62

Stubborn Attachment, B o d i l y Subjection

T h e q u e s t i o n , t h e n , that H e g e l a n d F r e u d w o u l d a p p e a r

t o p o s e for F o u c a u l t i s w h e t h e r t h i s t e r r a i n o f " s t u b b o r n att a c h m e n t " d o e s n o t i n s o m e w a y f i g u r e i n the s c e n a r i o s o f

s u b j e c t i o n that he d e s c r i b e s . To w h a t extent d o e s a r e g u l a t o r y
r e g i m e e x p l o i t t h i s w i l l i n g n e s s t o a t t a c h b l i n d l y t o w h a t seeks

Circuits of Bad
Conscience

t o s u p p r e s s o r negate that v e r y a t t a c h m e n t ? A n d t o w h a t extent does the a t t a c h m e n t that a r e g u l a t o r y r e g i m e r e q u i r e s

p r o v e t o b e b o t h its c o n s t i t u t i v e f a i l u r e a n d the p o t e n t i a l site

Nietzsche

of r e s i s t a n c e ? If d e s i r e has as its f i n a l a i m the c o n t i n u a t i o n of

and

Freud

i t s e l f a n d here one m i g h t l i n k H e g e l , F r e u d , a n d F o u c a u l t a l l
b a c k to S p i n o z a ' s conatus t h e n the c a p a c i t y of d e s i r e to be
w i t h d r a w n a n d t o r e a t t a c h w i l l c o n s t i t u t e s o m e t h i n g l i k e the
v u l n e r a b i l i t y of every strategy of subjection.

i e t z s c h e offers a v i e w of c o n s c i e n c e as a m e n t a l a c t i v i t y
that n o t o n l y f o r m s v a r i o u s p s y c h i c p h e n o m e n a , b u t i s

itself formed, the c o n s e q u e n c e of a d i s t i n c t i v e k i n d of i n t e r n a l ization. In Nietzsche, w h o distinguishes conscience f r o m bad

c o n s c i e n c e , the w i l l i s s a i d t o t u r n b a c k u p o n itself. B u t w h a t
are w e t o m a k e o f t h i s strange l o c u t i o n ; h o w are w e b e i n g
a s k e d t o i m a g i n e a w i l l s u c h that i t r e c o i l s a n d r e d o u b l e s u p o n
itself; a n d h o w , m o s t p e r t i n e n t l y , i s t h i s f i g u r e b e i n g o f f e r e d a s
a w a y t o a r t i c u l a t e the k i n d o f r e f l e x i v i t y c e n t r a l t o the o p e r a t i o n of b a d conscience? F r e u d w i l l use a s i m i l a r language in
w r i t i n g o f the f o r m a t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e , e s p e c i a l l y i n r e l a t i o n t o
p a r a n o i a a n d n a r c i s s i s m . H e d e s c r i b e s c o n s c i e n c e a s the force
of a d e s i r e a l t h o u g h s o m e t i m e s a force of a g g r e s s i o n a s it
t u r n s b a c k o n itself, a n d h e u n d e r s t a n d s p r o h i b i t i o n , n o t a s a
l a w e x t e r n a l t o d e s i r e , b u t a s the v e r y o p e r a t i o n o f d e s i r e a s
i t t u r n s o n its o w n p o s s i b i l i t y . W h a t sense d o w e m a k e o f the
f i g u r e that e m e r g e s i n the c o n t e x t o f b o t h e x p l a n a t i o n s , that o f
a w i l l that t u r n s b a c k on itself, that of a d e s i r e that t u r n s b a c k
o n itself? W e m u s t ask n o t o n l y h o w t h i s f i g u r e o f r e c o i l i n g a n d

Circuits of Bad Conscience

Nietzsche and Freud

r e d o u b l i n g becomes central to u n d e r s t a n d i n g b a d conscience,

that n o subject c a n d o w i t h o u t , b u t w h i c h n o subject i s c o n -

b u t w h a t t h i s f i g u r e suggests a b o u t the b o d i l y p o s i t i o n o r d i s -

d e m n e d t o r e p e a t i n e x a c t l y the s a m e w a y .

64

65

p o s i t i o n e n c o d e d i n the s t r u c t u r e o f r e f l e x i v i t y . W h y d o e s a

M y i n q u i r y c o n c e r n s a p e r s i s t e n t p r o b l e m that e m e r g e s

b o d y d o u b l e d o v e r o n itself f i g u r e w h a t i t m e a n s t o b e a self-

w h e n w e t r y t o t h i n k the p o s s i b i l i t y o f a w i l l that takes i t s e l f

c o n s c i o u s sort o f b e i n g ?

a s its o w n object a n d , t h r o u g h the f o r m a t i o n o f that k i n d o f r e -

T h e n o t i o n that m o r a l i t y i s p r e d i c a t e d o n a c e r t a i n k i n d o f

f l e x i v i t y , b i n d s itself t o itself, a c q u i r e s its o w n i d e n t i t y t h r o u g h

v i o l e n c e i s a l r e a d y f a m i l i a r , b u t m o r e s u r p r i s i n g i s that s u c h

r e f l e x i v i t y . T o w h a t extent i s t h i s a p p a r e n t s e l f - b o n d a g e f u l l y

v i o l e n c e f o u n d s the subject. M o r a l i t y p e r f o r m s that v i o l e n c e

o r e x c l u s i v e l y s e l f - i m p o s e d ? I s t h i s s t r a n g e p o s t u r e o f the w i l l

a g a i n a n d a g a i n i n c u l t i v a t i n g the subject a s a r e f l e x i v e b e i n g .

i n the s e r v i c e o f a s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n that r e q u i r e s the p r o d u c -

T h i s is, i n p a r t , w h a t l e d N i e t z s c h e t o reflect that m o r a l i t y

t i o n o f the subject a c o n s e q u e n c e o r a n e x p r e s s i o n o f b a d

is a k i n d of i l l n e s s . If this t u r n i n g on o n e s e l f c a n be c a l l e d a

c o n s c i e n c e ? I s u p p o s e that those w h o seek t o r e d e e m N i e t z -

k i n d o f v i o l e n c e , i t c a n n o t s i m p l y b e o p p o s e d i n the n a m e o f

sche b y c l a i m i n g that h e c a n b e i n v o k e d i n the s e r v i c e o f the

nonviolence, for w h e n a n d where it is opposed, it is o p p o s e d

e t h i c a l m i g h t t h i n k that the o n l y a l t e r n a t i v e w o r s e t h a n b a d

f r o m a p o s i t i o n that p r e s u p p o s e s t h i s v e r y v i o l e n c e . I do n o t

c o n s c i e n c e i s its o b l i t e r a t i o n . B u t r e m e m b e r that N i e t z s c h e n o t

w i s h s i m p l y t o u n d e r s c o r e the a p o r e t i c s t r u c t u r e i n v o l v e d i n

o n l y d i s t i n g u i s h e s b e t w e e n the e t h i c a l a n d m o r a l i t y , b u t asks

the a s s u m p t i o n o f m o r a l i t y , n o r s i m p l y t o a f f i r m the g e n e r a l -

a b o u t the value o f m o r a l i t y , t h u s i n s t a t i n g a v a l u e b y w h i c h

ized violence in any and all m o r a l positioning, although both

m o r a l i t y m i g h t b e assessed, b u t s u g g e s t i n g a s w e l l that t h i s

insights, furnished by deconstruction, f o r m a point of depar-

assessment, this v a l u a t i o n , m a y n o t b e r e d u c i b l e t o m o r a l i t y .

t u r e for w h a t I seek to d o . R a t h e r , I w o u l d suggest that the

I t a k e it that the j u x t a p o s i t i o n of N i e t z s c h e w i t h the q u e s -

subject w h o w o u l d o p p o s e v i o l e n c e , e v e n v i o l e n c e t o itself, i s

t i o n o f ethics is, i n d e e d , a q u e s t i o n b e c a u s e N i e t z s c h e a n d v a r i -

itself the effect o f a p r i o r v i o l e n c e w i t h o u t w h i c h the subject

o u s figures w i t h i n the C o n t i n e n t a l t r a d i t i o n h a v e b e e n f o u n d

c o u l d n o t h a v e e m e r g e d . C a n that p a r t i c u l a r c i r c l e b e b r o k e n ?

g u i l t y b y a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h i r r e s p o n s i b l e acts a n d events. W h a t

