PATAPHYSICS-THE-POETICS-OF-AN-IMAGINARY- SCIENCE_C_Bok

Exceptions, after all, can resort to an assortment of
10
modalities:
variance (anomalos), alliance (sszvgia), or
deviance (clinamen). The anomalos finds a way to differ
from every other thing in a system that values the norm of
equivalence; the svzsaia finds a way to equate things to
each other in a system that values the norm of difference;
and the clinamen finds a way to to detour around things in a
system that values the fate of contrivance.
Al1 three modes
of exception do inform this survey on 'pataphysics so that,
if its style risks everything to disrupt, to confuse, and to
digress, it does so not for any lack of forma1 rigour, but
for the sake of a crucial thesis. Can a ludic theory of
'pataphysics be fairly judged by the nomic values of
metaphysics if 'pataphysics criticizes metaphysics itself
Are we not obliged to consider the problem of this question
' Pataphysics , strangely enough, has two parallel
histories that act out opposite strategies for criticizing
such a scientific metaphysics: first, the irrationalism of
the Symbolists, the Dadaists, and the Surrealists (al1 of
whom argue for a poetic emancipation from science); second,
the surrationalism of the Futurists, the Oulipians, and the
"Pataphysicians (al1 of whom argue for a poetic
appropriation of science).
Jarry has influenced both
strategies despite their opposition.
The Futurists attack