lin g u is tic tu rn c a n a s p ire to is to m o v e w ith in th e lim its o f e x is tin g s ig n ify in g c o m b in a tio n s . T h e re a l w o u ld o n ly b e th a t w h ic h w o u ld a llo w th e c h a n g e fro m o n e d is c u rs iv e r e g im e to a n o th e r , fro m o n e s tru c tu re to a n o th e r , b u t c o u ld n e v e r a llo w fo r th e e m e r g e n c e o f u n p r e c e d e n te d s tr u c tu re s . T h e ‘n e w ’ w ill a lw a y s b e w ith in th e h o r iz o n o f th e sy m b o lic a n d as a c o m b in a tio n o f th e a lre a d y e x is te n t. T h is is w h e r e it is im p o rta n t to h ig h lig h t th e d iff e re n c e b e tw e e n ‘s ig n if ie r ’ a n d ‘l e tte r ’. T h e sig n if ie r is d e f in e d b y th e p la c e it o c c u p ie s in th e s y s te m a n d so it is im p o s s ib le to d is p la c e it, b u t it is p o s s ib le to d is p la c e a le tte r b e c a u s e it is a tra c e , th e r e f o r e th e o p e r a tio n o f th e le tte r is b y w a y o f a p e r m u ta tio n o f a p a r tic ­ u la r k in d (M iln e r, 1998: 13 5 ). T h e r e is a m o r e b a s ic c h a n g e w h e n th e r e is p e r ­ m u ta tio n o f le tte rs th a n w h e n sig n ifie rs a re e x c h a n g e d in a s im p le p r o c e s s o f c o m b in a tio n . B u t th a t is n o t all: th e le tte r, b e in g a tr a c e a n d m a r k ( w h ic h c a n b e e r a s e d , c r o s s e d o u t o r a b o lis h e d ) h a s a c c e s s to th e o n to lo g ic a l s tr u c tu r e .5 T h e l e tte r a llo w s u s to m a k e th e in c o n s is te n t m u ltip le s ( v o id s ) in to m u ltip le c o n s is t­ e n c y b y p r o d u c in g th e o n e sta rtin g fr o m th e v o id ( ‘m a r k in g ’ th e v o id ). T h e m a th e m a tic a l le tte r a llo w s fo r o n to lo g y o u ts id e th e O n e : 213 C A R L O S G O M E Z C A M A R E N A I f w e w e r e n o w to r e f e r to L a c a n , it w o u ld b e in th is in s ta n c e o f th e le tte r - a n in s ta n c e b o r n e o u t b y th e m a r k o f th e v o id - th a t th e th o u g h t u n fo ld s , th a t is, th e th o u g h t ‘w ith o u t- O n e ,’ o r w ith o u t m e ta p h y s ic s , o f w h a t le n d s i t s e l f to m a th e m a tic a l e x p o s u r e a s a n im m e m o r ia l fig u re o f b e in g . (B a d io u , 1 9 9 8 /2 0 0 6 : 4 2 ) B u t w h a t a b o u t th e ‘e v e n ta l’ d im e n s io n a n d th e p la c e o f th e le tte r in it? I f o n to l­ o g y is a d im e n s io n o f th e r e a l to u c h e d , p lo u g h e d th r o u g h th e le tte r, th e n , th e e v e n ta l d im e n s io n (a n d a lso o f th e o r d e r o f th e r e a l) a p p e a r s as a ru p tu re o r im p a s s e lo c a liz e d (tra c e a b le ) b y th e le tte r. H e re B a d io u fo llo w s L a c a n : T h e r e a l c a n o n ly b e in s c r ib e d o n th e b a s is o f an im p a s s e o f f o r m a liz a ­ tio n . T h is is w h y I th o u g h t I c o u ld p ro v id e a m o d e l o f it u s in g m a th e ­ m a tic a l fo r m a liz a tio n ; in as m u c h a s it is th e m o s t a d v a n c e d e la b o r a tio n w e h a v e b y w h ic h to p r o d u c e sig n ifie m e s s . T h e m a th e m a tic a l f o r m a li­ z a tio n o f s ig n ifie m e s s r u n s c o u n te r to m e a n in g , I a lm o s t s a id ‘a co n