Open AccessSikkerhed, sprog og ret
Author(s) -
Rasmus Ugilt
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
slagmark
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1904-8602
pISSN - 0108-8084
DOI - 10.7146/sl.v0i65.104133
Subject(s) - state of exception , notice , sovereignty , power (physics) , german , philosophy , politics , epistemology , law , political science , physics , linguistics , quantum mechanics
The article discusses the theoretical differences of Schmitt and Agamben and argues that, even though Agamben is clearly inspired by the German jurist, crucial points are lost if one does not take care to notice the crucial differences between them. Schmitt’s idea that sovereignty is a paradox is shared by Agamben, but the latter draws quite different consequences from this idea than does the former. What distinguishes Agamben from Schmitt can be described as a certain form of inactivity of power. It is in the question about the activity and the inactivity of power that the theoretical discussion about the two thinkers is to be settled. I argue that this should lead us to choose Agamben ahead of Schmitt as our theoretical guide to the juridico-political situation we find ourselves in 10 years after 9/11.