Auto-immunity. Jacques Derrida and the secret of Hospitality

This paper intends to trace the genealogy of Derrida’s notion of auto-immunity, which has been elaborated since Specters of Marx (1993) and Politics of Friendship (1994). The analysis aims to highlight a more ancient origin of its development, found in the “logic of supplement”, outlined since Of Grammatology (1967) and Life Death (1975-1976). As will be discussed, the paradigm of auto-immunity is linked to a theoretical-political context of rediscovery of Marxism and enhancement of its messianic promise of unconditional hospitality. Within this framework, the recent publication of the unpublished seminars Répondre – du secret (1991-1992) and Hospitality vol.1-2 (1995-1996) allows us to read both the themes of secret and hospitality in the light of the previous phenomenological and scientific “a-logic of auto-immunological”, now extended to ethical, religious and political dimensions. It is only starting from the secret of autoimmune hospitality that Derrida can propose the concept of “autoimmune democracy” in Rogues (2003) and in Philosophy in a Time of Terror (2003). It is still very useful today to understand contemporary political challenges.