Destitution of Sovereignty The Political Theology of Søren Kierkegaard

<strong>JNU Philosophy Colloquium</strong> a lecture by <strong>Saitya Brata Das </strong> Centre for English Studies, JNU, New Delhi on <strong>Destitution of Sovereignty The Political Theology of Søren Kierkegaard</strong> In his Political Theology of 1922 Carl Schmitt cites 'a protestant theologian', without naming him, who, according to Schmitt, thinks the exception with singular theological passion, for it is the exception that explains the rule and not vice-versa. This citation is from a book called Repetition and the 'protestant theologian' is Søren Kierkegaard. From this insight, Schmitt goes onto elaborate his concept of 'political theology' and the logic of the sovereign as the one who decides on the state of exception. In this paper I take up to examine, once again, the Kierkegaardian notions of 'decision' and 'exception' to show that they cannot be understood in Schmittean terms. I then go onto think, with the help of Kierkegaard, an exception without sovereignty. Such exception, far from enabling and legitimizing the 'state' of sovereignty, rather makes impossible any claims on part of earthly sovereignty in the profane order to legitimize itself by an appeal to theological foundation. This demands deconstruction of the politico-theological doctrine of 'analogia entis' which is the theological basis of Schmitt's political claim. Taking up some of later Kierkegaard's polemical writings, I attempt to show that at the heart of Kierkegaard's Christianity without "Christendom" lays the idea of the gift which demands from us unconditional abandonment of all worldly sovereign powers and earthly glory. The very gift of being, eschatologically thought, demands that the worldly order must be emptied (Kenosis) of all sovereignty. Chair :<strong> Soumyabrata Choudhury</strong> School of Arts and Aesthetics, JNU, New Delhi Date :<strong> Tuesday, 25th August 2015</strong>