The administration of death. Agustín García Calvo's critique of current asceticism

Abstract

The aim of this article is to present and critically evaluate the concept of "administration of death" in the writings of Agustín García Calvo. I consider that through this concept the author describes a current mechanism of domination that is present –especially– in our so-called "developed" societies or Welfare States. Thus, on the one hand, I will describe the meaning of the administration of death in García Calvo's work, but, on the other hand, in an effort to interpret and assess the potential of his proposal, I will also argue that this concept can be understood as an updating and reworking of Nietzsche's critique of asceticism, also picking up some influence from Marx and some other contemporary authors.