H o w a n d w h e n does that b r e a k a g e o c c u r ? A n d w h a t e m e r g e s

w i l l b e the r e s p o n s e t o these c h a r g e s ? T o t a k e the s i d e o f the

a s a s i g n i f i c a n t p o s s i b i l i t y i n w h i c h the subject loses its c l o s e d

e t h i c a l , t o relate e a c h a n d e v e r y t h i n k e r t o the e t h i c a l ? O r w i l l

c o n t o u r , the c i r c u l a r i t y o f its o w n r e f l e x i v e c l o s u r e ? A p u r e

this b e a n o c c a s i o n t o t h i n k the p r o b l e m a b i t m o r e c a r e f u l l y ,

w i l l , ontologically intact p r i o r to any articulation, does not

to c o n t i n u e to p o s e the e t h i c a l as a q u e s t i o n , o n e w h i c h c a n n o t

s u d d e n l y e m e r g e as a p r i n c i p l e of s e l f - a u g m e n t a t i o n a n d self-

b e f r e e d o f its c o m p l i c i t y w i t h w h a t i t m o s t s t r o n g l y o p p o s e s ?

a f f i r m a t i o n that exceeds the b o u n d s o f a n y a n d a l l r e g u l a t o r y

W i l l t h i s , p a r a d o x i c a l l y , b e c o m e a t i m e i n w h i c h w e reflect

s c h m a s . R a t h e r , the f o r m a t i v e a n d f a b r i c a t i n g d i m e n s i o n o f

u p o n the m o r e p e r v a s i v e d i m e n s i o n s o f c o m p l i c i t y a n d w h a t

p s y c h i c life, w h i c h t r a v e l s u n d e r the n a m e o f the " w i l l , " a n d

might be derived f r o m such a vexed relation to power?

w h i c h i s u s u a l l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a r e s t r i c t i v e l y aesthetic d o -

I u n d e r s t a n d the d e s i r e t o r e s i t u a t e N i e t z s c h e w i t h i n the

m a i n , p r o v e s c e n t r a l t o r e f a s h i o n i n g the n o r m a t i v e s h a c k l e s

e t h i c a l d o m a i n a s a n effort t o c o u n t e r the c a r i c a t u r e , w i t h i n

67

Circuits of Bad Conscience

Nietzsche and Freud

c o n t e m p o r a r y c r i t i c i s m , of N i e t z s c h e as one w h o o n l y de-

d i v i d e s the o u t s i d e f r o m the i n s i d e i s i n the p r o c e s s o f b e i n g

s t r o y s the d o m a i n o f v a l u e s ( w h e r e that d e s t r u c t i o n i s n o t itself

i n s t a l l e d , p r e c i s e l y t h r o u g h the r e g u l a t i o n o f the subject. T h e

a s o u r c e of v a l u e , or a v a l u e in itself). I w a n t i n s t e a d to s u g -

r e p r e s s i o n i s the v e r y t u r n i n g b a c k o n itself w h i c h the p a s -

gest that N i e t z s c h e offers us a p o l i t i c a l i n s i g h t i n t o the f o r m a -

sionate a t t a c h m e n t t o s u b j e c t i o n p e r f o r m s . H o w c a n a w i l l b e

t i o n o f the p s y c h e a n d the p r o b l e m o f s u b j e c t i o n , u n d e r s t o o d

e n t i c e d t o m a k e s u c h a t u r n ? A r e w e t o t h i n k that t u r n a s a n

p a r a d o x i c a l l y n o t m e r e l y as the s u b o r d i n a t i o n of a subject to

i n t e r n a l b e n d i n g o f the p s y c h e against itself? I f so, w h y i s i t

a n o r m , b u t as the c o n s t i t u t i o n of a subject t h r o u g h p r e c i s e l y

f i g u r e d a s a b o d y that t u r n s o n a n d a g a i n s t itself? A r e the p s y -

66

s u c h a s u b o r d i n a t i o n . I n d e e d , to the extent that b a d c o n s c i e n c e

c h i c a n d the s o m a t i c a r t i c u l a t e d t h r o u g h o n e a n o t h e r i n s u c h

i n v o l v e s a t u r n i n g a g a i n s t oneself, a b o d y i n r e c o i l u p o n itself,

a w a y that the f i g u r a t i o n of the first is i m p l i c a t e d i n v a r i a b l y

h o w d o e s t h i s f i g u r e serve the s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n o f the subject,

in a c h i a s t i c r e l a t i o n to the s e c o n d ? C l e a r l y , w h a t is at stake

a n d h o w m i g h t w e u n d e r s t a n d this m o r e f u n d a m e n t a l s u b -

i s s o m e t h i n g m o r e t h a n a n d different f r o m a r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n

j e c t i o n , w i t h o u t w h i c h n o p r o p e r subject e m e r g e s ? I w a n t t o

a n external d e m a n d offered b y regulatory p o w e r a n d a n i n -

suggest that, a l t h o u g h there i s n o f i n a l u n d o i n g o f the r e f l e x i v e

t e r n a l r e c o i l r e g i s t e r e d as its s e c o n d a r y effect. If p r e s u p p o s e d

b i n d , that p o s t u r e of the self b e n t a g a i n s t itself, a p a s s i o n a t e

in the v e r y n o t i o n of the subject is a p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t to

d e r e g u l a t i o n o f the subject m a y p e r h a p s p r e c i p i t a t e a t e n u o u s

s u b j e c t i o n , t h e n the subject w i l l n o t e m e r g e save a s a n e x e m -

u n r a v e l i n g o f that c o n s t i t u t i v e k n o t . W h a t e m e r g e s i s n o t the

p l i f i c a t i o n a n d effect of t h i s a t t a c h m e n t . I h o p e to s h o w , first

unshackled w i l l or a " b e y o n d " to power, but another direc-

through a consideration of Nietzsche, then in relation to F r e u d ,

t i o n for w h a t i s m o s t f o r m a t i v e i n p a s s i o n , a f o r m a t i v e p o w e r

h o w the v e r y n o t i o n o f r e f l e x i v i t y , a s a n e m e r g e n t s t r u c t u r e o f

w h i c h is at o n c e the c o n d i t i o n of its v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t itself, its

the subject, is the c o n s e q u e n c e of a " t u r n i n g b a c k on itself," a

status as a n e c e s s a r y f i c t i o n , a n d the site of its e n a b l i n g p o s s i -

r e p e a t e d s e l f - b e r a t e m e n t w h i c h c o m e s t o f o r m the m i s n o m e r

b i l i t i e s . T h i s r e c a s t i n g o f the " w i l l " i s n o t , p r o p e r l y s p e a k i n g ,

o f "conscience," a n d that there i s n o f o r m a t i o n o f the subject

the w i l l o f a subject, n o r i s i t a n effect f u l l y c u l t i v a t e d b y a n d

w i t h o u t a p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t to s u b j e c t i o n .

t h r o u g h s o c i a l n o r m s ; i t is, I w o u l d suggest, the site a t w h i c h

Significantly, N i e t z s c h e attributes a creative or formative

the s o c i a l i m p l i c a t e s the p s y c h i c i n its v e r y f o r m a t i o n o r , t o

p o w e r t o c o n s c i e n c e , a n d the act o f t u r n i n g b a c k u p o n o n e -

b e m o r e p r e c i s e , a s its v e r y f o r m a t i o n a n d f o r m a t i v i t y .

self i s n o t o n l y the c o n d i t i o n o f the p o s s i b i l i t y o f the s u b -

C o n s i d e r the g e n e r a l c l a i m that the s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n o f the

ject, b u t the c o n d i t i o n o f the p o s s i b i l i t y o f f i c t i o n , f a b r i c a t i o n ,

subject c o m p e l s a p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t to r e g u l a t i o n , a n d

a n d t r a n s f i g u r a t i o n . I n d e e d , N i e t z s c h e r e m a r k s that b a d c o n -

that this f o r m a t i o n o f the w i l l takes p l a c e i n p a r t t h r o u g h the

s c i e n c e fabricates the s o u l , that e x p a n s e of i n t e r i o r p s y c h i c

a c t i o n o f a r e p r e s s i o n . A l t h o u g h o n e i s t e m p t e d t o c l a i m that

space. If the subject is u n d e r s t o o d as a k i n d of n e c e s s a r y fic-

s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n i s s i m p l y i n t e r n a l i z e d , t a k e n f r o m the out-

t i o n , t h e n i t i s a l s o o n e o f the first a r t i s t i c a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s

s i d e a n d b r o u g h t i n t o the p s y c h e , the p r o b l e m i s m o r e c o m -

p r e s u p p o s e d by morality. The artistic accomplishments of b a d

p l i c a t e d a n d , i n d e e d , m o r e i n s i d i o u s . F o r the b o u n d a r y that

c o n s c i e n c e e x c e e d the p u r v i e w o f the subject; i n d e e d , t h e y

