Jean François LyotardThinkers

An Affect (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a witness beyond suspicion, being wholly what it is, testifying only to itself, manifesting itself as the very pain or pleasure that bear witness to themselves in the signal that manifests them as they happen.

The Affect (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠immediately its manifestation. The affect is a tautogerical sign: Pain and pleasure immediately signal themselves, their presence. This signal (the non-signifying voice or phonè) must be distinguished from the sign (i.e. Language).

An Affect (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not something that represents or signifies. Rather it is a tone or an inflection which preserves the absolutely singular nuances of the pain/pleasure that it is. It says only one thing: That it is there in its absolute singularity.

An Affect (n.) ignores ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠referentiality. It is that which prevents logos from referring it to any object. If i'm stabbed, the intensity of its happening suspends any articulation of cause and effect. I may 'know' that a knife has caused the pain that I feel in my finger, but at the point where pain pierces, its very intensity resist letting itself be related to anything outside its absolute now.

An Affect (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠that which man owes. One owes the affect... it is a debt that can never be acquitted, it can only be recognized.

An Affect (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the pre-egoic which 'speaks about nothing' and is not about anything. It is not addressed, not referencing, and not signifying.

Capitalism (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a problem, one that overshadows all others, whereby endless optimalization moves us into an 'inhuman' realm where computers and machines are more efficient, more cost effective, and therefore preferable, to humans.

Capitalism (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a sheer energy that breaks down the certainties of belief-systems. 'Capitalism does not love order... the state loves it'.

Capitalism (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠an iconoclastic, figural force but when combined with technoscience, it renders humans expendable in a capitalist system which makes it difficult to construct within it little narratives to express our individual needs and differences.

Capitalism (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠more akin to an open-ended system than a totalizing grand narrative, a restless search for new linkages that can in consequence generate 'the most unheard of occurrences'.

Capitalism (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not the destructive force against our nature: It thoroughly seduces us, capturing our desires.