Mathematics

Abstract

In Sade, the erotic objects (victims) are not individuals with consciousness, but entities reduced to numbers. For him, all humans are born free—they are considered equal units, and he asserts that “[n]ever may an act of possession be exercised upon a free being ….” However, Sade’s equality transforms individuals into numbers, taking away the idea of exclusive possession or taboos (laws) that restrict libertines from making use of them. From a libertine’s perspective, every individual is equally a potential victim (a number), and they either desire to victimize the same individual indefinitely or seek, in the victim, the cause for infinite crimes. The libertine says, “Pray avail me of that part of your body which is capable of giving me a moment’s satisfaction, and, if you are so inclined, amuse yourself with whatever part of mine may be agreeable to you.” They strive for infinite and unrestricted mobility of the bodies and the exhaustion of all possibilities through this mobilization....