On use and care: a debate between Agamben and Heidegger

Abstract

ABSTRACT The theory of use with which Giorgio Agamben concludes his Homo Sacer-series is introduced as an alternative to the concept of care. This article critically examines the ontological status of use and care as developed by Agamben through the lens of Agamben’s discussions with Martin Heidegger’s thought on the notion of use. In particular, it is shown that this discussion includes at least three different stages: Agamben’s explicit analysis of the relation of use and care in Sein und Zeit, Agamben’s attention to the more ontological and abstract sense of use in ‘Der Spruch des Anaximander’ and, much more implicit, a debate between Agamben and Heidegger concerning the role of use and concern in their reading of the letters of Saint Paul. This article critically discusses these three stages in order to flesh out in detail the basic disagreement between Agamben and Heidegger on the role and the sense of use in relation to care and related terms.