Arndal, Martin Fog

Elling, Eskil Juul

Kjær, Frode

Lundberg, Johannes

This project proposes to assess the philosophical hermeneutics of Hans-Georg Gadamer and its ability to conceptualize the understanding of controversial texts. As an example of such a text, we analyze Ernst Jünger’s war memoirs, Storm of Steel, trying to show how this reading can, in turn, point to aspects of Gadamer’s theory that have not been described in detail in Truth and Method. In our survey of Gadamer’s hermeneutics, we emphasize the need to enter into dialogue with a text, while also pointing to concepts that have special relevance for the analysis of literature. In Jünger’s work, we trace the interplay between concrete references to the realities of World War I and an epic register that points to a metaphysical level below these realities. On the one hand, we point to the fact that this metaphysical level makes possible an existential reflection on the meaning of war. On the other, we show that Jünger’s narrator goes to great lengths in order to assert his own authority and privileged experience, so as to control the narrative and its ideological connotations. We then point to a dissertation by Kasper Green Krejberg that criticizes this strategy for its denial of the consequences of war. In order to evaluate the validity of this critique, we then cite Jürgen Habermas’ critique of Gadamer in order to point out that, while Krejberg neglects a proper dialogue with Jünger’s work, an in-depth understanding of it can benefit greatly from the critique of its ideology.This project proposes to assess the philosophical hermeneutics of Hans-Georg Gadamer and its ability to conceptualize the understanding of controversial texts. As an example of such a text, we analyze Ernst Jünger’s war memoirs, Storm of Steel, trying to show how this reading can, in turn, point to aspects of Gadamer’s theory that have not been described in detail in Truth and Method. In our survey of Gadamer’s hermeneutics, we emphasize the need to enter into dialogue with a text, while also pointing to concepts that have special relevance for the analysis of literature. In Jünger’s work, we trace the interplay between concrete references to the realities of World War I and an epic register that points to a metaphysical level below these realities. On the one hand, we point to the fact that this metaphysical level makes possible an existential reflection on the meaning of war. On the other, we show that Jünger’s narrator goes to great lengths in order to assert his own authority and privileged experience, so as to control the narrative and its ideological connotations. We then point to a dissertation by Kasper Green Krejberg that criticizes this strategy for its denial of the consequences of war. In order to evaluate the validity of this critique, we then cite Jürgen Habermas’ critique of Gadamer in order to point out that, while Krejberg neglects a proper dialogue with Jünger’s work, an in-depth understanding of it can benefit greatly from the critique of its ideology

En fremmed og hårdere verden - Ernst Jüngers udfordring til hermeneutikken

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Roskilde Universitet