“Only he
who feels secure in immediate proximity to death finds himself in the highest
state of security”
What
Junger is saying here is that the person who comes to accept death and is not
afraid of dying has reached the highest point of security one can reach. I
choose this quote because it reminds me of my grandfather and his sense of
security at the time he passed away. It was like he came to accept that he was
going to pass away and he wasn’t afraid.
1. How would you judge Jünger's
thesis that pain is the central experience of life?
I don’t agree
with Junger’s thesis that pain is the central experience of life. I think it’s
the opposite, joy is the central experience of life and what every person in
life looks for but joy wouldn’t feel so good if it wasn’t for pain.
2. What does "post-liberal"
refer to and how does it relate to the idea of progress?
Post-liberal refers to the time period after liberalism, it relates to
the idea of progress because after this time period “individuals are greeted by
a wealth of conveniences, such as the path paved for education and a career
choice of preference, the free market of labor, the contractual character of
almost all social ties, and the unrestricted freedom of movement.”
3. Why is
photography the "evil eye" according to Jünger?
According
to Junger photography is the “evil eye” because it “seems to offer the worker
type a means to hunt down the individual as an opponent no longer capable of
defending his ways – the private sphere is no match for photography. It is also
easier to change one’s attitude than one’s face. The practice of placing
photographs of people murdered in political clashes on posters us if immense
maliciousness.”
4. What is
the relationship between specialized education and the "worker type."
Specialized
education is what leads to the “worker type”. People go to school and study one
specific type of subject that leads them to master that subject that leads to
them getting a job and working in the same field of the subject.
5. How
does submission to totalitarian authorities protect an individual from pain?
Submission
to totalitarian authorities protects an individual from pain because they come
to except what’s going on and stop being against it which would just result in
pain and be a struggle.
Hi Hector
ReplyDeleteI like the quote you have chosen. I do not agree with your question # 1 answer. I do believe that pain is the central experience of life, because indeed everything revolves around pain- even pursuing happiness, and throughout his essay he shows that pain is the quite central experience of life. You indeed contradict yourself by saying that joy should be the central experience but that "..but joy wouldn’t feel so good if it wasn’t for pain." So therefore, if happiness / pleasure's appreciation is subordinate by pain, it shows that pain is the central experience of live. I think that the word "central" is quite misleading, I was confused at the beginning. By central it does not mean 'essential' perse, but inevitable for me..
That is a true quote to us but to a free thinker I would say its a bit controversial statement because it talks about an experience for to men. Indeed we know of death but no one has ever experienced it to tell of it to others who have never. Highest security I don't think that it is, death can be thought of as a desire for those trying to escape the pains of life. Also unlike Rocio I don't find your statement to be contradictory because the statement is a boolean meaning that joy would not feel so good with out pain but pain wouldn't feel so bad without pain. I agree also that pain is not the central experience of life, it is indeed love/joy. I also say review the reading for the questions sake, it took me to read it a few time and the essay was super long but it would seem as you didn't really understand the essay based on your answers.
ReplyDeleteThe interpretation of the quote is profound and I agree with your analysis. When Siddhartha found peace and became one with the river he came to accept the mundaneness of this world. He was at that point in the highest security of his life and for him death was just the interlude between this life and the next.
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