tr e - s e n s ' . (L a c a n , 1 9 7 5 /1 9 9 8 : 9 3 ) T h is is h o w , c o n tra ry to w h a t m a y b e a s s u m e d , m a th e m a tic s d o e s n o t c o n s titu te a b o d y o f fu ll k n o w le d g e , b u t o n e th a t is c o n s ta n tly a t b r e a k in g p o in t. T h is e n c o u n te r w ith th e im p a s s e , w ith th e u n k n o w n is e q u a l to th e a d v e n t o f th e u n e x p e c te d a t th e c u t a n d in te r r u p tio n o f se n se . In th o s e m o m e n ts th e p o s s ib ility o f c r e a tin g s o m e th in g n e w a n d u n e x p e c te d in th e b r e a k s o f th e o n to lo g ic a l s tr u c ­ tu re e x is ts: ‘A s w e k n o w , th e s e m o m e n ts a re c o n v e n tio n a lly te r m e d “ c r is is ” o r “ fo u n d a tio n c r is is ” ’ ( B a d io u , 1 9 9 8 /2 0 0 6 : 5 0). W h e re th e s tru c tu re fa ils , w h e r e th e in te rr u p tio n in th e se n s e o c c u rs, th e re is th e o c c a s io n f o r th in k in g , fo r m a k in g a d e c is io n in a m o m e n t in w h ic h k n o w l­ e d g e is c o m p le te ly in d e te r m in a te . O th e r p o s s ib le a s p e c ts o f s u c h d e c is io n s in c lu d e s u s p e n d in g th e s tru c tu re , p r o p o s in g a n a x io m , m a k in g a b e t, c r e a tin g a n e w c o n c e p t th a t d id n o t e x is t b e f o re th e situ a tio n o r a M a lla r m e a n th ro w o f th e d ic e . W e s h o u ld b e c le a r h e r e th a t th in k in g is n o t a ‘c o g n itiv e ’ a b ility , th e c o n ­ s tru c tio n o f a n a r g u m e n t s ta rtin g fro m an e x is tin g k n o w le d g e o r a c o n c lu s io n d e d u c e d fro m a n y c h a in o f id e a s. S o m e e x a m p le s fro m th e fie ld o f m a th e m a tic s in c lu d e th e p a r a d o x e s o f se t th e o ry , th e ir ra tio n a l n u m b e r in P y th a g o re a n m a th e m a tic s , th e p r o b le m o f th e m a n ip u la tio n o f in fin ite ly sm all n u m b e rs , th e u n - d e c id a b le c h a r a c te r o f E u c lid ’s p o s tu la te a b o u t th e n a tu r e o f p a r a lle ls o r th e a p p e a r a n c e o f la rg e r in fi­ n ite n u m b e rs . A t th e s e m o m e n ts , m a th e m a tic s h a s to c o m e u p w ith o r c re a te s o m e th in g u n e x p e c te d , to m a k e a d e c is io n w ith o u t g u a r a n te e a n d to a ssu m e th e c o n s e q u e n c e s . S u c c e ss o r fa ilu re c a n c o m e fro m th e r e , b u t o n ly in re tr o s p e c t is it p o s s ib le to say . I f it w a s p o s s ib le to c a lc u la te th e c o n s e q u e n c e s , th a t w o u ld m e r e ly in d ic a te th a t w e still fin d o u rs e lv e s w ith in th e c o o r d in a te s o f 214 C R E A T I O N IN T H E V O R T E X OF T H E R E A L a c tu a lly - e x is tin g k n o w le d g e o r w ith in th e p r e v io u s o n to lo g ic a l s tr u c tu re , a n d th e re fo re th e r e is th e n a d e n ia l o f th e u n k n o w n a n d th e u n e x p e c te d . M a th e m a tic s r ig o ro u s ly s h o w s th e b r e a k in g p o in t, th e c u t in th e se n s e a n d a n a c t o f th in k in g s h o u ld be m ade th e r e : it c a n th e r e f o r e be sa id th a t th e re a re m o m e n ts w h e n m a th e m a tic s , a b u ttin g o n a s ta te m e n t th a t a tte s ts in a p o