Memory and Anachronism as Political Productivity. Some Reflections on Baruch Spinoza

Abstract

This article will attempt to trace the concepts of anachronism and memory in a number of authors. For our account of them, we first present these concepts in two authors whose works have thematized them: Walter Benjamin and Reinhart Koselleck. This allows us to locate the conceptual coordinates in which the notion of anachronism must be understood. Second, we analyze what role do anachronism and memory play in Baruch Spinoza. Mainly following elucidations made by Spinoza in the Theologico-Political Treatise and in the Ethics, we proceed, then, to the restitution of the dynamics of memory in this author to elucidate how does anachronism appear in his work. Finally, we explain the political productivity that anachronism and memory would possess, that is, the positive and virtuous capacity that these two concepts would have in relation to doing politics.