Abstract:
As we find in Empire and Multitude, Antonio Negri's political project IS a
thoroughly Marxist analysis and critique of global or late capitalism. By modifying and
updating Marx's conceptual tools, he is able to provide a clear account of capitalism's
processes, its expanding reach, and the revolutionary potential that functions as its motor.
By turning to Negri's philosophical works, however, we find that this political
analysis is founded on a series of concepts and theoretical positions. This paper attempts
to clarify this theoretical foundation, highlighting in particular what I term "ontological
constructivism" - Negri's radical reworking of traditional ontology. Opposing the long
history of transcendence in epistemology and metaphysics (one that stretches from Plato
to Kant), this reworked ontological perspective positions individuals - not god or some
other transcendent source - as the primary agents responsible for molding the ontological
landscape.
Combined with his understanding of kairos (subjective, immeasurable time),
ontological constructivism lays the groundwork for opposing transcendence and
rethinking contemporary politics.
