Judith Butler. Benjamin and The Philosophy of History. 2011

ahah what, the past doesnt extend itself into its future, the present?

Among the monuments in Trafalgar Square, London, there is an empty plinth. This plinth could provide a Benjaminian moment in the fight for the oppressed past if it were left empty and had a small plaque attached which read 'In Remembrance of the Disappeared.' Thankyou for posting these wonderful lectures.

The monad or the monadic idea, both in Leibniz and Benjamin, does reflect, through what benjamin names in the "theory of ideas" section in the Trauerspiel book (e36-44) as the 'constellation' of ideas, the truth content of the world. Benjamin is quite explict in his reference to Leibniz.

'The Benjamin that wrote these theses was rather late.' It was the last thing he ever wrote before fleeing to Spain.