The Messiah device: living work and redemption in Hardt and Negri's political philosophy

Abstract

Within the context of an era that appears to be defined by the triumph of gobalized capitalism, an alternative political project doesn?t seem possible. Accordingly, Marxism can only be conjured as a spectre, in Derrida?s sense. The ?philosophical conjuration? in postfordist society that Hardt & Negri propose in Empire is discussed, i.e. their notion of a General Intellect, by analogy with Saint Augustine?s messianism in The City of God. The differences with Derrida?s messianism are outlined, and the possibility to conceive of a ?messianism without a Messiah? in industrial society is discussed.