REVIEW: LES NOUVEAUX RALISTES by Terence Blake Review of Alexander Galloway's LES NOUVEAU R!AL"STES #!

di$ions L%o Sc&eer' ()*(+ 1) GENERAL PRESENTATION LES NOUVEAU R!AL"STES #T,E NE- REAL"STS+ by Alexander Galloway is a book $&a$ ai.s a$ /ivin/ a 0nified 1ers1ec$ive on a /ro01 of 2 3renc& $&inkers #4a$&erine 5alabo0' Bernard S$ie/ler' 5e&di Bel&a6 7ace.' 80en$in 5eillasso0x' e$ 3ran9ois Lar0elle+ w&o do no$ for. a .ove.en$' b0$ w&o &ave eno0/& of a :fa.ily rese.blance; wi$& eac& o$&er $o allow $&e. $o be disc0ssed $o/e$&er in a sin/le book< T&e book $&0s con$ains 2 c&a1$ers' eac& of w&ic& deals wi$& one of $&e 2 1&iloso1&ers' 1l0s a =reface' an En$rac$e' and a =os$face' $&a$ /ive a .ore syn$&e$ic $rea$.en$< T&e a0$&ors disc0ssed for. .ore of a cons$ella$ion $&an a .ove.en$ or a sc&ool' and $&ey are rela$ed by $&eir s&ared desire $o in&eri$ fro. $&e /rea$ 1recedin/ /enera$ion of 3renc& 1&iloso1&ers #>ele0?e' >errida' 3o0ca0l$' Lyo$ard+ and $o en/a/e cri$ically wi$& $&eir co..on $&e.es and $&eir individ0al $&eses< T&e $i$le is sli/&$ly dece1$ive as $&ese $&inkers are nei$&er :new; #cer$ain of $&e.' for exa.1le Bernard S$ie/ler and 3ran9ois Lar0elle &ave a 10blis&ed work s1read o0$ over .ore $&an $wo decades+ nor necessarily :realis$s; #so.e of $&e.' s0c& as once a/ain S$ie/ler and Lar0elle are very cri$ical of $&e classical 1&iloso1&ical vocab0lary and &ave elabora$ed bodies of $&o0/&$ $&a$ canno$ easily be classified in s0c& $radi$ional $er.s+< 30r$&er' $&e book also con$ains an ex$ended disc0ssion of $&e 1&iloso1&y of Alain Badio0' w&ose s&adow loo.s over $&e w&ole book' as &e co.es in a cer$ain sense @be$ween@ $&e $wo in$ellec$0al /enera$ions $&a$ Galloway $&e.a$ises< En/a/ed in a cri$ical dialo/0e wi$& &is vanis&ed elders' Badio0 &as elabora$ed a 1&iloso1&ical sys$e. w&ic& serves of$en ei$&er as a 1osi$ive .odel $o be i.i$a$ed or si.1ly as a so0rce of ins1ira$ion or ra$&er as a ne/a$ive .odel of w&a$ is $o be avoided or $o be cri$icised< ,e f0nc$ions as a foil for $&e 2 $&inkers disc0ssed in Galloway's book< One of $&e .a6or $&e.es of $&e book is an o11osi$ion $&a$ Galloway develo1s be$ween on $&e one &and w&a$ &e calls :.a$erialis.;' a 1osi$ive fi/0re of $&o0/&$ #@1osi$ive@ beca0se i$ $akes in$o acco0n$ $&e .a$eriali$y and $&e &is$orici$y of o0r knowled/e and of o0r in$ellec$0al sys$e.s' and beca0se i$ is elabora$ed on $&e basis of an e.anci1a$ory 1ro6ec$ involvin/ $&e cri$iA0e and $&e $ransfor.a$ion of $&e ca1i$alis$ sys$e.+' and on $&e o$&er &and :realis.; as ne/a$ive fi/0re of $&o0/&$' declared by Galloway $o be aB&is$orical' i/norin/ $&e .a$erial condi$ionin/ of o0r ideas' and 1rovidin/ a conserva$ive .irror i.a/e of $&e f0nc$ionin/ of con$e.1orary ca1i$alis.< "n Galloway's $y1olo/y .a$erialis. is scien$ific' or a$ leas$ on $&e side of $&e sciencesC and realis. is 0l$i.a$ely ideolo/ical' serio0sly co.1ro.ised by i$s &o.olo/y of s$r0c$0rewi$& :1os$Bfordis$; ca1i$alis.