The Immanence of the World Beyond

Abstract

In this article, Meillassoux proceeds from the presuppositions of «After Finitude» and «The Ghost Dilemma» from two theses: (1) everything that is logically conceivable is possible and, therefore, (2) a new god that does not require a theodicyis possible. Proposing a new scheme of a contingent past in order to make a march into a contingent future, Meillassoux derives four worlds independent of each other: the world of matter, the world of life, the world of reason, and the world of justice. Insisting on his position and arguing for this absolute randomness of the worlds in their sequence and in their leading concepts, he proposes the hypothesis that one of the infinite possibilities, a truly good god, might come true, but his existence  passes under the rubric of pure possibility. Meillassoux writes of this world, the fourth world of justice, which has not been, is not, or is not yet, as if it had already been accomplished, and the roll of the dice pointed to a clear, distinct, but generally dogmatic picture of some quasi-appearance. This new god must save the dead and save us, among whom there is a special type of subject, the «vector» subject. The subject who prepares the world for this event – the ontological snap. Promising absolute justice, however, Meillassoux draws a line: the torments of love, creativity and friendship are inviolable – no utopia, according to Meillassoux, can claim to resolve these torments.