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Incompleteness and deferred action in the theoretical process Theoretical reflection consists in a series of deferred actions based on the residues of our knowledge. Conversely, our theories can only contain a residue, the condition of their potentiality for a retroactive effect on the reader. The author emphasises the necessity for our theories to be incomplete for these effects to occur, an incompleteness that requires the theoretician to be able to assume a passive role. The incompleteness is a precondition for access to knowledge.