< 2) ON HOMOLOGY: GALLOWAY'S BADIOUSIAN METHOD One of $&e 1ole.ical $ar/e$s of $&e book is $&e @.ove.en$@ #$&is $i.e $&e label &as been officially endorsed' a$ leas$ by so.e of i$s 10r1or$ed .e.bers+ s1ec0la$ive realis. #deno$ed SR+ and of i$s offs1rin/ ob6ec$ orien$ed on$olo/y #deno$ed OOO+< Galloway's ar/0.en$ ai.s a$ es$ablis&in/ a correla$ion be$ween $&e on$olo/y of SRDOOO and $&e s$r0c$0re of con$e.1orary 1os$Bfordis$ ca1i$alis.< Galloway con$en$s &i.self wi$& indica$in/ $&e exis$ence of $&is correla$ion and wi$& describin/ i$ in very /eneral $er.s' in order $o 1ose $&e A0es$ion of $&e 1er$inence and of $&e 0$ili$y of $&is $y1e of on$olo/y for any e.anci1a$ory 1ers1ec$ive< Galloway allies $&is /eneral ar/0.en$ wi$& a .ore s1ecific one concernin/ $&e rese.blances' or $&e :correla$ion;' be$ween Badio0's on$olo/y #and also $&a$ of $&e OOOians+ and .odern 1ro/ra..in/ lan/0a/es' .ore s1ecifically ob6ec$Borien$ed 1ro/ra..in/ lan/0a/es< " $&ink $&a$ Galloway wen$ o0$ on a li.b 0nnecessarily wi$& &is 10$$in/ so .0c& e.1&asis on ob6ec$Borien$ed 1ro/ra..in/ as o11osed $o o$&er sor$s of 1ro/ra..in/ lan/0a/es< T&e /eneral

ar/0.en$ does no$ rely on $&is' w&ic& &as $&e s$a$0s only of an in$eres$in/ or a.0sin/ ins$an$ia$ion of &is /eneral idea $&a$ sof$ware is .a$&e.a$ics and $&a$ ca1i$alis. is now' $o a lar/e ex$en$' .a$erialised .a$&e.a$ics< So $&e $er. of :&o.olo/y; $o describe $&e si.ilari$y of s$r0c$0re be$ween Badio0's #and OOO's+ on$olo/y and con$e.1orary ca1i$alis. is in fac$ $oo weak' w&a$ we are confron$ed wi$& is ra$&er an iden$i$y of s$r0c$0re ins$an$ia$in/ i$self in differen$ ways< Badio0 &i.self acce1$s $&e exis$ence $&is iden$i$y' or :&o.olo/y;' and is very worried abo0$ i$< ,e is /iven a cer$ain de/ree of acce1$ance by Galloway as o11osed $o 5eillasso0x< T&is s1ecial $rea$.en$ is accorded no$ beca0se of Badio0's ex1lici$ 1rono0nce.en$s in favo0r of 5arxis.' b0$ beca0se $&e w&ole arc&i$ec$0re of &is 1&iloso1&y is based on ass0.in/ and overco.in/ $&is &o.olo/y by addin/ $o &is on$olo/y of 10re .0l$i1les an on$olo/y of $&e Even$< T&e Even$ is w&a$ is nonB &o.olo/o0s $o ca1i$alis. and i$ is $&e keys$one $o &is 1oli$ical on$olo/y< T&is co0n$ervailin/ fea$0re is absen$ fro. ob6ec$Borien$ed on$olo/ies< To 0n1ack $&e all0sion $o Badio0 wi$&o0$ /oin/ in$o $&e .assive de$ail of BE"NG AN> EVENT' a brief considera$ion of &is 5AN"3ESTO 3OR =,"LOSO=,E .ay be ill0.ina$in/< "n c&a1$er 2 Badio0 .akes i$ clear $&a$ &e acknowled/es $&e iden$i$y of s$r0c$0re be$ween ca1i$alis. and se$ $&eory' w&ic& serves as $&e basis for &is on$olo/y< "$ is no$ a A0es$ion of ca1i$alis. .akin/ 0se of se$ $&eory or no$' in bo$& cases ca1i$alis. is or a11roac&es as i$s li.i$' $&e abs$rac$ .ani10la$ion of in$erc&an/eable ele.en$s' $&a$ are $rea$ed as 10re A0an$i$a$ive .0l$i1les #or se$s+ w&ose A0ali$a$ive as1ec$s can be bracke$ed o0$ as s0c&' al$&o0/& $&ey can be fac$ored in$o $&e ca1i$alis$ co.10$a$ion as /ivin/ rise $o diverse for.s of ex$rac$ion of val0e< 4a1i$alis. as abs$rac$ 1ower i.1els $&e .ove.en$ of 0nbindin/' revealin/ bein/s as 10re .0l$i1lesF :$&a$ is $&e inel0c$able effec$ of $&e 0niversal inves$.en$ of $&e $er.s of o0r si$0a$ion in $&e circ0la$in/ .ove.en$ of $&e /eneral .one$ary eA0ivalen$; #5AN"3ESTO 3OR =,"LOSO=,E' c&a1$er on ni&ilis.' .y $ransla$ion< No$e' all $&is c&a1$er is relevan$+< No$&in/ is essen$ially bo0nd or correla$ed $o 0s' all is 0nbo0nd or wi$&drawn' wi$&in $&e /eneralised co.10$a$ion of ca1i$alis.