in t o f th e im p o s ­ s ib le to c o m e , tu r n s a g a in s t th e d e c is io n s b y w h ic h it is o r ie n ta te d (B a d io u , 1 9 9 8 /2 0 0 6 : 5 4 ). In th e c a s e o f th e e v e n ta l- g e n e r ic d im e n s io n , m a th e m a tic s s h o w s th e p o w e r o f th e le tte r s u c h th a t a n im p a s s e is d is c o v e r e d , a m o m e n t o f lo c a liz a tio n in a u g u ­ r a tin g a n e w se q u e n c e , p r o d u c in g u n p r e c e d e n te d re la tio n s (w h ic h is w h a t th e c r e a tio n o f g e n e ric g ro u p s th r o u g h th e f o r c i n g te c h n iq u e p o in ts a t). T h e r e a l d o e s n o t r e m a in a s a n in te r n a l lim it o r a b s e n t cau se, b u t as a p l a c e f o r th e c r e a ­ tio n o f u n p r e c e d e n te d n e w f o r m s o f kn o w le d g e , u n e d ite d s e q u e n c e s a n d n e w re la tio n s . T h is is w h a t B a d io u (1 9 9 2 /2 0 0 8 : 196, 2 2 7 ) re f e r s to w h e n h e ta lk s a b o u t th e f u n c tio n o f ‘h u m a n ity ’ a n d c a s tr a tio n o r th e ‘p h a llic ’ fu n c tio n . O u r p h ilo s o p h e r e m p h a s iz e s th e c o n s tr u c tio n o f a n e w g e n e r ic g ro u p o r th e in c o r p o r ­ a tio n o f a n e v e n ta l s u p p le m e n t to th e im p a s s e o r e v e n t. Subject and ontology B a d io u ’s c la im s a b o u t c r e a tio n fr o m th e r e a l h a s a n e w c o r r e la tiv e ty p e o f s u b je c t; th is s u b je c t is n o t th e sa m e a s th a t p r e s u m e d b y L a c la u . F o r th e la tte r, th e s u b je c t is th e p la c e ta k e n in a d is c o u r s e a n d th e r e f o r e is an e f f e c t o f th e s tr u c tu re . S in c e d is c u r s iv ity is c o n tin g e n t a n d e x p e r ie n c e s h e g e m o n ic a n d d is ­ lo c a tio n m o m e n ts , id e n tity is a lw a y s p re c a r io u s . F o r B a d io u , o n th e o th e r h a n d , th e s u b je c t, e v e n i f it is a s tru c tu ra l e f fe c t, is n o t re d u c ib le to th e stru c tu re . T h e s u b je c t is th e e f f e c t o f a b e t a n d a th in k in g d e c is io n ; th e s u b je c t is w h a t a r is e s in r e tr o s p e c t a s i f a th r o w o f a d ic e m ig h t m o d ify th e c o o r d in a te s o f th e sy m b o lic ; th e s u b je c t is, a s B a d io u (1 9 8 5 : 10 1 ) lik e s to say , th e re s u lt o f ‘fid e lity to th e e v e n t’ : ‘[a su b je c t] is w h a t a n e v e n t r e p r e s e n ts to a n o th e r e v e n t’. F o llo w in g fro m th is , a n d so d e p e n d in g o n th e w a y th e re la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n th e r e a l a n d s y m b o lic is th o u g h t, th e r e w o u ld b e d if f e r e n t ty p e s o f s u b je c ts . E v e n i f L a c la u a n d B a d io u s h a re th e id e a o f a s u b je c t th a t is o p p o s e d to th a t o f a n a u to n o m o u s se lf , th e ir c o n c e p ts o f s u b je c t d iffe r. W h ile L a c la u ’s s u b je c t is o v e r - d e te r m in e d b y th e s u b je c tiv e stru c tu re , B a d io u ’s s u b je c t is th e e f fe c t o f a ‘le a p in th e d a r k ’, a n u n g u a r a n te e d d e c is io n . L e t u s u s e th e Z a p a tis ta M o v e m e n t in M e x ic o as an e x a m p le . In th e c a s e o f L a c la u ’s n o tio n