Hans Blumenberg - Myth and Significance in Modern Politics

This book investigates the writings of German intellectual historian and philosopher Hans Blumenberg. While Blumenberg was not an explicitly political thinker and remains relatively under-explored in Anglophone academia, this project demonstrates that his work makes a valuable contribution to political science. The author considers the intellectual contributions Blumenberg makes to a variety of themes focusing primarily on myth. Rather than seeing myths in a pejorative sense, as primitive modes of thought that have been overcome, Blumenberg reveals that myths are crucial to dealing with the existential anxieties we face. When we trace his thought as it developed throughout his life, we find a rich source of philosophical insights that could enhance our understandings of politics today.

List of contents

1. Chapter One: Introduction.- 2. Chapter Two: Blumenberg: His Background and Influences.- 3. Chapter Three: Anxiety and the Absolutism of Reality.- 4. Chapter Four: Debates on Myth.- 5. Chapter Five: Blumenberg, Myth and Contemporary Politics.- 6. Chapter Six: Conclusion 

About the author

Xander Kirke is Jean Monnet Centre Associate at Newcastle University, UK.

Summary

This book investigates the writings of German intellectual historian and philosopher Hans Blumenberg. While Blumenberg was not an explicitly political thinker and remains relatively under-explored in Anglophone academia, this project demonstrates that his work makes a valuable contribution to political science. The author considers the intellectual contributions Blumenberg makes to a variety of themes focusing primarily on myth. Rather than seeing myths in a pejorative sense, as primitive modes of thought that have been overcome, Blumenberg reveals that myths are crucial to dealing with the existential anxieties we face. When we trace his thought as it developed throughout his life, we find a rich source of philosophical insights that could enhance our understandings of politics today.

Product details

• Authors: Xander Kirke
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.12.2018
• EAN: 9783030025311
• ISBN: 978-3-0-3002531-1
• No. of pages: 124
• Dimensions: 158 mm x 14 mm x 216 mm
• Weight: 304 g
• Illustrations: IX, 124 p.
• Series: Global Political Thinkers; Global Political Thinkers
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political theories and the history of ideas; Europa, C, Politik und Staat, European Politics, Idealismus, Political Science, Germany, Vergleichende Politikwissenschaften, Political Theory, Politics & government, Idealism, Political Science and International Studies, Comparative Politics, Political science and theory, German Idealism, Idealism, German, German Politics, Germany—Politics and government, Global politics, philosophy and political thinkers, political thinkers, absolutism of reality, contemporary politics