ABSTRACT
A marvelous phrase occurs to me. Michael Hardt and I were discussing the definition of the concept of multitude, and Michael cited a passage in the Gospels on the temptations posed by the devil. The devil appears, saying that his name is “legion”: “We are a legion of devils.” This story is fascinating, because what is expressed, bizarrely, is the possibility of multitude. That’s not a bad introduction to temptation-a legion of devils! Above all, it is a way of affirming one’s desire to possess all possible wealth, all possible virtues and powers. In the theory of angels, whether they are fallen or not, everything proceeds by legions: cherubim, seraphim, and dominations, the highest order of angels.