o f ‘h e g e m o n y ’, th e e m p ty sig n ifie r ‘in d ig e n o u s ’ o rg a n iz e s in a n o d a l p o in t a c h a in o f e q u iv a le n c e s s ta rtin g fro m a d is p e rs io n o f f r a g m e n te d d e m a n d s ( h o m o s e x u a l stru g g le s , im m ig ra n ts, u n e m p lo y e d , b a tte r e d w o m e n , e tc .), w h ic h a c ts a s a p o in t o f o p p o s itio n to a n o th e r c h a in o f e q u iv a le n c e s a n d so th r e a te n s th e p re v a ilin g o rd e r. S ta rtin g fr o m a c o m b in a tio n o f sig n ifie rs , d is ­ c o u r s e c h a n g e s (a n e w m a s te r - s ig n if ie r e s ta b lis h e s a n e w c o n f ig u r a tio n o r e q u iv ­ a le n c e b e tw e e n o th e r sig n ifie rs ). 215 C A R L O S G O M E Z C A M A R E N A F ro m B a d io u ’s p e r s p e c tiv e , o n th e o th e r h a n d , Z a p a tis m n o t o n ly sh o w s a f is s u re o r f a ilu re w ith in th e stru c tu re b u t a ls o c o n s titu te s a th in k in g d e c is io n , a n u n g u a r a n te e d b e t a b o u t h o w a so c ie ty s h o u ld b e o r g a n iz e d o u t o f th in air, a lm o s t fro m n o w h e re . Z a p a tis m fin d s a n im p a s s e , a ris k y s u p p le m e n t to w h ic h n e w p a r ts a re a d d e d ( e n v ir o n m e n ta lis m , te c h n o lo g y , fe m in is m , fig h ts fo r im m ig ra n ts, e tc .) to ra ise th e sta k e s o f th e b e t h ig h e r: a n y m u ltip lic ity th a t w a n ts to s h a re th e s a m e a d v e n tu r e w ill b e s u b je c tiv e ly sta te d . B a d io u c o u ld e v e n sa y Z a p a tis m is a s e rie s o f in q u irie s o r r e s e a r c h e s p e r ta in in g to th e ‘c o m m u n is t h y p o th e s is ’, w h o s e th ir d s e q u e n c e (th e first o n e c o n s is tin g o f th e P a ris c o m m u n e a n d th e s e c o n d o f S ta te c o m m u n is m ) e x p e c ts a c o m m u n is m w ith n o S ta te ( B a d io u , 2 0 0 7 /2 0 0 9 ). N o b o d y k n o w s h o w th is c o m m u n is t o r g a n iz a tio n w ill e x ist, b u t e a c h o f th e s e sh a r e s th e s a m e w is h a n d th e s a m e a d v e n tu r e o f c r e a tin g a se r ie s o f in q u irie s to c r e a te n e w k in d s o f so c ia l b o n d s , a n e w k in d o f s o c ia l o r g a n iz a tio n . Contributions from Badiou’s thought to discourse analysis T h is is h o w w e fin d in B a d io u so m e e le m e n ts th a t c o u ld b e e x p lo re d fo r d is c o u rs e a n a ly s is : th e re a l, as c r e a tiv e p o w e r, a n e w c o n c e p tio n o f b e in g , a p o e tic s o f th e e v e n t a n d d is c o u rs e a n a ly s is fo r B a d io u ’s fo u r c o n d itio n s o f p h ilo s o p h y . C o n c e r n in g th e re a l a s c r e a tiv e p o w e r, w e h a v e r u n a h e a d o f o u rs e lv e s in th e p r e v io u s se c tio n s o f th is c h a p te r. T o th is c r e a tio n s ta r tin g fro m th e e n c o u n te r w ith a ris k y e v e n t, to th is u n g u a r a n te e d b e t w e sa id th e re b e lo n g s a n e w k in d o f s u b je c t. W e h a v e to a d d th a t fo r B a d io u , th e r e a re fo u r p la c e s w h e r e th is n e w s u b je c t c an e m e rg e : lo v e , art, s c ie n c e a n d p o litic s . T h is s u b je c t is n o t in a n y w a y a n in d iv id u a l: th e s u b je