Hermann Broch and Totality-Thinking

February 9, 2018 (3:00 pm - 4:00 pm)

Location: BAC 236


 

Department of Languages and Literatures

Departmental Seminar Series

presents

Hermann Broch and Totality-Thinking

Elisabetta Beguini, PhD Student, University of Heidelberg

Hermann Broch (1886-1951) started his life in the textile sector and began as a forty year old to study mathematics, philosophy and psychology at the University of Vienna. He didn’t intend to become a writer. Nevertheless he became a writer as soon as he understood that the study of Mathematics, his primary field of interest, has no reference to man; it is an abstract system of knowledge. The idea of man is first expressed by mystical knowledge. According to Broch the way natural sciences investigate the world and observe its rules leaves out the role of man. This is investigated by the humanities and writers. It is only through the union of the sciences, philosophy and mysticism that man can understand the totality of the world. In this sense, Broch promotes totality as the basis of human thought. The talk will focus on his works  The Unknown Quantity (1933), The Death of Vergil (1945) and The Guiltless (1950) as examples.

February 9, 3:00 pm; BAC 236

Refreshments will be provided

All Are welcome!


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