< Badio0 accepts all $&is< ,e ar/0es $&a$ $&e dis60nc$ion of on$olo/y and 1oli$ics is a 1oli$ical ac$ wi$& dire conseA0ences and $&a$ $&erefore we .0s$ brin/ on$olo/y 0nder $&e cond ! on of an e.anci1a$ory 1oli$ics< 3or Badio0' a /eneralised a$o.is$ics of wi$&drawnness is ni&ilis$ic so1&is$ry allied $o cynical ex1loi$a$ion' 0nless 1oli$ics is $&ere fro. $&e s$ar$ as a condi$ion of a way o0$ of $&is closed and s$erile :a$onal; world< 3o0ca0ldian 1ower is no$ s0b6ec$ivi$y' nor even &0.an' nor is ,eide//erGs lan/0a/e or >ele0?e and G0a$$ariGs desire< T&ere is no :correla$ion; &ere< On $&e con$rary' $&ese conce1$s were elabora$ed very 1recisely $o /e$ away fro. $&e correla$ionis$ $ra1< T&ey are 1ar$ of $&ese $&inkersG 1ro6ec$ of reconce1$0alisa$ion of $&e s011osedly fa.iliar 1&eno.ena of everyday life< ,ar.an's conce1$ of :wi$&drawal;' on $&e o$&er &and' is an incredible si.1lifica$ion of $&e world $&a$ renders i$ co.10$able w&ile dis1ensin/ 0s of $&e need $o individ0a$e i$ and o0rselves wi$& i$< T&ere can be no wi$&drawal wi$&o0$ ab0ndance #3eyerabendGs conce1$+' b0$ ab0ndance exis$s wi$&o0$ wi$&drawal< :-i$&drawal; is $ied $o a co.10$a$ional 0nders$andin/ of Bein/< T&e sens0al ob6ec$' bein/ :0$$er s&a.;' is deBvalorised on$olo/ically in favo0r of $&e real ob6ec$ $&a$ is 10rely in$elli/ible< So abs$rac$ions are /iven 1ri.acy over w&a$ .akes a difference in o0r lives< Even ,0ber$ >reyf0s and Sean 7elly' ie $wo ,eide//erians w&o are very .0c& NOT .arxis$s' 0se &o.olo/y ar/0.en$s' $&a$ were 10$ on $&e co/ni$ive .a1 by ,eide//er and s$r0c$0ralis.< T&ese sor$s of ar/0.en$s are .assively 1resen$ in con$inen$al 1&iloso1&y and can be done well or badly< Ba0drillard did i$ brillian$ly a/ains$ 3o0ca0l$' and .ay even &ave been res1osible for $&e e$&ical reB orien$a$ion of &is la$er work< T&e sa.e can be said for Lardrea0Gs cri$iA0e of Lyo$ardGs Libidinal Econo.y 1&ase' w&ic& led $o &is e$&ical and 1oli$ical $0rn< 3renc& $&inkers are very sensi$ive $o $&is sor$ of ob6ec$ion $&a$ $&ey .ay be re1rod0cin/ .e$a1&ysical andDor ca1i$alis$ s$r0c$0res and 1res011osi$i0ons in $&e dee1 s$r0c$0re of $&eir conce1$s< T&ey $ake $&is sor$ of ar/0.en$ very

serio0sly and $&ink i$ i.1or$an$< "$ is one of $&e .a6or .o$ors of $&eir conce1$0al evol0$ion< T&e co.10$a$ional 0nders$andin/ of Bein/ is $&e 0nders$andin/ $&a$ ori/ina$es wi$& >escar$es and renders 1ossible $&e vario0s s1ecific co.10$a$ional disci1lines $&a$ exis$ $oday< "$ is $&e &e/e.ony of $&e :co0n$;< T&is is w&a$ deBvalorises $&e sens0al A0ali$ies $o .ere secondary s$a$0s < ,ar.anGs real ob6ec$s are no$ sensible b0$ only in$elli/ible in $&e sense $&a$ $&ey can be ob6ec$s of o0r in$ellec$ion< " &ave $&0s ar/0ed $&a$ $&ey are $ranscenden$ abs$rac$ions #0nkowable and 0n$o0c&able' says ,ar.an+< 3or $&e ,o.eric 0nders$andin/ $&in/s do no$ wi$&draw' ar/0e bo$& >reyf0s and 3eyerabend< 3or 5elville' once a/ain $&in/s do no$ 0niversally wi$&draw b0$ abo0nd' ar/0e bo$& >reyf0s and >ele0?e' $&o0/& $&ere is 1ro/ress co.1ared $o ,o.er in $&a$ 5elville #as exe.1lar of $&e 1l0ralis$ 1aradi/.