c t in a rt is th e w o r k o f a rt (p a in tin g , s c u lp tu re , b u ild in g , e tc .); in lo v e it is th e c o u p le ; in p o litic s it is th e m a s s a n d in s c ie n c e it is a c o rp u s o f k n o w le d g e (la w s, th e o rie s) . T h e s e su b je c ts a re a n e f fe c t o f th e e v e n t r a th e r th a n a n e f fe c t o f th e stru c tu re . W e h a v e s e e n th a t m a th e m a tic s b a s e d o n th e le tte r e n c lo s e s o r d e lim its th e n u m b e r o f re a d in g s p o s s ib le a n d th e n e n c o u n te rs a n im p a s s e in th e s tr u c tu r e , so a b e t c a n th e n b e th r o w n fro m th e r e th a t is c o n s tr u c te d fro m re a l. T h is p ro c e d u re is c r y sta l c le a r in m a th e m a tic s fo r B a d io u , b u t it w o u ld o n ly b e a b o u t th e fo rm a l w r itin g o f th e lo c a tio n - f o r c in g o p e r a tio n . It w o u ld se e m to u s th a t th is f o r m a liz a ­ tio n w o u ld a lso p o in t to a n e w w a y o f th in k in g a b o u t d is c o u rs e a n a ly s is , to a w a y o f m a th e m a tic iz in g d is c o u r s e a n a ly sis. T h is re a d in g , w h ic h w o u ld c o m p ris e fo r m a liz in g o p e r a tio n s a n d th e lo c a tio n o f th e ru p tu re , c a n o f c o u r s e b e u s e d in th e fo u r c o n d itio n s o f p h ilo s o p h y ; o f a rt, lo v e , s c ie n c e a n d p o litic s . It w o u ld th e n b e p o s s ib le to c a rr y o u t an a n a ly s is o f th e lo v in g , a rtis tic , sc ie n tific a n d p o litic a l d is c o u rs e s , b o th to fin d th e im p a s s e a n d to s h o w , in re tr o s p e c t, h o w n e w s e q u e n c e s e m e r g e d fro m b e ts ta k e n w ith o u t a n y g u a r a n te e .6 F in a lly , th e r e is th e q u e s tio n o f p o e tic s o r th e n o m in a tio n o f th e e v e n t. It is n o t th a t B a d io u d o e s n o t ta k e in to a c c o u n t th e p o w e r o f la n g u a g e , b u t h e 216 C R E A T I O N IN T H E V O R T E X OF T H E R E A L s u b je c ts p o e tr y a n d la n g u a g e to th e p o w e r o f th e le tte r a n d w h a t o n to lo g y c a n o p e n . In h is r e c e n t s e m in a r s , h e s p e a k s a b o u t a d o u b le ru p tu re : T h is first ru p tu re , s y s te m ic , is a c r itic a l r u p tu r e th a t id e n tifie s a s s u c h th e o n to lo g ic a l fie ld (th e d o m in a n t re g im e o f o p in io n s a n d a p p e a r ­ a n c e s). T h e s e c o n d r u p tu r e in v o lv e s in i t s e l f a n a c t, th e a c t o f g o in g o u t to e n c o u n te r a little o f th e re a l, a n a c t w h ic h re q u ir e s a c e rta in d o se o f v io le n c e ( s p e c ia lly o n o n e s e lf ) a n d w h o s e n a tu re is e v e n ta l. It s h o u ld b e p o s s ib le ri g h t h e r e a n d r ig h t n o w fo r th e v a n ity o f r e p r e s e n ta tio n s to b e it s e l f re p r e s e n te d , th e b o r r o w e d lin g u is tic p a r a d ig m is p o e tic a n d n o lo n g e r m a th e m a tic a l, b e c a u s e w h a t th is is a b o u t is th a t s o m e th in g sh o u ld b e g in . T h e la n g u a g e o f th e e v e n t is p o e try ; p o e try is th e in te n s i­ fic a tio n o f la n g u a g e a d a p te d to th e n o m in a tio n o f th e im p o s sib le . (B a d io u , 2 