1 / 61

Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt

Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt. Slides for private use only! Hans Jonas: Heidegger‘s Disobedient Student Lecture at Sapienza Universitá Rome Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt May 2015 Freie Universität Berlin Michael.Bongardt@fu-berlin.de. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt.

ellisdavid
Download Presentation

Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt Slides for private use only! Hans Jonas: Heidegger‘s Disobedient Student Lecture at Sapienza Universitá Rome Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt May 2015 Freie Universität Berlin Michael.Bongardt@fu-berlin.de

  2. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • Brokenfriendship: somebiographicalnotes • Reflecting on human existence • Existenceandreligion • The valueoflife • Human responsibility

  3. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • Brokenfriendship: somebiographicalnotes

  4. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • I. Brokenfriendship • 1903 Hans Jonas was born in Mönchengladbach • 1921-28 Studies in Freiburg, Berlin, Marburg • 1933 Emigration to London • 1934 Emigration to Jerusalem • 1940-45 Soldierofthe British Army • 1948-49 SoldieroftheArmyof Israel • 1949 Emigration to Canada (fellow at severaluniversities) • 1954 Emigration to USA • 1954-76 Professor at New School, New York • 1993 Hans Jonas passedaway in New York

  5. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • I. Brokenfriendship • Martin Heidegger • (1889 – 1976) • in Marburg • 1924 – 1927

  6. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • I. Brokenfriendship • Hans Jonas • (1903 – 1993) • in Marburg • 1923 - 1933

  7. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • I. Brokenfriendship • Heidegger • fascinatingteacher • Hannah‘sfriend • PhDsupervisor • National Socialist • Irreparable discord

  8. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • Brokenfriendship: somebiographicalnotes • Reflecting on human existence • Between Heidegger and Kierkegaard • Existentialismandontology

  9. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • II. Reflecting on human existence • Between Heidegger and Kierkegaard • Heidegger: • Phenomenology • „Sein“ und „Dasein“ („being“ – „beingthere“ • Phenomenaof human life: „existentials“ • Beyondthesplit • Post-metaphysicalthought

  10. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • II. Reflecting on human existence • Between Heidegger and Kierkegaard • Kierkegaard: • Subjectivityastruth • Choosingyourself • Free will andfaith

  11. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • II. Reflecting on human existence • Between Heidegger and Kierkegaard • Jonas: • Phenomenaof human life • Subjectivityandfree will

  12. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • Brokenfriendship: somebiographicalnotes • Reflecting on human existence • Between Heidegger and Kierkegaard • Existentialismandontology

  13. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • II. Reflecting on human existence • 2. Existentialismandontology • Heidegger / Jonas • commonquestions • commoncritiques • very different answers

  14. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • II. Reflecting on human existence • 2. Existentialismandontology • „Frombeingand time“ (Heidegger) • vs. • „Life andorganism“ (Jonas)

  15. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • Brokenfriendship: somebiographicalnotes • Reflecting on human existence • Existenceandreligion

  16. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion • Rudolf Bultmann • (1884 – 1976) • in Marburg • 1905 – 1916 • 1921 – 1976

  17. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion • Experience anddogma • Demythologisation • St. Paul and St. Augustine • The gnosticinterpretationof human existence

  18. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion 1. Experience anddogma • Human experienceofworld, man, andGodasstartingpointofselfinterpretation • Selfinterpretationasstartingpointofreligion • Mythanddogmaascondensedandfixedselfinterpretation

  19. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion • Experience anddogma • Demythologisation

  20. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion 2. Demythologisation • Demythologisationasinterpretationofreligioussystems • Uncoveringtheselfinterpretationbehindthemythsanddogmas • Contextualizingtheselfinterpretation • Understanding themeaningofmythsanddogmas • - Critical investigationofpastandpresence

  21. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion • Experience anddogma • Demythologisation • St. Paul and St. Augustine

  22. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion 3. Paul and Augustine • A newdefinitionoffree will: • Stoicunderstanding: • freefromemotions • acceptanceofthe rational order • vs. • St Paul: • free will • choosingthegood

  23. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion 3. Paul and Augustine • Rom 7,15 • “And I have no clear knowledge of what I am doing, for that which I have a mind to do, I do not, but what I have hate for, that I do.”

  24. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion 3. Paul and Augustine • Jonas‘ interpretation: • thedialecticsof human free will • free will is a dynamicbut anydecisionis an objectivation • Wedon‘tthegoodbecauseitisgood but tobecome a good man – praisedbyGod

  25. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion 3. Paul and Augustine • St Augustin‘sinterpretation: • causeof sin isthe original sin • any human being after Adam isborn in sin • nobodyisablebyhisownpotencytorecognise, towantandto do thegood • thereisnofree will • all human beingsneedthegraceofGod • thenthe Holy Spirit actswithin man

  26. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion 3. Paul and Augustine • Jonas‘sinterpretationof Augustin: • „original sin“ is a myth / dogma • thedogmaneglectedthedialecticsof human free will • demythtologisationhastorediscoverfree will

  27. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion • Experience anddogma • Demythologisation • St. Paul and St. Augustine • The gnosticinterpretationof human existence

  28. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion 4. Gnosticism • phenomenonfrom 2nd to 5th cent. CE. • (Manichaeismuntil 15th cent.) • awayofreligiousthinking, gone in severalreligionsincludingChristianity • importantgnosticthinkersandteachers: • Marcion, Valentinus (both 2nd. cent.) • Mani (3rd. cent.)