+ does .ake roo. for wi$&drawal as well< Badio0's references $o se$ $&eory are $ied $o a de$ailed ar/0.en$a$ion in BE"NG AN> EVENT on $&e role of se$ $&eory as an on$olo/y of $&e 10re .0l$i1le< "$ as if Badio0 considers 1os$Bcan$orian se$ $&eory as $&e acco.1lis&ed for.0la$ion of w&a$ was i.1lici$ in $&e 4ar$esian 1ri.acy of $&e co.10$o< 5any $&inkers s&are Galloway's view of $&e $ri0.1& of co.10$a$ional ca1i$alis. #Bernard S$ie/ler' for exa.1le' &i/&li/&$s $&e con$e.1orary 1ro/ression fro. inves$.en$Borien$ed $o s1ec0la$ive ca1i$alis.+ and find i$ a &orrifyin/ 1ros1ec$< "n res1onse $&ey wis& $o elabora$e a 1&iloso1&y wi$& an e.anci1a$ory 1o$en$ial< Badio0 acknowled/es $&a$ &is 1&iloso1&y is in dan/er of reflec$in/ $&e sa.e s$r0c$0re as ca1i$alis. and considers $&a$ $&is is an i.1or$an$ diffic0l$y $&a$ needs $o be addressed< T&e idea is $&a$ yo0 will no$ be able $o 1ro1ose any real c&an/e if $&e very s$r0c$0re of yo0r $&eory re1rod0ces $&e s$r0c$0re of $&a$ w&ic& yo0 wan$ $o c&an/e< ,ence Badio0Gs ex$re.e care in incl0din/ and acco0n$in/ for $&e Even$ in &is on$olo/y< And also for $&e 1ossibili$y of 1oli$ics as even$' and no$ 60s$ as $&e management of .0l$i1lici$ies< T&is necessi$y of incl0din/ 1oli$ics in $&e very fabric of &is on$olo/y is for Badio0 a 1oli$ical necessi$y< And $&e dis60nc$ion of 1oli$ics and on$olo/y affir.ed by OOO is in Badio0sian eyes a 1oli$ical /es$0re in i$self< T&0s no$&in/ cr0cial &an/s on w&e$&er se$ $&eory or any s1ecific 1ro/ra..in/ lan/0a/e is ac$0ally 0sed in any s1ecific ca1i$alis$ endeavo0r< Unfor$0na$ely Galloway .0ddied $&ese wa$ers by .ixin/ in a very in$eres$in/ co.1arison of OOO and ob6ec$Borien$ed 1ro/ra..in/< T&is is a$ a .0c& lower level of abs$rac$ion $&an $&e /eneral ar/0.en$ and is .0c& .ore e.1irical in na$0re< "$ leaves &i. o1en $o s01erficial re1lies s0c& as $&a$ ob6ec$Borien$ed lan/0a/es are no$ 0sed as .0c& as so.e o$&er lan/0a/e for exa.1le' and $&ese re1lies .iss $&e /eneral ar/0.en$ al$o/e$&er< "$ is in$eres$in/ $o no$e $&a$ Badio0's correla$ionis$ $&eory of 1oli$ics was cri$icised by HeanB3ran9ois Lyo$ard already in *IJI< Lyo$ard does no$ 0se $&e $er. :correla$ionis$; b0$ 0ses $&e synony.o0s ex1ression :c0rio0s .irrorin/; coined by Badio0 &i.self $o describe a 1roble. in &is $&eory of $&e even$F :$&is c0rio0s .irrorin/ of $&e even$ and $&e in$erven$ion; #BE"NG AN> EVENT' 1()I+< Lyo$ard ar/0es $&a$ Badio0Gs way o0$ of $&is i.1asse does no$ work' and acc0ses &i. of bo$& a cer$ain an$&ro1olo/is. and a cer$ain decisionis.< T&e :.irrorin/; is asy..e$rical and 1rivile/es $&e s0b6ec$ive 1ole of $&e decisionF :" know $&a$ $&is is no$ w&a$ yo0 sayKB0$ " can only see $&e i.1ac$ of $&e decision on $&e even$' in yo0r $ex$' " do no$ see a 1a$& fro. $&e even$ $o $&e decision; #le ca&ier d0 collL/e in$erna$ional de 1&iloso1&ie' vol0.e J' *IJI+< Lyo$ard is caref0l &ere $o dis$in/0is& $&e ex1lici$ con$en$ of Badio0's 1rono0nce.en$s fro. $&e s$r0c$0ral &o.olo/ies of &is sys$e.