0 0 9 ) W h e n a b e t is th r o w n in th e v o rte x o f th e re a l, it is m a d e th ro u g h a n o m in a tio n first: a p o e m n o m in a te s w h a t b e f o r e w a s im p o s sib le . N a m in g , a lre a d y sin c e H e id e g g e r, d o e s n o t im p ly p u ttin g a w o r d to a th in g , b u t th e c r e a tio n o f a fic tio n w ith d is c u r s iv e e ffe c ts. B u t fo r B a d io u , th is n o m in a tio n s ig n a ls th e g a p in th e s tru c tu re a n d is n e c e s s a r y fo r th e c r e a tio n o f n e w s e q u e n c e s ( o f n e w g e n e ric s e ts ) .7 T h is w o u ld im p ly th a t th e n o m in a tio n o f th e g a p is in th e r e g is te r o f th e im a g in a r y . H o w is it p o s s ib le th a t th e im a g in a ry h a s e f fe c ts in th e o n to lo g ic a l s tru c tu re ? In o n e o f B a d io u ’s (2 0 1 0 : 5 ) r e c e n t ta lk s o n c o m m u n is m h e s ta te s th e fo llo w in g : ‘th e c o m m u n is t Id e a is th e im a g in a r y o p e r a tio n w h e r e b y a n in d iv id ­ u a l s u b je c tiv a tio n p r o je c ts a fr a g m e n t o f th e p o litic a l re a l in to th e s y m b o lic n a r ­ ra tiv e o f a H is to r y ’. T h is le a v e s th e d o o r o p e n , a s h a s b e e n s ig n a lle d b y F a r r a n (2 0 1 0 ) , to a B o r r o m e a n k n o t, w h ic h a ls o a llo w s o n e to u s e th e th r e e L a c a n ia n r e g is te r s a n d th e n o tio n o f th e B o rr o m e a n k n o t f o r d is c o u rs e a n a ly s is . L e t u s a ls o n o te , in c id e n ta lly , th a t th e p r o p o s a l o f a stru c tu re in c lu d in g th e th re e L a c a n ia n r e g is te r s is s o m e th in g th a t c h a r a c te r iz e s th e k in d of ‘h y p e r ­ s tr u c tu r a lis m ’ th a t M iln e r re f e r s to .8 B o rr o m e a n k n o ttin g is o n e o f th e s e ty p e s o f stru c tu re , th a t is to sa y , a n o n to lo g ic a l s tru c tu re th a t y o u c a n a c c e s s th ro u g h a lite r a liz e d m a th e m a tic s ( th r o u g h to p o lo g y ). Conclusion I h a v e o ff e re d th e r e a d e r a fe w in k lin g s o f w h a t d is c o u rs e a n a ly s is fro m B a d io u ’s p h ilo s o p h y c o u ld lo o k lik e , m a k in g u s e o f th e th r e e L a c a n ia n re g is te r s . I h a v e a ls o s h o w n h o w th e r e a l is c o n c e p tu a liz e d in L a c la u ’s th e o r y a n d h o w B a d io u c o n s id e r s th a t th e re a l is n o t o n ly a n in te rn a l lim it, b u t a p la c e to c o n ­ s tr u c t s o m e th in g fro m . F o r th e re a l to b e c o n c e iv e d o f a s th e p la c e fro m w h e re it is p o s s ib le to b u ild s o m e th in g n e w , it is n e c e s s a r y to m a k e th e r e a l e q u iv a le n t to a n o n to lo g ic a l im p a s s e , a ru p tu r e in w h ic h n o v e ltie s a re p r o d u c e d , a n d th is is m a d e m u c h c le a r e r b y w a y o f m a th e m a tic s b a s e d o n th e ‘l e tte r ’ th a n o n th e 217 C A R L O S G O M E Z C A M A R E N A sig n ifie r. T h is a r g u m e n t h a s th e e f fe c t o f p r o d u c in g a n e w c o n c e p tio n o f th e s u b je c t, o f th e e m e r g e n c e o f tru th s b a s e d o n w h a t B a d io u c a lls c o n d itio n s o f p h ilo s o p h y (a rt, lo v e , p o litic s a n d sc ie n c