68

Circuits of Bad Conscience

Nietzsche and Freud

69

w i l l come to include "all imaginative and ideal phenomena,"

m e n t e d result of this p e c u l i a r f o r m of reflexivity? T h e n o u n

i n c l u d i n g c o n c e p t u a l t h i n k i n g , f i g u r a t i v e w r i t i n g , a n d the c o n -

f o r m "ego" w i l l t h e n r e i f y a n d m a s k the i t e r a t e d a c c u m u l a t i o n

j e c t u r e d fables a n d m y t h s w h i c h c o m p o s e the v a r i o u s r e t r o -

of this reflexive m o v e m e n t . Of what is this reflexivity c o m -

s p e c t i v e i m a g i n i n g s o f genealogy. I n this sense, the c o n d i t i o n

p o s e d ? W h a t i s i t that i s s a i d t o t u r n b a c k u p o n w h a t ? A n d

o f p o s s i b i l i t y o f N i e t z s c h e ' s o w n w r i t i n g a p p e a r s t o b e the b a d

w h a t c o m p o s e s the a c t i o n o f " t u r n i n g b a c k u p o n " ? I w a n t t o

c o n s c i e n c e for w h i c h i t seeks t o g i v e a n a c c o u n t .

suggest that t h i s l o g i c a l c i r c u l a r i t y i n w h i c h the subject a p -

N i e t z s c h e offers a n a r r a t i v e that seeks to a c c o u n t f o r t h i s

p e a r s a t o n c e t o b e p r e s u p p o s e d a n d n o t yet f o r m e d , o n the

f o r m a t i o n , b u t h i s n a r r a t i v e w i l l b e afflicted f r o m the start b y

o n e h a n d , o r f o r m e d a n d h e n c e n o t p r e s u p p o s e d , o n the other,

the v e r y c o n s c i e n c e that i t seeks t o u n c o v e r f o r us. T h e c l a i m

i s a m e l i o r a t e d w h e n o n e u n d e r s t a n d s that i n b o t h F r e u d a n d

that c o n s c i e n c e i s a f i c t i o n i s n o t t o b e c o n f u s e d w i t h the c l a i m

N i e t z s c h e t h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p o f r e f l e x i v i t y i s a l w a y s a n d o n l y fig-

that c o n s c i e n c e i s a r b i t r a r y o r d i s p e n s a b l e ; o n the c o n t r a r y , i t

u r e d , a n d that t h i s f i g u r e m a k e s n o o n t o l o g i c a l c l a i m . T o refer

i s a n e c e s s a r y f i c t i o n , o n e w i t h o u t w h i c h the g r a m m a t i c a l a n d

t o a " w i l l , " m u c h less t o its " t u r n i n g b a c k o n itself," i s a s t r a n g e

p h e n o m e n o l o g i c a l subject c a n n o t exist. B u t i f its f i c t i v e status

w a y t o s p e a k , s t r a n g e b e c a u s e i t figures a p r o c e s s w h i c h c a n -

d o e s n o t d i s p e l its necessity, h o w are w e t o c o n s t r u e the sense

n o t b e d e t a c h e d f r o m o r u n d e r s t o o d a p a r t f r o m that v e r y f i g u -

o f that n e c e s s i t y ? M o r e p r e c i s e l y , w h a t does i t m e a n t o say

r a t i o n . I n d e e d , for N i e t z s c h e , the w r i t i n g o f s u c h f i g u r a t i o n s ,

that a subject e m e r g e s o n l y t h r o u g h the a c t i o n o f t u r n i n g b a c k

a n d f i g u r a t i o n i n g e n e r a l , are p a r t a n d p a r c e l o f the " i d e a l a n d

on i t s e l f ? If t h i s t u r n i n g b a c k on oneself is a t r o p e , a m o v e -

i m a g i n a t i v e p h e n o m e n a " w h i c h are the c o n s e q u e n c e s o f b a d

m e n t w h i c h i s a l w a y s a n d o n l y figured a s a b o d i l y m o v e m e n t ,

conscience. H e n c e , we do not come to k n o w s o m e t h i n g about

b u t w h i c h n o b o d y l i t e r a l l y p e r f o r m s , i n w h a t w i l l the neces-

b a d c o n s c i e n c e w h e n w e c o n s i d e r the s t r a n g e f i g u r e o f reflex-

s i t y o f s u c h a f i g u r a t i o n c o n s i s t ? T h e t r o p e a p p e a r s t o b e the

i v i t y that N i e t z s c h e offers us. W e are, a s i t w e r e , c a u g h t u p i n

s h a d o w of a b o d y , a s h a d o w i n g of that b o d y ' s v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t

the l u r i n g effects o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e a t the v e r y t e x t u a l m o m e n t

itself, a b o d y i n s p e c t r a l a n d l i n g u i s t i c f o r m that i s the s i g n i -

w h e n w e seek t o k n o w w h a t , p r e c i s e l y , t h i s b a d c o n s c i e n c e is.

f y i n g m a r k o f the p s y c h e ' s e m e r g e n c e .

I f i t i s c r e d i t e d w i t h b e i n g the g r o u n d o f f i g u r a t i o n , yet c a n

C o n s i d e r e d g r a m m a t i c a l l y , i t w i l l s e e m that there m u s t first

itself o n l y b e f i g u r e d i n d e e d , f i g u r e d a s that g r o u n d t h e c i r -

b e a subject w h o t u r n s b a c k o n itself, yet I w i l l a r g u e that there

cularity w h i c h might be lamented from a logical perspective

is no subject e x c e p t as a c o n s e q u e n c e of t h i s v e r y r e f l e x i v i t y .

c o n c e r n e d w i t h e s t a b l i s h i n g c l e a r s e q u e n c e b e c o m e s the c o n -

H o w c a n the subject b e p r e s u m e d a t b o t h e n d s o f t h i s p r o -

s t i t u t i v e feature of b a d c o n s c i e n c e , c o n s i d e r e d b o t h as a f i g u r e

cess, e s p e c i a l l y w h e n i t i s the v e r y f o r m a t i o n o f the subject for

a n d a s the c o n d i t i o n o f p o s s i b i l i t y for f i g u r a t i o n itself.

w h i c h t h i s p r o c e s s seeks t o g i v e a n a c c o u n t ?
If, in F r e u d , c o n s c i e n c e is a p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t to prohi-

The apparent c i r c u l a r i t y of this account reappears in a rel a t e d set o f q u a n d a r i e s . W h a t m o t i v a t e s the w i l l t o t u r n b a c k

bition, a n a t t a c h m e n t w h i c h takes the f o r m o f a t u r n i n g b a c k

o n i t s e l f ? D o e s i t t u r n b a c k o n itself u n d e r the p r e s s u r e o f

on oneself, d o e s the f o r m a t i o n of the ego t a k e p l a c e as the s e d i -

a n e x t e r n a l f o r c e o r l a w , u n d e r the a n t i c i p a t e d o r r e c o l l e c t e d

Circuits of Bad Conscience

Nietzsche and Freud

force o f p u n i s h m e n t ? O r d o e s t h i s p e c u l i a r f o r m o f r e f l e x i v i t y

s t a n d the force o f p u n i s h m e n t o u t s i d e o f the w a y s i n w h i c h i t

t a k e p l a c e p r i o r to, o r i n s o m e other f o r m o f c o m p l i c i t y w i t h ,

e x p l o i t s a n a r c i s s i s t i c d e m a n d , or, t o p u t i t i n a N i e t z s c h e a n

a set of e x t e r n a l l y i m p o s e d d e m a n d s ?

v e i n , i s i t p o s s i b l e t o u n d e r s t a n d the force o f p u n i s h m e n t o u t -

70

T o c l a r i f y t h i s last p o i n t i t i s i m p o r t a n t t o r e c o n s i d e r the
thesis that p u n i s h m e n t p r e c e d e s c o n s c i e n c e , a n d that c o n -

71

s i d e o f the w a y s i n w h i c h i t e x p l o i t s the w i l l ' s a t t a c h m e n t t o

itself?

s c i e n c e c a n b e u n d e r s t o o d a s the u n p r o b l e m a t i c i n t e r n a l i z a -