< "$ is dis$ressin/ $o see in cer$ain co..en$s $&a$ one can find on Galloway's $&eses a wides1read i/norance s0rro0ndin/ $&e 0ncoverin/ and ar$ic0la$ion of s$r0c$0ral &o.olo/ies as a way of eval0a$in/ $&e 1oli$ical c&ar/e of vario0s 1&iloso1&ies<Badio0 &i.self as we &ave ar/0ed &as no 1roble. wi$& &o.olo/ical ar/0.en$s and ex1lici$ly draws a$$en$ion $o $&e &o.olo/y of ca1i$alis$ 0nBbindin/ and ni&ilis$ a$o.ised 1&iloso1&ies< 3or &i. $&e A0es$ion is :&ow $o /e$ o0$Kof ro.ani$icis.' wi$&o0$ consen$in/ $o $&e ni&ilis$ so1&is$ic w&ose 10re 1resen$ is $&e world .arke$' $&e econo.y' and $&e consens0al a0$o.a$is. of ca1i$al; #le ca&ier' Osiris *IJI'

1(MM+< ") THE PROBLEM O# $HANGE IN HARMAN'S OOO 5y own analysis of ,ar.an's OOO is conver/en$ wi$& Galloway's so " will 1resen$ i$ &ere in $&e for. of $&esesF *+ ,ar.anGs OOO is a for. of .onis. N &e be/ins 0s0ally wi$& a 1reli.inary /es$0re of reco/nisin/ $&e .0l$i1lici$y and ab0ndance of $&e world' b0$ ra1idly red0ces $&e .0l$i1le ele.en$s $o overarc&in/ :e.er/en$; 0ni$ies $&a$ excl0de o$&er a11roac&es $o and 0nders$andin/s of $&e world #cf< T,E T,"R> TABLE+ N &is ob6ec$s are $&e :only real; ob6ec$s< (+ ,ar.anGs OOO is $&0s 1rofo0ndly red0c$ionis$< ,ar.an .akes a bi/ f0ss abo0$ cri$icisin/ :red0c$ionis.; #cf< also &is bo/0s /rabBall conce1$s of :0nder.inin/; and :over.inin/;+' b0$ &e see.s $o &ave no idea w&a$ i$ is N easily winnin/ 1oin$s a/ains$ s$raw .en' $&en 1roceedin/ $o advoca$e one of $&e wors$ for.s of red0c$ionis. i.a/inableF red0c$ion of $&e ab0ndance of $&e world $o 0n$o0c&able 0nknowable ye$ in$elli/ible :ob6ec$s;< #3or .ore de$ails see .y review of ,ar.anGs T,E T,"R> TABLE+< O+ ,ar.anGs OOO is $&eolo/icalF ,e 1rod0ces a a &i/&ly $ec&nical conce1$ of ob6ec$ s0c& $&a$ i$ re1laces $&e fa.iliar ob6ec$s of $&e everyday world' and $&e less fa.iliar ob6ec$s of science wi$& so.e$&in/ :dee1er; and :inaccessible;' and $&en 1roceeds $o eA0ivoca$e wi$& $&e fa.iliar conno$a$ions and associa$ions of :ob6ec$; $o /ive $&e i.1ression $&a$ &e is a concre$e $&inker' w&en $&e level of abs$rac$ion $akes 0s $o $&e &ei/&$s of a new for. of ne/a$ive $&eolo/yF $&e 0nknowable' ineffable' 0n$o0c&able ob6ec$ $&a$ wi$&draws< P+ ,ar.anGs OOO is aB$e.1oral and aB&is$oricalF ,ar.an &as no 0nders$andin/ of c&an/e' &is 1&iloso1&y &as no 1lace for i$ exce1$ by arbi$rary 1osi$< One of &is favori$e ar/0.en$s is $&a$ :if every$&in/ was defined by i$s rela$ions' $&en no$&in/ wo0ld c&an/e;< T&is is a so1&is.' as i$ i/nores $e.1oral rela$ions #s0c& as :x is /oin/ fas$er $&an y;' :. is accelera$in/ fas$er $&an n;+' and force rela$ions #:a is cr0s&in/ b;' :c is fi/&$in/ back a/ains$ d;+< T&is dene/a$ion is 1re1ara$ory $o ,ar.anGs reBessen$ialisin/ of $&e ob6ec$< 2+ T&e deB1oli$icisa$ion co.es in w&en ,ar.an' &avin/ ar/0ed ille/i$i.a$ely for nonBrela$ional essences #cf 1oin$ P+' /oes on $o :infor.; 0s $&a$ $&e essences canno$ be known