Mourning Sickness: Hegel and the French Revolution (Cultural Memory in the Present)

This book explores Hegel's response to the French Revolutionary Terror and its impact on Germany. Like many of his contemporaries, Hegel was struck by the seeming parallel between the political upheaval in France and the upheaval in German philosophy inaugurated by the Protestant Reformation and brought to a climax by German Idealism. Many thinkers reasoned that a political revolution would be unnecessary in Germany, because this intellectual "revolution" had preempted it. Having already been through its own cataclysm, Germany would be able to extract the energy of the Revolution and channel its radicalism into thought. Hegel comes close to making such an argument too. But he also offers a powerful analysis of how this kind of secondhand history gets generated in the first place, and shows what is stake. This is what makes him uniquely interesting among his contemporaries: he demonstrates how a fantasy can be simultaneously deconstructed and enjoyed. Mourning Sickness provides a new reading of Hegel in the light of contemporary theories of historical trauma. It explores the ways in which major historical events are experienced vicariously, and the fantasies we use to make sense of them. Comay brings Hegel into relation with the most burning contemporary discussions around catastrophe, witness, memory, and the role of culture in shaping political experience. This Book Explores Hegel's Response To The French Revolutionary Terror And Its Impact On Germany. Like Many Of His Contemporaries, Hegel Was Struck By The Seeming Parallel Between The Political Upheaval In France And The Upheaval In German Philosophy Inaugurated By The Protestant Reformation And Brought To A Climax By German Idealism. Many Thinkers Reasoned That A Political Revolution Would Be Unnecessary In Germany, Because This Intellectual Revolution Had Preempted It. Having Already Been Through Its Own Cataclysm, Germany Would Be Able To Extract The Energy Of The Revolution And Channel Its Radicalism Into Thought. Hegel Comes Close To Making Such An Argument Too. But He Also Offers A Powerful Analysis Of How This Kind Of Secondhand History Gets Generated In The First Place, And Shows What Is Stake.--publisher. Introduction: French Revolution, German Misère -- Missed Revolutions : Translation, Transmission, Trauma. ... An Impossibly Speedy Motion ; Translatio Imperii ; Copernican And Other Revolutions ; The Magic Wand Of Analogy ; Noch Nicht Unddoch Schon ... ; Translation As Trauma -- The Kantian Theater. Crimen Inexpiabile ; Shipwreck With Spectator ; The Abyss Of Form ; Diabolical? ; Moral Revolution ; Another Scene -- The Corpse Of Faith. Revolution Or Reform? ; Dead Right ; Erasures ; Terror As Melancholia ; Of Kings And Cabbages ; Horror Vacui -- Revolution At A Distance, Or, Moral Terror. Philosophical Thermidor ; ... Another Land ; From Terror To Anxiety ; Morality As Slave Ideology ; Kant As Terrorist ; First Step: Morality As Perversion ; Second Step: Perversion As Aestheticism ; Third Step: Aestheticism As Ideology ; Vaporized Subjectivity -- Terrors Of The Tabula Rasa. Antinomies Of Forgiveness ; Rushing Toward Reconciliation ; Wounds Of Spirit ; Politics Of Forgiveness? ; World Soul On Horseback ; The Self-moving Life Of The Dead ; Gray On Gray (hegel, Beckett, Richter) ; As If It Had Learned Nothing ... ; We, The Masters ... Rebecca Comay. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "This book explores Hegel's response to the French Revolutionary Terror and its impact on Germany. Like many of his contemporaries, Hegel was struck by the seeming parallel between the political upheaval in France and the upheaval in German philosophy inaugurated by the Protestant Reformation and brought to a climax by German Idealism. Many thinkers reasoned that a political revolution would be unnecessary in Germany, because this intellectual "revolution" had preempted it. Having already been through its own cataclysm, Germany would be able to extract the energy of the Revolution and channel its radicalism into thought. Hegel comes close to making such an argument too. But he also offers a powerful analysis of how this kind of secondhand history gets generated in the first place, and shows what is stake."--Résumé de l'éditeur