To c l a i m that there is a p a s s i o n a t e a t t a c h m e n t to s u b j e c t i o n

t i o n o f p u n i s h m e n t , its m n e m o n i c trace. A l t h o u g h there are

a p p e a r s to p r e s u p p o s e that there is first a p a s s i o n , a n d that its

clearly textual moments in w h i c h Nietzsche appears to be

a i m i s t o attach t o s o m e k i n d o f object. I n N i e t z s c h e , there w i l l

a r g u i n g for s u c h a t e m p o r a l p r i o r i t y o f p u n i s h m e n t t o c o n -

emerge a question of w h e t h e r this p r i m a r y passion, this w i l l ,

science, there are a l s o c o m p e t i n g v i e w s i n N i e t z s c h e w h i c h

p r e c e d e s the a t t a c h m e n t s b y w h i c h i t i s k n o w n , o r w h e t h e r its

c a l l this sequential account into question.

a t t a c h m e n t s p r e c e d e its p a s s i o n s o r a c q u i r e t h e i r p a s s i o n a t e

I f the w i l l i n N i e t z s c h e i s a t its m o s t p r o d u c t i v e t h a t is, its

c h a r a c t e r o n l y after a n a t t a c h m e n t i s a s s u m e d . (It m a y i n v a r i -

m o s t c o n s c i e n t i o u s w h e n i t i s t u r n e d b a c k u p o n itself, t h e n i t

a b l y b e b o t h , p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n a n i n c o m m e n s u r a b l e set o f t e m -

a p p e a r s that the s e v e r i t y o f c o n s c i e n c e i s l i n k e d t o the s t r e n g t h

p o r a l trajectories. I n s o m e w a y s , w e m i g h t see t h i s q u e s t i o n a s

o f the w i l l o f w h i c h i t i s c o m p o s e d . S i m i l a r l y , f o r F r e u d , the

p e r v a d i n g the debates b e t w e e n L a c a n i a n a n d object-relations

s t r e n g t h o f c o n s c i e n c e i s n o u r i s h e d p r e c i s e l y b y the a g g r e s s i o n

construals of Freud.)

that it f o r b i d s . In t h i s sense, t h e n , the s t r e n g t h of c o n s c i e n c e

c o r r e l a t e s n e i t h e r w i t h the s t r e n g t h o f a p u n i s h m e n t r e c e i v e d

Nietzsche's Account of Bad Conscience

n o r w i t h the s t r e n g t h o f a m e m o r y o f a p u n i s h m e n t r e c e i v e d ,
but with the strength of one's own aggression, o n e w h i c h is s a i d to

Nietzsche's

consideration

of b a d

conscience

in

On

the

h a v e v e n t e d itself e x t e r n a l l y , b u t w h i c h n o w , u n d e r the r u b r i c

Genealogy of Morals is i n t r o d u c e d in s e c t i o n 16 of the sec-

o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e , i s s a i d t o v e n t itself i n t e r n a l l y . T h i s latter

o n d essay. A t first, the r e l a t i o n o f t h i s n o t i o n t o the n o t i o n

v e n t i n g is a l s o at the s a m e t i m e a f a b r i c a t i n g : an i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n

o f c o n s c i e n c e i n t r o d u c e d e a r l i e r i n the s a m e essay i s u n c l e a r .

w h i c h is p r o d u c e d or f a b r i c a t e d as the effect of a s u b l i m a t i o n .

C o n s c i e n c e i s i n t r o d u c e d v i a the a n i m a l w h o i s b r e d t o k e e p

T h i s c i r c u l a r i t y a p p e a r s t o b r e a k the l i n e o f c a u s a l i t y o r i n -

p r o m i s e s , a n d i n r e l a t i o n t o the " s o v e r e i g n " m a n . T h e o n e w h o

ternalization usually conjectured between an external or his-

m a k e s a n d k e e p s h i s p r o m i s e i s o n e w h o "has b r e d i n h i m s e l f

t o r i c a l e x p e r i e n c e o f p u n i s h m e n t a n d a n i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f the

a . . . f a c u l t y " o p p o s e d to f o r g e t f u l n e s s , n a m e l y , a m e m o r y ,

m n e m o n i c t r a c e o f that p u n i s h m e n t i n the f o r m o f c o n s c i e n c e .

w h i c h b e c o m e s "a memory of the will." H e r e N i e t z s c h e refers

1

But if conscience is self-derived in this way, a n d not d e r i v e d

t o a n " i m p r e s s i o n " that i s a c t i v e l y s u s t a i n e d b y a d e s i r e , o n e

unilaterally f r o m an internalization of an external or historical

w h i c h is not forgotten, but w h i c h , in being actively r e m e m -

p u n i s h m e n t , i s there s o m e o t h e r w a y t o u n d e r s t a n d its f u n c -

b e r e d , p r o d u c e s the p r o t r a c t e d c o n t i n u i t y o f the w i l l . B u t t h i s

t i o n i n the p r o c e s s o f s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n ? I s i t p o s s i b l e t o u n d e r -

i m p r e s s i o n i s n o t s p e c i f i e d . A n i m p r e s s i o n f r o m w h e r e ? I n the

Circuits of Bad Conscience

Nietzsche and Freud

s e r v i c e o f w h a t ? N i e t z s c h e t h e n i n s i s t s that the o n e w h o m a k e s

a m e m o r y c a n be c r e a t e d for a w i l l . T h i s r e t u r n s us to the q u e s -

p r o m i s e s w i l l n o t a l l o w a n y t h i n g t o i n t e r r u p t the p r o c e s s b y

t i o n c o n c e r n i n g the status o f the " i m p r e s s i o n " that i s a c t i v e l y

72

73

w h i c h a n o r i g i n a l statement, " I w i l l " o r " I s h a l l d o this," c u l m i -

r e a n i m a t e d a n d r e l i v e d , a n d w h i c h , i n a n d t h r o u g h its r e a n i -

nates i n the d i s c h a r g e o f the d e s i g n a t e d act. T h e o n e w h o t r u l y

m a t i o n , establishes the p r o t r a c t e d c o n t i n u i t y o f the w i l l . "If

p r o m i s e s w i e l d s the p o w e r o f the s o v e r e i g n t o enact w h a t h e

s o m e t h i n g i s t o stay i n the m e m o r y , i t m u s t b e b u r n e d i n ; o n l y

says, t o b r i n g i n t o b e i n g w h a t h e w i l l s . I n o t h e r w o r d s , the

that w h i c h n e v e r ceases t o hurt stays i n the m e m o r y " (61/295).

p r o m i s i n g b e i n g establishes a c o n t i n u i t y b e t w e e n a statement

A n d w e t h e n l e a r n o f the " t e r r o r " that f o r m e r l y a t t e n d e d a l l

a n d a n act, a l t h o u g h the t e m p o r a l d i s j u n c t i o n b e t w e e n the

p r o m i s e s . I s t h i s " t e r r o r , " t h e n , t o b e c o n s t r u e d a s the " i m p r e s -

t w o i s a c k n o w l e d g e d a s a n o p p o r t u n i t y f o r the i n t e r v e n t i o n o f

s i o n " that w o r k s a s the m n e m o n i c d e v i c e w h e r e b y the w i l l

v a r i o u s c o m p e t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d a c c i d e n t s . I n the face o f

m a k e s itself r e g u l a r a n d c a l c u l a b l e ? B y s e c t i o n 4 , N i e t z s c h e

these c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d a c c i d e n t s , the w i l l c o n t i n u e s t o p r o -

p o s e s the q u e s t i o n o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e e x p l i c i t l y , b u t c o n t i n u e s

d u c e itself, t o l a b o r o n itself i n the s e r v i c e o f m a k i n g o f itself

t o treat i t a s i f i t w e r e q u i t e separate f r o m c o n s c i e n c e itself. H e

a c o n t i n u i t y , w h e r e that c o n t i n u i t y , that " l o n g c h a i n o f w i l l , "

a s k s : H o w d i d "that o t h e r ' s o m b e r t h i n g , ' the c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f

a s N i e t z s c h e p u t s it, establishes its o w n t e m p o r a l i t y o v e r a n d

g u i l t , the ' b a d c o n s c i e n c e , ' c o m e i n t o the w o r l d ? " (62/297). B u t

a g a i n s t a n y o t h e r w h i c h m i g h t seek t o c o m p l i c a t e o r q u a l i f y its

is it other? Is there a w a y for the w i l l to b e c o m e r e g u l a r , to b e -

e x e c u t i o n . T h i s p r o m i s i n g b e i n g i s o n e w h o s t a n d s for h i m s e l f

c o m e the p r o t r a c t e d c o n t i n u i t y w h i c h u n d e r w r i t e s the p r o m -

t h r o u g h t i m e a n d w h o s e w o r d continues t h r o u g h time, one

ise, w i t h o u t b e c o m i n g subject t o the l o g i c o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e ?

