Aleatory Materialism and Marx's Dissertation : Problematic Sphere of Clinamen

Abstract

  Clinamen, which refers to the declination of atoms, emerges twice in the marginal spheres of “Marxist science” : it appears in the Dissertation of Marx (1841), and in Althusser's writings in 1980s, which advocate aleatory materialism.

  Firstly, I stress the “problematic,” uncertain character of these spheres of Clinamen in the eyes of the concept. In fact, the conceptual unity of the global sciences (Hegelian science for the Dissertation, Marxist theory for the aleatory materialism) breaks up in the respective contexts. This conjuncture drives both authors to change their discursive element. Then, they invoke the metaphorical signification of Clinamen so as to displace the pretended univocality of the scientific concept.

  Secondly, I examine the temporal dimension of Clinamen. In effect, Hegelian determination of the dialectical concept as “Macht der Zeit” is understood as partially the case of Clinamen : the latter, like the former, is a principle of becoming. However, the “problematic,” metaphorical character of Clinamen restricts the work of the negative, which is essential to the dialectical concept. Epicurean atoms tarry in the fixed positivity of representation, which is “overtaken” by Hegel.

  I conclude with a political reflection on this remarkable “backwardness” of Clinamen.