Let’s reconsider anomie

Abstract

Usually anomie is defined and described as an abnormal state of the social system, as a consequence of the dissolution of laws capable of regulating coexistence among humans. In this work we propose a reversal of the relationship between anomie and nomos, with reference to the law regulating the relationship with God, formulated within the three monotheistic religions. The reference to this reversal starts from the notion of “Mosaic distinction” proposed by the Egyptologist Jan Assmann and from the violence inherent in the foundation – which this distinction involves – of the friend/foe dichotomy. Violence against those who do not belong to the group that is faithful to the only God, but violence that is also inherent in the modalities that found the belonging itself. Anomie, in this perspective, is described as a polysemic rebellion against the constrictive monosemy of the nomos, as a reappropriation of the freedom to symbolize reality. In coherence with this new vision of anomie, we analyze some unaware adhesions to the nomos, within present day experiences, in particular within the psychoanalytic and psychological affiliations.