" w h o g i v e s [his] w o r d a s s o m e t h i n g that c a n b e r e l i e d o n b e cause [h]e k n o w [ s ] h i m s e l f t o b e s t r o n g e n o u g h t o m a i n t a i n i t

i n the face o f a c c i d e n t s " (60/294). T h i s p r o t r a c t e d w i l l , w h i c h i s
s e l f - i d e n t i c a l t h r o u g h t i m e a n d w h i c h establishes its o w n t i m e ,
c o n s t i t u t e s the m a n o f c o n s c i e n c e . ( O d d l y e n o u g h , t h i s i d e a l o f
the efficacious s p e e c h act p r e s u p p o s e d b y p r o m i s i n g i s u n d e r c u t b y N i e t z s c h e ' s o w n n o t i o n o f the s i g n c h a i n , a c c o r d i n g t o
w h i c h a s i g h i s b o u n d t o s i g n i f y i n w a y s that estrange the s i g n
f r o m the o r i g i n a t i n g i n t e n t i o n s b y w h i c h i t i s m o b i l i z e d . A c c o r d i n g t o the h i s t o r i c i t y o f the s i g n c h a i n , i t w o u l d b e i m p o s s i b l e t o k e e p a p r o m i s e , b e c a u s e i t w o u l d b e i m p o s s i b l e t o safeg u a r d a s i g n f r o m the v a r i o u s h i s t o r i c a l a c c i d e n t s b y w h i c h its
m e a n i n g i s a u g m e n t e d i n excess o f its o r i g i n a t i n g i n t e n t i o n s . )

W e l l - k n o w n d i s c u s s i o n s o f the r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n d e b t a n d
g u i l t f o l l o w ( 6 2 - 6 3 / 2 9 7 - 9 8 ) , i n w h i c h the f a i l u r e t o r e p a y a
l o a n a w a k e n s the d e s i r e f o r c o m p e n s a t i o n i n the c r e d i t o r , a n d
i n j u r y i s i n f l i c t e d o n the d e b t o r . T h e a t t r i b u t i o n o f m o r a l acc o u n t a b i l i t y t o the d e b t o r t h u s r a t i o n a l i z e s the d e s i r e o f the
c r e d i t o r t o p u n i s h the d e b t o r . W i t h that n o t i o n o f " a c c o u n t a b i l i t y " emerges a w h o l e p a n o p l y of m o r a l l y saturated psyc h i c p h e n o m e n a : i n t e n t i o n a l i t y , e v e n c e r t a i n v e r s i o n s o f the
w i l l itself. B u t the d e s i r e t o p u n i s h c a n n o t b e f u l l y a c c o u n t e d
f o r b y the c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f the b r o k e n c o n t r a c t . W h y d o e s the
c r e d i t o r t a k e p l e a s u r e i n the i n f l i c t i o n o f i n j u r y , a n d w h a t f o r m
does that p l e a s u r e t a k e w h e n i n j u r y i s i n f l i c t e d i n the m o r a l i z e d a c t i o n b y w h i c h the c r e d i t o r h o l d s the d e b t o r m o r a l l y

In section 3, w h i c h follows this discussion, Nietzsche recon-

accountable a n d p r o n o u n c e s h i m g u i l t y ? W h a t strange con-

s i d e r s t h i s i d e a l i z a t i o n o f the p r o m i s i n g a n i m a l a n d a s k s h o w

s u m m a t i o n o f p l e a s u r e takes p l a c e i n that a t t r i b u t i o n o f g u i l t ?

74

Circuits of B a d Conscience

Nietzsche and Freud

75

T h i s a c c o u n t o f h o w the a t t r i b u t i o n o f g u i l t o r i g i n a t e s i s n o t

a c t u a l i z e d a s d e e d , a n d t o e m e r g e o n the c o n d i t i o n that the

yet the f o r m a t i o n o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e ( w h i c h w o u l d , o f c o u r s e ,

p r o m i s e has b e e n b r o k e n . B u t r e c a l l that the e x e c u t i o n o f the

b e the s e l f - a t t r i b u t i o n o r s e l f - i n f l i c t i o n o f g u i l t ) . I t p r e s u p -

d e e d w a s n o t w i t h o u t its f a b r i c a t i o n s : o n e effect o f the p r o m -

p o s e s that a c o n t r a c t has b e e n b r o k e n , a n d the e x i s t e n c e of the

ise i s t o p r o d u c e a n "I" w h i c h m i g h t s t a n d f o r itself across

c o n t r a c t p r e s u p p o s e s the i n s t i t u t i o n o f p r o m i s i n g . I n d e e d , the

t i m e . T h u s , the f a b r i c a t i o n o f s u c h a n "I" i s the p a r a d o x i c a l r e -

d e b t o r i s o n e w h o fails t o k e e p h i s p r o m i s e , p r o t r a c t h i s w i l l ,

s u l t o f the p r o m i s e . T h e " I " b e c o m e s c o n t i n u o u s w i t h its d e e d ,

a n d d i s c h a r g e h i s w o r d i n the e x e c u t i o n o f a n act.

b u t its d e e d is, p a r a d o x i c a l l y , to create the c o n t i n u i t y of itself.

T h e p u n i s h m e n t o f the d e b t o r t h u s p r e s u p p o s e s the m o d e l

B a d c o n s c i e n c e w o u l d b e the f a b r i c a t i o n o f i n f e r i o r i t y that

o r i d e a l o f the p r o m i s i n g a n i m a l , y e t t h i s p r o m i s i n g a n i m a l

attends the b r e a k i n g o f a p r o m i s e , the d i s c o n t i n u i t y o f the w i l l ,

c o u l d n o t c o m e i n t o b e i n g w i t h o u t the i m p r e s s i o n s o f t e r r o r

b u t the " I " w h o w o u l d k e e p the p r o m i s e i s p r e c i s e l y the c u l -

p r o d u c e d b y p u n i s h m e n t . T h e p u n i s h m e n t o f the d e b t o r a p -

t i v a t e d effect o f t h i s c o n t i n u o u s f a b r i c a t i o n o f i n f e r i o r i t y . C a n

p e a r s t o e m e r g e i n r e s p o n s e t o a n i n j u r y , the d e b t b e i n g cast

there e v e n b e a p r o m i s i n g b e i n g , o n e w h o i s able t o d i s c h a r g e

as that i n j u r y , b u t the r e s p o n s e takes on a m e a n i n g that ex-

w o r d s i n t o deeds, w i t h o u t the b a d c o n s c i e n c e w h i c h f o r m s

ceeds the e x p l i c i t p u r p o s e o f a c h i e v i n g c o m p e n s a t i o n . F o r the

the v e r y " I " w h o m a k e s g o o d h i s w o r d t h r o u g h t i m e , w h o has

p u n i s h m e n t i s p l e a s u r a b l e , a n d the i n f l i c t i o n o f i n j u r y i s c o n -

a m e m o r y o f the w i l l , a n d f o r w h o m the p s y c h e has a l r e a d y

s t r u e d as a s e d u c t i o n to life ( 6 6 - 6 7 / 3 0 1 - 2 ) .

been produced?

I f t h i s c o m p l i c a t e d scene a n i m a t e s the c r e d i t o r , h o w d o w e

N i e t z s c h e d e s c r i b e s " b a d c o n s c i e n c e i n its b e g i n n i n g s " a s

u n d e r s t a n d the f o r m a t i o n o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e i n the d e b t o r ?

the "instinct for freedom f o r c i b l y m a d e l a t e n t " (87/325).

