From Common Meal via Acéphale to Unsacrificeable

In this article, the author introduces several approaches to the conceptof sacrifice. It begins with the classic sociological approach ofÉmile Durkheim who in sacrifice remarks forming, strengtheningand maintaining of a community. In his anthropological conception,Georges Bataille demonstrates that the production and accumulationof wealth are wrong moral principles and suggests a new moralpractice of giving oneself without asking anything in return, whichrepresents the only way to realize a society of equals. Such a society,in which there would be no leader or a singular sovereignty, he callsAcéphale. For Jean-Luc Nancy, sacrifice is impossible. Starting from astandpoint that the Being is nothing and that there is nothing exceptthis worldly plurality, Nancy considers sacrifice impossible since thereis no higher principle for which the sacrifice would be performed. Besidethe standpoints of the above-mentioned theoreticians, this articlealso offers a theory of discipline and sacrifice for achieving a sociallyexpected perfect appearance. In all the mentioned theories, non-classicdimension of sacrifice is demonstrated. In them sacrifice is performedas activity for achieving social unity, greater equality, sociallyexpected appearance and it is also presented as something impossible.