  29. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion 4. Gnosticism • Hans Jonas: • Intensive historicalandphilologicalresearch on thesourcesaboutGnosticism • 2 publishedVolumes: Gnosticismandthespiritoflateantiquity • But mostimportant: • The existentialisticinterpretationofGnosticism: • „Demythologization“

  30. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion 4. Gnosticism • Jonas on Gnosticism • Characteristicsofgnosticsystems: • a gappingabyssbetween • Godandtheworld • human beingsandtheworld • human beingsandGod

  31. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion 4. Gnosticism • Characteristicsofgnosticsystems: • nochaos but order • - gnosticsystemsestablishorder • - systemofgods, angels, powers, matter etc. • - theorderoftheworldasorderof a prison • - theorderofsalvation

  32. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion 4. Gnosticism • ContradictionsagainstBibleandancientphilosophy: • Bible • thetranscendentGodcreatedtheworldwell • he gave a goodordertotheworld • theworldshouldbethehomeofmankindandtheobjectofitsresponsibility

  33. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion 4. Gnosticism • ContradictionsagainstBibleandancientphilosophy: • Ancientphilosophy, partcularlyStoicism • - „Logos“: the rational orderofthewholebeing • - human capacitytorecogniceandunderstandtheorder • - freedomasacceptingthe rational order

  34. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion 4. Gnosticism • Feelings behindtheMyths • alienation • loneliness • worthlessness • desireforextramundansalvation

  35. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion 4. Gnosticism • Feelings behindtheMyths • „Greekthoughthadbeen a grandexpressionof man‘s belongingtotheworld (if not unreservedlytomereterrestriallife) […]: gnosticthoughtisinspiredbytheanguisheddiscoveryof man‘s cosmicsolitude, oftheutterothernessofhisbeingtothatoftheuniverse at large.“ • (Jonas, Gnostic Religion, p. 251)

  36. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion 4. Gnosticism • Socialcontext: From „polis“ to „Imperium Romanum“: • „But thenewatomizedmassesofthe Empire, whohadnevershared in that noble traditionofareté, mightreactverydifferentlyto a situation in whichtheyfoundthemselvespassivelyinvolved: a situation in whichthepart was insignificanttothewhole, andthewholealientotheparts.“ • (Jonas, Gnostic Religion, p. 249)

  37. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion 4. Gnosticism • PracticalConsequencesofgnosticideas: • Nihilism: Thereisnovalueorworthofthe human existence • leadsto: • Ascetism: Distancetotheworld • or • - Libertinism: Enjoythemeaninglesslife

  38. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion 4. Gnosticism • „Libertinismhadits alternative in asceticism. Oppositeasthetwotypesofconductare, theyyetwere in thegnosticcaseofthe same root, andthe same basicargumentsupportsthemboth. The onerepudiatesallegiancetonaturethroughexcess, theother, throughabstention.“ • (Jonas, Gnostic Religion, p. 274)

  39. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • III. Existenceandreligion 4. Gnosticism • Heidegger andGnosticismaccordingto Jonas: • „The ‚existentialist‘ readingofGnosticism, so wellvindicatedby ist hermeneuticsuccess, invitesasitsnaturalcomplementthetrialof a ‚gnostic‘ readingofExistentialism.“ • (Jonas, Gnostic Religion, p. 321)

  40. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • Brokenfriendship: somebiographicalnotes • Reflecting on human existence • Existenceandreligion • The valueoflife

  41. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • IV. The valueoflife • 1. The ambiguityofdivinecreation • 2. Life asself-affirmation • 3. Life againstnihilism

  42. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • IV. The valueoflife 1. Creation • Isthecreatedworldworthwile? • Bible: • Yes, becauseitismadeby a goodandlovingGod! • Gnosticism: • No, becauseitismadeby an evilGod, angelorprinciple!

  43. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • IV. The valueoflife 1. Creation • Consequence: • The valueoftheworldhastobeshownwithoutanyreferenceto a Creator / God.

  44. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • IV. The valueoflife • 1. The ambiguityofdivinecreation • 2. Life asself-affirmation

  45. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • IV. The valueoflife 2. Life asself-affirmation • Jonas • „Life andOrganism“ – a philosophicalbiology • Philosophicalinterpretationofthecosmogonyandtheevolutionoflife

  46. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • IV. The valueoflife 2. Life asself-affirmation • ongoingprocessionfrombig bang to human life • two „jumps“ („fulgurations“ – K. Lorenz): • - from matter tolife • - frombraintomind • continuityisalwayshigherthandiscontinuity

  47. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • IV. The valueoflife 2. Life asself-affirmation • Characteristicsoflifefromitsverybeginning • metabolism • contingency • inwardness • transcendence • freedom / free will

  48. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • IV. The valueoflife 2. Life asself-affirmation • Characteristicsoflifefrom ist verybeginning • Life istheunityofnecessityandfreedom • Life isself-affirmation • Life isworthwile in itself

  49. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • IV. The valueoflife • 1. The ambiguityofdivinecreation • 2. Life asself-affirmation • 3. Life againstnihilism

  50. Prof. Dr. Michael Bongardt • IV. The valueoflife 3. Life againstnihilism • Fromanimalsto human being • emergenceofconsciousness • boundto matter andanimals • human lifeisself-affirmation aswell • conciousdecisionto live • confirmationofthepre-human life,itsself-affirmation, andworth

More Related