N i e t z s c h e w r i t e s , " P u n i s h m e n t i s s u p p o s e d t o h a v e the v a l u e

w h e r e i s the trace o f t h i s f r e e d o m i n the s e l f - s h a c k l i n g that

o f a w a k e n i n g the f e e l i n g o f g u i l t i n the g u i l t y p e r s o n ; o n e

N i e t z s c h e d e s c r i b e s ? I t i s t o b e f o u n d i n the p l e a s u r e t a k e n i n

But

seeks in it the a c t u a l instrumentum of that p s y c h i c a l r e a c t i o n

a f f l i c t i n g p a i n , a p l e a s u r e t a k e n i n a f f l i c t i n g p a i n o n oneself

c a l l e d ' b a d c o n s c i e n c e , ' ' s t i n g o f c o n s c i e n c e ' " (81/318).

i n the s e r v i c e of, i n the n a m e of, m o r a l i t y . T h i s p l e a s u r e i n af-

B u t N i e t z s c h e takes h i s d i s t a n c e f r o m t h i s f o r m u l a t i o n ,

f l i c t i o n , a t t r i b u t e d e a r l i e r t o the c r e d i t o r , t h u s b e c o m e s , u n d e r

s i n c e n o t m e r e l y p s y c h i c r e a c t i o n s , b u t the p s y c h e itself i s

the p r e s s u r e o f the s o c i a l c o n t r a c t , a n i n t e r n a l i z e d p l e a s u r e ,

the i n s t r u m e n t o f t h i s p u n i s h m e n t . T h e i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f i n -

the j o y o f p e r s e c u t i n g oneself. T h e o r i g i n o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e is,

s t i n c t w h i c h takes p l a c e w h e n the i n s t i n c t does n o t i m m e d i -

t h u s , the j o y t a k e n i n p e r s e c u t i n g oneself, w h e r e the self p e r s e -

a t e l y d i s c h a r g e a s the d e e d i s u n d e r s t o o d t o p r o d u c e the s o u l

c u t e d d o e s n o t exist o u t s i d e the o r b i t o f that p e r s e c u t i o n . B u t

o r the p s y c h e i n s t e a d ; the p r e s s u r e e x e r t e d f r o m the w a l l s o f

the i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f p u n i s h m e n t i s the v e r y p r o d u c t i o n o f the

s o c i e t y forces a n i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n w h i c h c u l m i n a t e s i n the p r o -

self, a n d i t i s i n t h i s p r o d u c t i o n that p l e a s u r e a n d f r e e d o m are

d u c t i o n o f the s o u l , t h i s p r o d u c t i o n b e i n g u n d e r s t o o d a s a p r i -

c u r i o u s l y l o c a t e d . P u n i s h m e n t i s n o t m e r e l y p r o d u c t i v e o f the

m a r y a r t i s t i c a c c o m p l i s h m e n t , the f a b r i c a t i o n o f a n i d e a l . T h i s

self, b u t t h i s v e r y p r o d u c t i v i t y o f p u n i s h m e n t i s the site for

f a b r i c a t i o n a p p e a r s t o take the p l a c e o f the p r o m i s e , the w o r d

the f r e e d o m a n d p l e a s u r e o f the w i l l , its f a b r i c a t i n g a c t i v i t y .

Nietzsche and Freud

Circuits of Bad Conscience

77

A s a p e c u l i a r d e f o r m a t i o n o f a r t i s t r y ( w h i c h is, o f c o u r s e ,

nomena, then it is difficult to imagine w h i c h of Nietzsche's

i n d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e f r o m its p r i m a r y f o r m a t i o n ) , s e l f - c o n s c i o u s -

fabulous genealogical terms w o u l d not finally be attributable

ness i s the f o r m the w i l l takes w h e n i t i s p r e v e n t e d f r o m

to t h i s b a d c o n s c i e n c e . I n d e e d , h i s p r o j e c t of o f f e r i n g a g e n e a l -

s i m p l e e x p r e s s i o n a s a d e e d . B u t i s the m o d e l b y w h i c h a n i n -

o g y o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e a p p e a r s t o f o u n d e r w h e n the v e r y t e r m s

s t i n c t o r a w i l l expresses o r d i s c h a r g e s itself i n a d e e d i n a n y

h e w i l l u s e t o a c c o u n t for t h i s f o r m a t i o n t u r n o u t t o b e the

sense p r i o r t o t h i s s e l f - t h w a r t e d e x p r e s s i o n o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e ?

effect o f t h i s f o r m a t i o n itself. E l s e w h e r e h e w i l l refuse, for i n -

C a n there b e a m o d e l o f p r o m i s i n g that d o e s n o t f r o m the first

stance, t o a c c e p t the n o t i o n o f the w i l l a s a c o n c e p t u a l g i v e n .

presuppose b a d conscience? The noble is described earlier as

In Beyond Good and Evil, he w r i t e s , " w i l l i n g s e e m s to me to

one for w h o m his w o r k i s "an instinctive creation a n d i m p o s i -

be . . . s o m e t h i n g complicated, s o m e t h i n g that is a u n i t o n l y as a

t i o n o f f o r m s . . . the m o s t i n v o l u n t a r y a n d u n c o n s c i o u s artists

w o r d . " O n c e w i l l i n g i s e l e v a t e d t o the status o f a p h i l o s o p h i 2

[that] there a r e " (86/325). T h e s o u l is p r e c i s e l y w h a t a c e r t a i n

cal concept, he writes, it is of necessity a k i n d of fiction. The

v i o l e n t a r t i s t r y p r o d u c e s w h e n i t takes itself a s its o w n object.

s a m e w o u l d c l e a r l y h o l d for the n o t i o n o f " i n s t i n c t , " a n d a l s o

T h e s o u l , the p s y c h e , i s n o t there p r i o r t o t h i s r e f l e x i v e m o v e ,

for the effort t o a c c o u n t c h r o n o l o g i c a l l y o r s e q u e n t i a l l y f o r

b u t t h i s r e f l e x i v e t u r n i n g o f the w i l l a g a i n s t itself p r o d u c e s i n

h o w a n y t h i n g c a n b e d e r i v e d f r o m the w i l l , o r the w i l l f r o m

its w a k e the m e t a p h o r i c s o f p s y c h i c life.

a n y t h i n g else: "one s h o u l d u s e 'cause' a n d 'effect' o n l y a s p u r e

If we u n d e r s t a n d the s o u l to be the effect of i m p o s i n g a

c o n c e p t s , that is to say, as c o n v e n t i o n a l f i c t i o n s for the p u r p o s e

f o r m u p o n oneself, w h e r e the f o r m i s t a k e n t o b e e q u i v a l e n t

o f d e s i g n a t i o n a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n n o t for e x p l a n a t i o n . "

t o the s o u l , t h e n there c a n b e n o p r o t r a c t e d w i l l , n o " I " that

On the Genealogy of Morals, he reiterates that c o n c e p t u a l i z a -

s t a n d s f o r itself t h r o u g h t i m e , w i t h o u t t h i s s e l f - i m p o s i t i o n o f

t i o n e m e r g e s f r o m the g e n e a l o g y o f t o r t u r e a s the p r o m i s e o f

f o r m , t h i s m o r a l l a b o r i n g o n oneself. T h i s f u n d a m e n t a l l y a r t i s -

a c e r t a i n escape: c o n c e p t s , he w r i t e s , are an effort to g a i n r e -

In

tic p r o d u c t i o n o f b a d c o n s c i e n c e , the p r o d u c t i o n o f a " f o r m "

lease f r o m a t o r t u r e . Is the v e r y c o n c e p t u a l a p p a r a t u s of On

f r o m a n d o f the w i l l , i s d e s c r i b e d b y N i e t z s c h e a s "the w o m b

the Genealogy of Morals i m p l i c a t e d in t h i s d e s c r i p t i o n , a n d is

o f a l l i d e a l a n d i m a g i n a t i v e p h e n o m e n a " (87/326). B a d c o n -

N i e t z s c h e ' s text t h e n a n effort t o escape f r o m the t o r t u r e s o f

s c i e n c e i s f a b r i c a t e d , b u t i t i n t u r n i s c r e d i t e d w i t h the f a b r i -

b a d c o n s c i e n c e , a l t h o u g h i t o w e s its life, a s i t w e r e , t o that v e r y

c a t i o n o f a l l i d e a l a n d i m a g i n a t i v e p h e n o m e n a . I s there, t h e n ,

source?

a n y w a y t o a n s w e r the q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r a r t i s t r y p r e c e d e s

I f a l l " i m a g i n a t i v e p h e n o m e n a " are the r e s u l t o f t h i s v i o l e n t

b a d c o n s c i e n c e o r i s its r e s u l t ? I s there a n y w a y t o p o s t u l a t e

i n t e r i o r i z a t i o n , i t f o l l o w s that the g e n e a l o g i c a l a c c o u n t w i l l b e

s o m e t h i n g b e f o r e t h i s " t u r n i n g b a c k u p o n i t s e l f " w h i c h i s the

o n e of these p h e n o m e n a , a n a r r a t i v e effect of the n a r r a t i v e it

t r o p i c f o u n d a t i o n o f the subject a n d a l l a r t i s t r y , i n c l u d i n g a l l

seeks t o t e l l . T h e u n m a s k i n g o f the n a r r a t i v e i s its r e m a s k i n g

i m a g i n a t i o n a n d c o n c e p t u a l life?

i n e v i t a b l y . I n d e e d , i t seems that the v e r y c r e a t i v i t y o n e seeks

I f b a d c o n s c i e n c e originates

imaginative and ideal phe-

t o o p p o s e t o the i n h i b i t i o n o f s t r e n g t h i s f u n d a m e n t a l l y d e -