b0$ $&a$ $&ey are no$ e$ernal and 0nc&an/eable< B0$ ,ar.an canno$ $&ink c&an/e wi$& $&e conce1$0al reso0rces of &is sys$e.' &e can only 1osi$ i$ and $&en 1lay on fa.iliar b0$ ille/i$i.a$e associa$ions $o .ake i$ see. $o be co.1re&ensible in $er.s of &is OOO< ,owever' $&is inco&eren$ 1osi$ canno$ dis/0ise $&e fac$ $&a$ c&an/e is foreclosed in ,ar.anGs sys$e.F :$&ere is no even$ for ,ar.an;< M+ On$olo/y is no$ 1ri.ary for ,ar.an< ,is real 1ole.ic is wi$& a s$raw .an e1is$e.olo/y $&a$ &e calls $&e 1&iloso1&y of &0.an access< No i.1or$an$ 1&iloso1&y of a$ leas$ $&e las$ 2) years is a 1&iloso1&y of access' so $&e ill0sion of a revol0$ion in $&o0/&$ is /enera$ed by $&e .is0se of $&e no$ion of :access;' infla$in/ i$ in$o a /rabBall conce1$ 0nder w&ic& any$&in/ and every$&in/ can be s0bs0.ed< B0$ a 1&iloso1&y of nonBaccess is s$ill e1is$e.olo/ical' a 1essi.is$ic ne/a$ive e1is$e.olo/y $&a$ s0b$rac$s ob6ec$s fro. .eanin/f0l &0.an in$erven$ion #cf< T,E 8UA>RU=LE OBHE4T w&ere E/y1$ i$self is declared $o be an ob6ec$' albei$' s$ran/ely eno0/&' a :nonB1&ysical; one' and so 0nknowable and 0n$o0c&able+< T&e on$olo/ical ne0$ralisa$ion of o0r knowled/e is consonan$ wi$& $&e 1oli$ical ne0$ralisa$ion described by Galloway< ,ow can a wi$&drawn ob6ec$ :deB wi$&draw;Q ,ar.an canno$ ex1lain any in$erac$ion a$ all #&e see.s $o be conf0sed abo0$ $&e dis$inc$ion be$ween rela$ion and in$erac$ion+' &e can only 60s$ 1osi$ i$< 4oncl0sionF ,ar.anGs fla$$enin/ of on$olo/y is a red0c$ionis.' $&e red0c$ion of $&e ab0ndance and .0l$i1lici$y of $&e world $o an aB1oli$ical' anBe$&ical correla$e $o &is e1is$e.olo/y of inaccessible ob6ec$s< ,ar.anGs OOO is a sc&ool 1&iloso1&y dealin/ in /enerali$ies and abs$rac$ions far fro. $&e concre$e 6oys and s$r0//les of real &0.an bein/s #:T&e world is filled 1ri.arily no$ wi$& elec$rons or &0.an 1raxis' b0$ wi$& /&os$ly ob6ec$s wi$&drawin/ fro. all &0.an and in&0.an access;' T,E T,"R>

TABLE' 1*(+< >es1i$e i$s 1ro.ises' ,ar.anGs OOO does no$ brin/ 0s closer $o $&e ric&ness and co.1lexi$y of $&e real world b0$ in fac$ re1laces $&e .0l$i1lici$o0s and varie/a$ed world wi$& a se$ of bloodless and lifeless abs$rac$ions N &is 0nknowable and 0n$o0c&able' :/&os$ly;' ob6ec$s< No$ only are ob6ec$s 0nknowable' b0$ even w&e$&er so.e$&in/ is a real ob6ec$ or no$ is 0nknowableF :we can never know for s0re w&a$ is a real ob6ec$ and w&a$ isnG$;' s$a$es ,ar.an in a re1ly $o Alexander GallowayGs cri$icis.s< Ee$ ,ar.anGs OOO &as le/isla$ed $&a$ i$s ob6ec$ is $&e only real ob6ec$ #cf< T,E T,"R> TABLE' w&ere ,ar.an calls &is $able' as co.1ared $o $&e $able of everyday life and $&e scien$is$Gs $able' :$&e only real one;' 1*)' and :$&e only real $able;' 1**< As for $&e everyday $able and $&e scien$ific $ableF :bo$& are equally unreal:' bo$& are :0$$er s&a.s;' 1M< :-&a$ever we ca1$0re' w&a$ever we si$ a$ or des$roy is no$ $&e real $able;' 1*(< And &e acc0ses o$&ers of :red0c$ionis.;R+< To say $&a$ $&e real ob6ec$ is 0nknowable #:$&e real is so.e$&in/ $&a$ canno$ be known;' 1*(+ is an e1is$e.olo/ical $&esis< As is $&e clai. $&a$ $&e ob6ec$ we know' $&e everyday or $&e scien$ific ob6ec$' is 0nreal< ,ow can $&is &el1 0s in o0r livesQ "$ is a doc$rine of resi/na$ion and 1assivi$yF we canno$ know $&e real ob6ec$' $&e ob6ec$ we know is 0nreal' an :0$$er s&a.;' we canno$ know w&a$ is or isnG$ a real ob6ec$< ,ar.anGs ob6ec$s do no$ wi$&draw' $&ey $ranscend< T&ey $ranscend o0r 1erce1$ion and o0r knowled/e' $&ey $ranscend all rela$ions and in$erac$ions< As ,ar.an rei$era$es' ob6ec$s are dee1 #:ob6ec$s are dee1er $&an $&eir a11earance $o $&e &0.an .ind b0$ also dee1er $&an $&eir rela$ions $o one ano$&er;' 1P' :$&e real $able is a /en0ine reali$y dee1er $&an any $&eore$ical or 1rac$ical enco0n$er wi$& i$Kdee1er $&an any rela$ions in w&ic& i$ .i/&$ beco.e involved;' 1IB*)+< T&is :de1$&; is a key 1ar$ of ,ar.anGs on$olo/y' w&ic& is no$ fla$ a$ all' b0$ cen$ered on $&is ver$ical di.ension of de1$& and $ranscendence< %) BEING WITHOUT THE EVENT A very a.0sin/ exa.1le of $&e inabili$y of a sync&ronic on$olo/y $o co.1re&end even $&e $er.s of a diac&ronic on$olo/y' ye$ alone $o ref0$e i$' is /iven by Gra&a. ,ar.anGs re1ea$ed :ar/0.en$; a/ains$ rela$ional on$olo/ies< ,ar.anGs on$olo/y is a classic s$a$ic on$olo/y' s1a$ialised $o $&e 1oin$ $&a$ &e canno$ even conceive of $i.e as bein/ real< Ti.e' i$ will be recalled' in ,ar.anGs sys$e. is $&e :$ension be$ween sens0al ob6ec$s and $&eir sens0al A0ali$ies; #T,E 8UA>RU=LE OBHE4T' *))+' and so is confined $o $&e sens0al real.' $&e real. of :0$$er s&a.s; as &e calls i$ in T,E T,"R> TABLE #M+< ,ar.anGs real ob6ec$s are s1a$iali?ed essences $&a$ are absol0$ely a$e.1oral' so ,ar.an &as a very bi/ 1roble. indeed in acco0n$in/ for $i.e' w&ic& is in effec$ 0nreal in &is sys$e.F :Ti.e concerns no$&in/ b0$ $&e s01erficial dra.a of s0rface A0ali$ies swirlin/ a$o1 a sens0al ob6ec$ $&a$ is so.ew&a$ d0rable b0$ 0l$i.a$ely 0nreal; #in$erview faslanyc+< ,ar.anGs :5as$er Ar/0.en$; a/ains$ w&a$ &e calls rela$ionis. is in fac$ ra$&er a descri1$ion of &is inco.1re&ension of diac&ronic on$olo/ies< ,e re1ea$edly clai.s $&a$ if every$&in/ is rela$ed c&an/e is i.1ossible< T&is is 10re so1&is$ry as i$ i/nores dyna.ic rela$ions #bo$& $e.1oral and force+< "n an earlier 1os$ " ar/0edF :,ar.anGs OOO is aB$e.1oral and aB&is$oricalF ,ar.an &as no 0nders$andin/ of c&an/e' &is 1&iloso1&y &as no 1lace for i$ exce1$ by arbi$rary 1osi$< One of &is favori$e ar/0.en$s is $&a$ :if every$&in/ was defined by i$s rela$ions' $&en no$&in/ wo0ld c&an/e;< T&is is a bla$an$ so1&is.' as i$ i/nores $e.1oral rela$ions #s0c& as :x is /oin/ fas$er $&an y;' :. is accelera$in/ fas$er $&an n;+' and force rela$ions #:a is cr0s&in/ b;' :c is fi/&$in/ back a/ains$ d;+< T&is dene/a$ion is 1re1ara$ory $o ,ar.anGs reBessen$ialisin/ of $&e ob6ec$;< Ti.e and c&an/e are foreclosed in ,ar.anGs sys$e.< So one .0s$ a/ree wi$& Alexander GallowayGs analysisF $&ere is no even$ for ,ar.an< And &ere " a/ree wi$& 5e&di Bel&a6 7ace.Gs recen$

