Reflections

Regarding good and evil

For me, Evil’s temptation does not exist. Essentially, Evil comes from those who want to impose the Good onto others. Risking being misunderstood, I would say that every large criminal of history was guided by the will of disseminating the good; even Hitler, our quintessentially evil, was hoping for the best for that chosen Germanic race to which he was eager to belong (…) Even today’s Jihadists do not seem to be inspired by their desire to do Evil, rather Good, but through means we judge absolutely abominable. Therefore, for me the temptation of Good seems much more dangerous than that of Evil.

Tzvetán Todorov

 

Regarding neoliberal power

Power, no doubt, can be exteriorized as violence or repression. But it does not rest on that. It is not necessarily exclusionary, prohibitory, or censorious. And it does not oppose freedom. It can even make use of it. Only in its negative form, power is manifested as denying violence that breaks the will and denies freedom. Today, power acquires a more permissive form. In its permissiveness, even in its courtesy, it drops its negativity and is offered as freedom.

The disciplinary power is articulated in an inhibitory and non-permissive way. Because of its negativity, disciplinary power cannot describe the neoliberal regime that shines in its positivity. The power technique of neoliberalism acquires a subtle, flexible, and intelligent form that escapes from any visibility. The submitted subject is not even aware of his submission. The domination matrix is completely concealed from him. Thus, he presumes himself as free.

Byung-Chul-Han

 

Regarding past and present circumstances

I want to write, and the crying does not allow me,

I try to cry, and I do not rest as much,

I pick up the pen again, and the crying returns.

Lope de Vega