78

Nietzsche and Freud

Circuits of Bad Conscience

p e n d e n t o n that v e r y i n h i b i t i o n . I n t h i s sense, r e p r e s s i o n a p p e a r s t o u n d e r w r i t e o r g u a r a n t e e b o t h the b e i n g w h o p r o m i s e s

a n d the w r i t e r o f f i c t i o n , i n c l u d i n g c o n c e p t u a l f i c t i o n s s u c h a s

79

o n l y t o want s o m e t h i n g a n d t o b e g i n w i t h , i t m a t t e r e d n o t
w h a t , w h e r e t o , or h o w he w a n t e d :

the will itself was saved"

(162/411).

g e n e a l o g y . T h e u n i t y o f w i l l a t t r i b u t e d t o the p r o m i s i n g i s itself

I n h i s a n a l y s i s o f n e u r o s i s , F r e u d u n d e r s t o o d t h i s differ-

the effect of a r e p r e s s i o n , a f o r g e t f u l n e s s , a n o t - r e m e m b e r i n g

ently, a s a k i n d o f l i b i d i n a l a t t a c h m e n t t o a p r o h i b i t i o n w h i c h

o f the satisfactions w h i c h a p p e a r t o p r e c e d e r e p r e s s i o n , a n d

has a s its p u r p o s e the t h w a r t i n g o f l i b i d i n a l g r a t i f i c a t i o n .

w h i c h repression makes sure w i l l not appear again.

W h e r e that t h w a r t i n g c o n s t i t u t e s a r e p r e s s i o n , the r e p r e s s i o n
i s s u s t a i n e d b y the l i b i d o that i t seeks t o t h w a r t . I n n e u r o -

Freud, Narcissism, and Regulation

I n t h i s f i n a l s e c t i o n , I w o u l d l i k e t o r e t u r n t o the p r o b l e m o f

sis, the e t h i c a l r e g u l a t i o n o f b o d i l y i m p u l s e b e c o m e s the f o c u s

a n d a i m o f i m p u l s e itself. H e r e w e are g i v e n t o u n d e r s t a n d a n
a t t a c h m e n t t o s u b j e c t i o n w h i c h i s f o r m a t i v e o f the r e f l e x i v e

social regulation, not as acting on a psyche, but as c o m p l i c i -

structure of subjection. The i m p u l s e w h i c h w o u l d be negated

t o u s i n the f o r m a t i o n o f the p s y c h e a n d its d e s i r e . T o that e n d ,

i s i n a d v e r t e n t l y preserved b y that v e r y n e g a t i n g a c t i v i t y .

I p r o p o s e a d e t o u r t h r o u g h F r e u d ; the N i e t z s c h e a n r e s o n a n c e s
i n h i s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e w i l l b e c o m e clear.

W e c a n hear a r e s o n a n c e o f N i e t z s c h e w h e n F r e u d d e s c r i b e s the p r o c e s s b y w h i c h l i b i d o c o m e s u n d e r the c e n s o r

The postulation of repression's p r i m a c y brings us directly

of the l a w o n l y to r e e m e r g e as the s u s t a i n i n g affect of that

t o F r e u d , a n d t o a r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f the p r o b l e m o f p u n -

l a w . T h e r e p r e s s i o n o f the l i b i d o i s a l w a y s t o b e u n d e r s t o o d

i s h m e n t i n r e l a t i o n t o the f o r m a t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e a n d s o c i a l

as itself a l i b i d i n a l l y i n v e s t e d r e p r e s s i o n . H e n c e , the l i b i d o is

s u b j e c t i o n . I f t h i s s u b j e c t i o n i s n o t m e c h a n i s t i c , n o t the s i m p l e

not absolutely negated t h r o u g h repression, but rather becomes

effect o f a n i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n , t h e n h o w c a n w e u n d e r s t a n d the

the i n s t r u m e n t o f its o w n s u b j e c t i o n . T h e r e p r e s s i v e l a w i s

p s y c h i c e n g a g e m e n t w i t h s u b j e c t i o n i n a w a y that d o e s n o t d i s -

n o t e x t e r n a l t o the l i b i d o that i t represses, b u t the r e p r e s s i v e

j o i n the d i s c o u r s e o f s e l f - s u b j e c t i o n f r o m the p r o b l e m o f s o c i a l

l a w represses t o the extent that r e p r e s s i o n b e c o m e s a l i b i d i -

regulation? H o w can cultivating a narcissistic attachment to

n a l a c t i v i t y . F u r t h e r , m o r a l i n t e r d i c t i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e that

p u n i s h m e n t b e the m e a n s b y w h i c h the p o w e r o f s o c i a l r e g u -

are t u r n e d a g a i n s t the b o d y , are t h e m s e l v e s s u s t a i n e d b y the

l a t i o n e x p l o i t s a n a r c i s s i s t i c d e m a n d for s e l f - r e f l e c t i o n w h i c h

b o d i l y a c t i v i t y that t h e y seek t o c u r b .

is i n d i f f e r e n t to its o c c a s i o n ?

T h e desire to desire is a w i l l i n g n e s s to desire precisely w h a t

T h i s s u g g e s t i o n o f n a r c i s s i s m is, I w o u l d suggest, a l r e a d y

w o u l d f o r e c l o s e d e s i r e , i f o n l y for the p o s s i b i l i t y o f c o n t i n u i n g

a t w o r k i n N i e t z s c h e . T h e ascetic i d e a l , u n d e r s t o o d a s a w i l l

t o d e s i r e . T h i s d e s i r e f o r d e s i r e i s e x p l o i t e d i n the p r o c e s s o f

to nothingness, is a w a y of i n t e r p r e t i n g a l l suffering as guilt.

s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n , f o r i f the t e r m s b y w h i c h w e g a i n s o c i a l r e c -

W h e r e a s g u i l t w o r k s t o d e n y a s p e c i f i c k i n d o f object f o r

o g n i t i o n for o u r s e l v e s are t h o s e b y w h i c h w e are r e g u l a t e d and

h u m a n w a n t s , i t c a n n o t o b l i t e r a t e the w a n t i n g c h a r a c t e r o f

g a i n s o c i a l existence, t h e n t o a f f i r m o n e ' s e x i s t e n c e i s t o c a p i t u -

h u m a n s . A c c o r d i n g t o the dictates o f g u i l t , t h e n , " m a n h a d

late t o one's s u b o r d i n a t i o n a s o r r y b i n d . H o w p r e c i s e l y t h i s

81

Circuits of Bad Conscience

Nietzsche and Freud

narcissistic attachment to attachment is exploited by mecha-

Its Discontents, w h e r e it t u r n s o u t that the p r o h i b i t i o n a g a i n s t

n i s m s o f s o c i a l r e g u l a t i o n i s i n a d v e r t e n t l y m a d e c l e a r i n a set

h o m o s e x u a l i t y w h i c h c o n s c i e n c e i s s a i d t o enact o r a r t i c u l a t e

o f s p e c u l a t i o n s that F r e u d offers o n the r e p r e s s i o n o f h o m o -

f o u n d s a n d c o n s t i t u t e s c o n s c i e n c e itself a s a p s y c h i c p h e n o m e -

s e x u a l i t y a n d the f o r m a t i o n o f c o n s c i e n c e a n d c i t i z e n s h i p . I n

n o n . T h e p r o h i b i t i o n a g a i n s t the d e s i r e i s that d e s i r e a s i t t u r n s

80

" O n the M e c h a n i s m o f P a r a n o i a , " h e l i n k s the s u p p r e s s i o n o f

b a c k u p o n itself, a n d t h i s t u r n i n g b a c k u p o n itself b e c o m e s the

h o m o s e x u a l d r i v e s t o the p r o d u c t i o n o f s o c i a l f e e l i n g . A t the

v e r y i n c e p t i o n , the v e r y a c t i o n o f w h a t i s r e n d e r e d e n t i t a t i v e

e n d o f that p i e c e , h e r e m a r k s that " h o m o s e x u a l d r i v e s " h e l p

t h r o u g h the t e r m " c o n s c i e n c e . "

t o c o n s t i t u t e "the s o c i a l i n s t i n c t s , t h u s c o n t r i b u t i n g a n e r o t i c
factor to f r i e n d s h i p a n d c o m r a d e s h i p , to esprit de corps a n d to

F r e u d w r i t e s in Civilization and Its

Discontents

"that c o n -

science (or m o r e c o r r e c t l y , the a n x i e t y w h i c h later b e c o m e s

the l o v e o f m a n k i n d i n g e n e r a l . " A t the c l o s e o f the essay " O n

conscience) i s i n d e e d the cause o f i n s t i n c t u a l r e n u n c i a t i o n t o