c&arac$eri?a$ion of Tris$an GarciaGs on$olo/y' .odeled closely af$er ,ar.anGs' as essen$ially a $rea$ise on :Bein/ -i$&o0$ Even$<; A rela$ed ob6ec$ion 10$ o0$ by ,ar.an is &is cri$iA0e of :in$ernal; rela$ionsF $&a$ if every$&in/ is cons$i$0$ed by i$s rela$ions and one $&in/ c&an/es i$s rela$ions even sli/&$ly' i$ beco.es ano$&er $&in/< T&is is based on an eA0ivoca$ion on $&e word :in$ernal;F "n$ernal rela$ions are rela$ions $&a$ en$er in$o $&e very essence or defini$ion of $&e $&in/s rela$ed< Given a $&in/ all i$s rela$ions are /iven and so all o$&er $&in/s and rela$ions are /iven< T&is is $&e 0l$i.a$e block 0niverse' $r0e' b0$ i$ is also $&e 0l$i.a$e s$a$ic or sync&ronic 0niverse< Once a/ain $&is ob6ec$ion does no$ $ake in$o acco0n$ dyna.ic rela$ions< "$ also confo0nds s0c& in$ernal rela$ions wi$& $&e rela$ions $&a$ are :in$ernal; $o $&e $&in/ in a differen$ senseF $&e rela$ions be$ween $&e $&in/ and i$s 1ar$s' and $&e rela$ions of $&ese 1ar$s be$ween $&e.selves< "f a :$&in/; is co.1osed of 1rocesses or beco.in/s &nd !'( ) )(*&! on+ #,ar.an always leaves $&a$ cla0se o0$ w&en &e acc0ses o$&ers of :red0c$ionis.;+ $&en i$ beco.es differen$ w&en $&ese rela$ions c&an/e' b0$ i$ does no$ necessarily beco.e a differen$ $&in/< T&e $&in/ is cons$i$0$ed also of $&e e.er/en$ rela$ion be$ween i$s 1ar$s and $&eir rela$ions #$&is is 1ar$ of $&e ex1lana$ion of $&e 1&rase fro. -&i$e&ead $&a$ ,ar.an &as s0c& $ro0ble wi$&F :$&e .any beco.e one' and are increased by one;+< ,ar.an si.1ly ass0.es $&a$ s0c& e.er/en$ rela$ions are on$olo/ically fra/ile and dissolve or deco.1ose a$ $&e sli/&$es$ .odifica$ion< ,ar.an is no$ $&e inven$or of :rob0s$ e.er/ence;' and in fac$ is dee1ly indeb$ed $o $&e real -&i$e&ead #and no$ &is s1a$ialised carica$0re+< T&e Sokal ,oax was a one $i.e affair' b0$ ,ar.an see.s $o &ave 1erennised &is own ar/0.en$a$ive &oaxes' re1ea$in/ $&e sa.e old so1&is.s ins$ead of en/a/in/ serio0sly wi$& rival 1oin$s of view< ,ar.an 1resen$s 0s wi$& a carica$0re of ,eide//er' as &e carica$0res Ber/son' -&i$e&ead' and >ele0?e on $i.e' ie s1a$iali?es $&e. in$o a carica$0re $&a$ can $&en easily be ref0$ed< T&is is $o dis$rac$ a$$en$ion fro. $&e fac$ $&a$ &is own sys$e. is inca1able of dealin/ wi$& c&an/e< ,ar.an needs &is @sens0al@ ob6ec$s' des1i$e bein/ obli/ed $o declare $&e. 0nreal #@0$$er s&a.s@+ beca0se &e &as an i.1overis&ed no$ion of reali$y< As $o $&e A0es$ion of in$ernal rela$ions or no$' " see no reason $o decide in advance in favor of one side of $&e binary c&oice or $&e o$&er< "n .y 1a1er "S ONTOLOGE 5A7"NG US STU=">Q " A0o$e 3eyerabendGs view $&a$ en$er$ainin/ one or $&e o$&er idea is a s1ecial &y1o$&esis a11licable in so.e cases and no$ o$&ers< So " a. in a/ree.en$ wi$& -&i$e&ead w&en &e saysF :con$in0i$y is a s1ecial condi$ion arisin/ fro. $&e socie$y of crea$0res w&ic& cons$i$0$e o0r i..edia$e e1oc&; #=RO4ESS AN> REAL"TE' OM+< " $&ink $&a$ $&e no$ion of in$erval' or discon$in0o0s rela$ion' .ay well be a far .ore 0sef0l conce1$ $&an :wi$&drawal; w&ic& is $oo absol0$e and s1li$s $&e world in $wo #realDsens0al+< ,ar.anGs sys$e. is $oo :loose; wi$& i$s d0alis.s $o be able $o deal wi$& $&e fineB/rained dis$inc$ions $&a$ co.e 01 in o0r ex1erience<