As the world turns: Ontology and politics in Judith Butler

What ought 'foundations' for political thought look like in a postmetaphysi cal world? I argue for a "weak" ontological model of 'foundations' and empl oy it in a critical reconstruction of Judith Butler's work. My specific int ention is to show that this model provides a better understanding of both t he strengths and weaknesses of Butler's writings than does her own notion-s hared by many poststructuralists-that one does not need ontology to sustain ethical and political reflection, or, at best, only an austerely minimal o ne.