Praxis Seminar Series 2025-26: Session 23

Anna Migliorini

Università di Firenze / University of Sfax

Mapping the State of Exception in Walter Benjamin

9 June 2026, 17:15

Sala Mattos Romão (Room C201.J – Department of Philosophy)

School of Arts and Humanities – University of Lisbon

 

Abstract

The purpose of this presentation is to provide an overview of the relationship between Walter Benjamin and the concept of the state of exception. The main thesis informing the presentation is that there are several states of exception in Benjamin’s work, which essentially can be reduced to two. This thesis of a true and a false state of exception is based on the deductions from the distinction outlined in the final and well-known text, “On the Concept of History”, from 1940, and takes a retrospective approach to Benjamin’s writings, using this distinction as a guiding reference for interpretation.

In Benjamin’s writings, the theme is addressed in varying ways, alternately directly and indirectly, in detail or in an evocative manner. By tracing a thread through this trajectory, which spans nearly his entire career as a philosopher and critic, a critique of the state of exception emerges, characterized by certain specific – though not unprecedented – elements. Benjamin achieves his analysis with the help of his experience, and study, of both the history and political constellations of the first decades of the 20th century as well as the longer history of modern times and capitalism.

After some introductory remarks, the presentation will revolve around three main themes, corresponding to three sections. These aim to: (1) provide a brief overview of the state of exception in general and the Benjaminian conception in particular; (2) draw on Benjamin’s approach towards and beyond the ‘natural’ reference represented by Carl Schmitt’s famous conception, and highlights the ambiguous and arbitrary nature of known states of exception; (3) point to a wider leftist tradition – different from the common sources of the exception – to which Benjamin may be ascribed and which already adopted a critical approach to the topic of the state of exception.

The conclusions will open on the possibility and usefulness of a “new” state of exception that could contribute – even or at least – as an interpretive lens and as a tool for the crises, and (ab)normality of that time, just like those of today.

 

This activity is funded by Portuguese national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., within the project UID/00310/2025, Centro de Filosofia da Universidade de Lisboa (DOI: https://doi.org/10.54499/UID/00310/2025).