e ), a n d in p o e tic n o m in a tio n a s a w a y o f fo r c in g w h a t is re a l, th a t is to sa y , n a m in g th e im p o s sib le . T h is c o u ld b e a first ste p to B a d io u s ia n d is c o u rs e a n a ly s is . Notes 1 ‘N o th in g tie s m e m o re to L a c a n ’s te a c h in g th a n h is c o n v ic tio n th a t th e ideal o f a ny th in k in g is th a t a sp e ct o f w h ic h c an b e u niv e rsa lly tra n sm itte d o u tsid e o f sense. In o th e r w o rd s, th a t se n se le ssn e ss [/ ’insense] is th e p rim o rd ia l a ttribu te o f the T ru e ’ (B a dio u , 2 0 0 6 : 522). 2 E a ch set h a s at le a st one elem en t, th is e le m e n t is void: 0 . T o p ro d u ce n u m b e r one, y o u h a v e to b u ild it startin g from v o id , w h ic h is re p re se n ted like this: { 0 } . T his m e an s th a t by the v oid, th e re ’s a trac e (the letter) th a t su rro u n d s it, th e re su lt is one. W e c an th e n say th a t 1 = { 0 } . N u m b e r tw o is b u ilt lik e th is: { { 0 } } , a v o id w ith d o u b le trace. I f 2 = {1}, th e n 1 = { 0 } , an d th e re fo re 2 = { { 0 } } . It c an b e o b se rv e d h o w all n u m b e rs are b u ilt startin g fro m m u ltip le v o ids. 3 T h is c o n ce rns w h a t B ad io u ca lls p h ilo so p h y ’s ‘c o n d itio n s ’. F o r B ad io u, p h ilo so p h y d o e s n ot p ro d u c e e ve nts (tru th s) b u t p h ilo so p h y , to stay u p to date, h a s to h u m b le its e lf b e fo re th ese e v e nts th a t em e rge in o th e r places. P h ilo so p h y c rea te s c o n c e pts an d m a ke s th in k ab le w h a t h a p p e n s in th e se o th e r fo u r fields. B a d io u sia n p h ilo so p h y is an e x c e l­ le nt e xa m p le o f it: it su bm its to the C a n to r e v e n t (se t th e o ry ) to th in k a nd m a ke a n e w p h ilo so p h y p o ssible. 4 B a d io u ’s p o sitio n o n th is p o in t is c le ar in th e P ro jec t in C ah iers p o u r V a nalyse jo u rn a l w h ere h e c ritic iz e s Ja c q u e s-A lain M ille r (19 6 6 ) a rticle, w hic h he c alls ‘the first g re at L a c a n ia n te x t n o t to be w ritte n by L ac a n h im s e lf (B a diou , 1990/2008: 25), p re c ise ly on th e p o in t o f ‘log ic o f th e sig n ifie r’ (1 9 6 9 ). F o r B ad io u (2 0 0 2 : 1 1 9 -1 2 0 ), log ic h as to be m ath e m a tic iz e d o r it w ill in c u r th e sam e m ista k es as th e lin gu istic turn. 5 T h a t th e le tte r c an to u c h th e o nto lo g ic a l stru c tu re is o n e o f th e c h a ra cteristic s o f w h a t M iln e r (1 9 9 8 , 2 0 0 2 ) calls ‘h y p e r stru c tu ra lism ’. 6 S ee h o w B a d io u (201 lb /2 0 1 2 ) trea ts rio ts in E u ro p e a nd u p risin g s in th e A rab w o rld as p o ssib le n ew seq u en ces. 7 F o r d etail a b o u t th e re la tio n sh ip b e tw ee n stru c tu ra l failu re , e ven t, n o m in a tio n and g en e ric g ro u p c rea tio n (or se qu en ces sta rtin g from a risk y ev en t), see the c h a p te r ‘C o n ­ fe re nc e a b o u t su b tra c tio n ’ fro m th e b o o k C o nd itio n s , sp e c ia lly th e g a m m a schem e (B a dio u , 1992: 121). 