N a r c i s s i s m , " h e m i g h t b e r e a d a s s p e c i f y i n g the l o g i c w h e r e b y

b e g i n w i t h , b u t that later the r e l a t i o n s h i p i s r e v e r s e d . E v e r y

t h i s p r o d u c t i o n o f s o c i a l f e e l i n g takes p l a c e . T h e " e g o - i d e a l , "

renunciation of instinct n o w becomes a d y n a m i c source of

h e w r i t e s , has a s o c i a l s i d e : " i t i s a l s o the c o m m o n i d e a l o f

c o n s c i e n c e a n d e v e r y f r e s h r e n u n c i a t i o n increases the latter's

a f a m i l y , a class or a n a t i o n . It n o t o n l y b i n d s the n a r c i s s i s t i c

severity a n d intolerance."

l i b i d o , b u t a l s o a c o n s i d e r a b l e a m o u n t o f the p e r s o n ' s h o m o -

A c c o r d i n g t o F r e u d , t h e n , the s e l f - i m p o s e d i m p e r a t i v e s that

s e x u a l l i b i d o , w h i c h i n t h i s w a y b e c o m e s t u r n e d b a c k i n t o the

c h a r a c t e r i z e the c i r c u l a r r o u t e o f c o n s c i e n c e are p u r s u e d a n d

ego. T h e d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n d u e t o the n o n - f u l f i l l m e n t o f the i d e a l

a p p l i e d p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e t h e y are n o w the site o f the v e r y sat-

liberates h o m o s e x u a l l i b i d o , w h i c h i s t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o sense

i s f a c t i o n that t h e y seek t o p r o h i b i t . I n o t h e r w o r d s , p r o h i b i t i o n

o f g u i l t ( d r e a d o f the c o m m u n i t y ) . "

This transformation of

b e c o m e s the o c c a s i o n for r e l i v i n g the i n s t i n c t u n d e r the r u b r i c

h o m o s e x u a l i t y i n t o g u i l t a n d , therefore, i n t o the basis o f s o c i a l

o f the c o n d e m n i n g l a w . P r o h i b i t i o n r e p r o d u c e s the p r o h i b i t e d

f e e l i n g takes p l a c e w h e n the fear o f p a r e n t a l p u n i s h m e n t b e -

d e s i r e a n d b e c o m e s i n t e n s i f i e d t h r o u g h the r e n u n c i a t i o n s i t

c o m e s g e n e r a l i z e d a s the d r e a d o f l o s i n g the l o v e o f f e l l o w

effects. T h e "afterlife" o f p r o h i b i t e d d e s i r e takes p l a c e t h r o u g h

m e n . P a r a n o i a i s the w a y i n w h i c h that l o v e i s c o n s i s t e n t l y

the p r o h i b i t i o n itself, w h e r e the p r o h i b i t i o n n o t o n l y s u s t a i n s ,

r e i m a g i n e d a s a l w a y s a l m o s t w i t h d r a w n , a n d i t is, p a r a d o x i -

b u t is sustained by the d e s i r e that it forces i n t o r e n u n c i a t i o n .

c a l l y , fear o f l o s i n g that l o v e w h i c h m o t i v a t e s the s u b l i m a t i o n

I n t h i s sense, t h e n , r e n u n c i a t i o n takes p l a c e t h r o u g h the v e r y

or introversion of homosexuality. Indeed, this s u b l i m a t i o n is

d e s i r e that is r e n o u n c e d : the d e s i r e is never r e n o u n c e d , b u t

n o t q u i t e a s i n s t r u m e n t a l a s i t m a y s o u n d , for i t i s n o t that o n e

b e c o m e s p r e s e r v e d a n d r e a s s e r t e d i n the v e r y s t r u c t u r e o f r e -

d i s a v o w s h o m o s e x u a l i t y i n o r d e r t o g a i n the l o v e o f f e l l o w

nunciation.

m e n , b u t that a c e r t a i n h o m o s e x u a l i t y c a n o n l y b e a c h i e v e d
a n d c o n t a i n e d through t h i s d i s a v o w a l .

T h i s e x a m p l e l e a d s u s b a c k t o the t r o p e w i t h w h i c h w e
b e g a n , the f i g u r e o f c o n s c i e n c e a s t u r n i n g b a c k o n itself a s i f

A n o t h e r place in F r e u d w h e r e this becomes v e r y clear is

it w e r e a b o d y r e c o i l e d on itself, r e c o i l e d at the t h o u g h t of its

the d i s c u s s i o n of the f o r m a t i o n of c o n s c i e n c e in Civilization and

d e s i r e , f o r w h o m its d e s i r e i s s y m p t o m a t i z e d a s that p o s t u r e

82

Circuits of Bad Conscience

o f r e c o i l . C o n s c i e n c e i s t h u s f i g u r e d a s a b o d y w h i c h takes
itself as its object, f o r c e d i n t o a p e r m a n e n t p o s t u r e of n e g a t i v e n a r c i s s i s m or, m o r e p r e c i s e l y , a n a r c i s s i s t i c a l l y n o u r i s h e d
self-beratement (then, mistakenly, identified w i t h a narcissist i c stage).

Subjection, Resistance,
Resignification

C o n s i d e r a s a p a r t i n g s h o t h o w the c o n t e m p o r a r y efforts
t o r e g u l a t e h o m o s e x u a l i t y w i t h i n the U . S . m i l i t a r y are t h e m selves the r e g u l a t o r y f o r m a t i o n o f the m a s c u l i n e subject, o n e

Between

w h o consecrates h i s i d e n t i t y t h r o u g h renunciation a s a n act o f

Freud

and

Foucault

s p e e c h : to say "I am a h o m o s e x u a l " is fine as l o n g as o n e

a l s o promises " a n d I d o n ' t i n t e n d to act." T h i s , the s u p p r e s s i o n
a n d s u s t a i n i n g o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y i n a n d t h r o u g h the c i r c u l a r
p o s t u r e b y w h i c h a b o d y utters its o w n r e n u n c i a t i o n , accedes
t o its r e g u l a t i o n t h r o u g h the p r o m i s e . B u t that p e r f o r m a t i v e
u t t e r a n c e , h o w e v e r c o m p e l l e d , w i l l b e subject t o i n f e l i c i t y , t o

M y p r o b l e m i s essentially the d e f i n i t i o n o f the i m p l i c i t

systems in w h i c h we find ourselves prisoners; what I w o u l d

s p e a k i n g o t h e r w i s e , t o r e c i t i n g o n l y h a l f the sentence, d e f o r m -

l i k e t o grasp i s the s y s t e m o f l i m i t s a n d e x c l u s i o n w h i c h

i n g the p r o m i s e , r e f o r m u l a t i n g the c o n f e s s i o n a s d e f i a n c e , r e -

w e p r a c t i c e w i t h o u t k n o w i n g it; I w o u l d l i k e t o m a k e the

m a i n i n g silent. T h i s o p p o s i t i o n w i l l d r a w f r o m a n d oppose

cultural unconscious apparent.

Foucault, "Rituals of E x c l u s i o n "

the p o w e r b y w h i c h i t i s c o m p e l l e d , a n d t h i s s h o r t c i r c u i t i n g
of r e g u l a t o r y p o w e r c o n s t i t u t e s the p o s s i b i l i t y of a postmoral
g e s t u r e t o w a r d a less r e g u l a r f r e e d o m , o n e that f r o m the p e r s p e c t i v e of a less c o d i f i a b l e set of v a l u e s calls i n t o q u e s t i o n the
values of morality.

o n s i d e r , in Discipline and Punish, the p a r a d o x i c a l c h a r a c ter o f w h a t F o u c a u l t d e s c r i b e s a s the s u b j e c t i v a t i o n o f

the p r i s o n e r . T h e t e r m " s u b j e c t i v a t i o n " c a r r i e s the p a r a d o x i n

itself: assujetissement d e n o t e s b o t h the b e c o m i n g of the subject
a n d the p r o c e s s o f s u b j e c t i o n o n e i n h a b i t s the f i g u r e o f a u t o n o m y o n l y by b e c o m i n g subjected to a power, a subjection

w h i c h i m p l i e s a r a d i c a l dependency. F o r F o u c a u l t , this p r o cess o f s u b j e c t i v a t i o n takes p l a c e c e n t r a l l y t h r o u g h the b o d y .

In Discipline and Punish the p r i s o n e r ' s b o d y n o t o n l y a p p e a r s
as a sign of g u i l t a n d t r a n s g r e s s i o n , as the e m b o d i m e n t of p r o h i b i t i o n a n d the s a n c t i o n for r i t u a l s o f n o r m a l i z a t i o n , b u t i s