Abstract

Between the construction of an absolute monarchy of the state, designed to crush any revolt through fear and threats, and the one hand, and the monstrification of the power of any rebellious, heretical or contestatory « other », on the other hand, the author identitifies a third possible concept of monstrosity. This notion of monstrosity would escape these alternatives to claim its alterity, and therefore becomes monstrous not by virtue of its physical appearance, but by the autonomy of its demands in relation to any transcendental or final norms and by the actuality and immanent power of its condition