8 T his h y p e r-stru c tu ralism , a c co rd in g to M iln e r (1 9 9 8 , 2 0 0 2 ), is a resu lt o f th e inq u iries m a d e in th e C a hiers jo u rn a l p ro jec t, w h e re th e o p p o sitio n b e tw ee n th e lin g u istic an d o n to lo g ic a l turn b eg an , b u t is a lso th e tim e th a t A lth u sse r a nd P e ch e u x te nta tiv e ly p ro p o se a fo rm o f d isc o u rse a n aly sis (W illia m s, 1999: 103). T h is w ill e ven h av e e ffe cts on th e fo u r c o n d itio n s o f p hilo so p h y in B ad iou , as m e n tio n e d by L iv io B oni in h is c o n trib u tio n to th is b ook. References B ad io u , A. (1 9 6 9 ) ‘M a rq u e e t m an q u e: a p ro p o s d u z e ro ’, C a hiers p o u r V A n alyse, 10, 1 5 0 -1 7 3 . B a dio u , A . (1 9 8 5 ) P eu t-o n P en s er la P o litiq ue? P aris: S euil. B a dio u , A . (1 9 8 8 /2 0 0 7 ) B ein g a n d E vent. L o n d o n: C o ntin uu m . 218 C R E A T I O N IN T H E V O R T E X OF T H E R E A L B a dio u , A . (1 9 9 0 /2 0 0 8 ) N u m b er a n d N um bers. C a m b rid g e: P olity. B a dio u , A . (1 9 9 2 /2 0 0 8 ) C o ndition s. L o nd on : C o n tin u um . B a diou , A . (1 9 9 7 /1 9 9 9 ) D eleuze: The C la m or o f B ein g. M in n ea p o lis, M N : U n iv ersity o f M in n e so ta P ress. B a dio u , A . (1 9 9 8 /2 0 0 6 ) B riefing s in E xisten ce. A lb a n y , N Y : S U N Y P ress. B a diou , A . (2 0 0 6 /2 0 0 9 ) L o g ic s o f W orlds: B e in g a n d E ve n t 2. L on do n : C o n tin u um . B a dio u , A . (2 0 0 7 /2 0 0 9 ) The M ea n in g o fS a r k o z y . N e w Y o rk: V erso . B a dio u , A. (20 0 9 ) P o u r A u jo u r d ’h u i P la to n ! Ju ly 10 2 0 0 9 . U n p u b lish e d sem inar. B a d io u , A . (2 0 1 0 ) T h e id e a o f c o m m u n ism ’, in C. D o u z in a s a nd S. Z iz e k (ed s) The Id ea o f C om m u nism . L o n do n: V erso . B a dio u , A . (2 0 1 1 a ) ‘C a n c h a n g e b e th o u g h t? ’, in B. B o ste e ls (ed.) B a d io u a n d P olitics. L o nd on : V erso . B a dio u , A . (201 lb /2 0 1 2 ) The R eb irth o f the H istory: T im es o f R io ts a n d U prisings. L o nd on : V e rso . F a rran , R. (20 0 9 ) 4L a filo so fla d e A la in B ad io u, un n u d o de te m p o ra lid a d e s h e te ro g e n e a s ’, in C. G o m e z a n d A . U zin (ed s) B a diou F u era de su s L im ites. B u en o s A ires: Im a g o M u n d i. H eid e g g e r, M . (1 9 2 7 /1 9 6 2 ) B ein g a n d Tim e. O x ford: B lac kw e ll. L ac an , J. (1 9 7 5 /1 9 9 8 ) O n F em inin e Sexuality, The L im its o f L o ve a n d K n ow ledg e, 1 9 7 2 - 1973: E ncore, The S e m in a r o f Ja cq u es L acan, B o o k X X (tra n sla te d by B . F ink ). N e w Y o rk: N o rto n . L ac lau , E. (2 0 0 8 ) D eb a tes y C om bates: P o r un N u e vo H o rizo n te de la P olitica. B u e n o s A ires: F C E . L ac la u, E. an d M o u ffe, C. (2 0 0 1 ) H eg em o n y a n d S o c ia list Stra tegy: T ow a rds a R a d ica l D em o cra tic P o litics ( 2 n d E d ition ). L o n d on : V erso. M iller, J.-A . (1 9 6 6 ) 4L a su tu re: e le m e n ts p o u r la lo g iq u e du sig n ifia n t’, C a hiers p o u r T A n a lyse, 1, 3 7 -4 9 . M iln er, J.-C . (1 9 98 ) L ’(E uvre C laire. L acan, la S cience, la P h iloso ph ie. P aris: Seuil. M iln e r, J.-C . (20 02 ) L e P erip le S tr u c tu r a l: F ig u re s et P a ra dig m e. P a ris: S euil. W illia m s, G . (1 9 9 9 ) F ren ch D isco urse A n a lysis: The M e th o d o f P ost-Stru cturalism . L o nd on : R o u tle d g e . 219