[ExI] Sovereignty and the UFO

[Dan]

http://ptx.sagepub.com/content/36/4/607.abstract

'Modern sovereignty is anthropocentric, constituted and organized by 
reference to human beings alone. Although a metaphysical assumption, anthropocentrism is of immense 
practical import, enabling modern states to command loyalty and 
resources from their subjects in pursuit of political projects. It has limits, however, which are brought clearly into view by the 
authoritative taboo on taking UFOs seriously. UFOs have never 
been systematically investigated by science or the state, because it is 
assumed to be known that none are extraterrestrial. Yet in 
fact this is not known, which makes the UFO taboo puzzling given the ET possibility. Drawing on the work of Giorgio 
Agamben, Michel Foucault, and Jacques Derrida, the puzzle is explained 
by the functional imperatives of anthropocentric 
sovereignty, which cannot decide a UFO exception to anthropocentrism 
while preserving the ability to make such a decision. The UFO can be “known” only by not asking what it is.'

Comments? It looks like it might just be people spinning their wheels.


Regards,

Dan
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