Le sujet interpellé : au-delà d’Althusser et de Butler

Abstract

According to the theory of « interpellation », capitalism brings forth a « subject form » : a subject who, by assuming its subjection, takes on its guilt. Through this « linguistic turn » within Marxism, Althusser endows social structure with speech. But how could social relations « interpellate » ? And what sort of guilt might be at stake here ? In contrast with the asymmetrical « from the top » Althusserian view, the meta-structural approach advances the concept of an amphibological interpellation, where the same demand – « freedomandequality ! » – is made by the powerful and by the people-multitude. Such is the modern « differend ». Modern society thus carries within itself the principle of its self-critique, being burdened with a guilt which is not that of breaking the Law, but of complying with it. This supposition underlies all emancipatory speech.