WORDS HOLD IN AWE: TERROR AND / OR WAR

Abstract

The difference between terrorism and war in philosophy is not yet clarified. We suggest the following criteria to define a concept of terrorism and/or war: social places, means of production (weapon), ways of communication and social bodies. Place is not a landscape, but we name it “Arche-” homeland, motherland, which provides war discourse alibi, while terrorism is a nomad field. Everything put into action by force and fire is considered to be means of war and terrorism. Rifle creates a soldier. Available quantity of weapons encourages its usage. Media is a way of legitimation of terroristic discourse: violence is declared as an act of terrorism even when its reason is unknown. But war breaks communication. Terroristic act and its consequences force different social bodies to interact: affected terrorist’s body (suicide bomber and others) and even-tempered disciplined social body of European man. Analysis of social bodies’ practices shows us rebelling, perverse, affecting bodies as well as bodies full of discipline, obedience, in other words - subjective, sovereign bodies.

Keywords

• terrorism
• act of terrorism
• war
• war and terrorism discourse