Messianic Time and Monetary Value1

Abstract

Abstract:In this essay we return to Walter Benjamin's notion of messianic time as outlined in his Theses on the Philosophy of History. Messianic time is read with Benjamin's Sonnette as a "divestment" from historical time. That is, messianic time is a relinquishing of historical time's formation of identities within late capitalism. Messianism represents that opening which whispers the possibility of bringing asymmetrical accumulation and subjective formation to a standstill. The aim of the essay is thus to push a rereading of Benjamin's notion of messianic time as subjective divestment from historical time which in turn breaks the uneven distribution of time, accumulation, and the monetary value of market time at work in our current world of global finance.Keywords: Walter Benjamin; messianism; time; money; value We need to fetch back the time they have stolen from us.Every line we succeed in publishing today-no matter how uncertain the future to which we entrust it-is a victory wrested from the powers of darkness.Walter Benjamin ([2], p. 262).