Re: What exactly is désinvolture?

[Ulrich Oswald <dear@ulri.ch>]

Gary Kern wrote:
> 
> A RIDDLE FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE ERNST JÜNGER LIST:
> 
> We have all talked about désinvolture, but are we agreed on what it
> means?  Does the concept, for instance, contain principles for the right
> way to live?  Or is it just an attitude?
> 
> Allow me to set you this problem:  Suppose that you are a devotee of
> Jünger and find in his life and works a model for your own.  Say further
> that you are speaking with a younger man and want to impart J's wisdom
> to him.  What five (5) principles or pieces of advice would you give
> him?  Would you start by saying, "Always maintain your distance."
> 
> I ask not as an academic exercise or a problem in semantics, but out of
> a real desire to know what tactics Jünger or his vaunted désinvolture
> might recommend for dealing with a disagreeable world.
> 
> GK
> 
>

I have in my possession a tape with an interview with E.J. which took
place in 1980 at his 85th birthday (I wish I had the time to make a
transcript for this list). In this he is asked the following question:
"Sie scheinen sich in Ihren Schriften nicht sehr zu engagieren (You
don't show much engagement/concern in your writings). Glauben Sie, dass
man ohne Engagement leben kann (Do you think that one can live without
engagement/concern)?" His very short answer: "Natürlich nicht. Aber man
kann dies ja auf ein vernünftiges Mass reduzieren (Of course not. But
one can reduce this to a reasonable  extent)". I think this is one good
answer to your question what désinvolture means. The mind controlling
the feelings, preventing getting upset by everything that goes wrong.

Another example, somewhere (diary? cappricios? Annäherungen?) he writes
(I quote from my poor memory):  "To avoid the slackening of effect of
smoking or drinking or taking drugs there are two strategies : Either
take more and more (and more) of the drug, in this way getting addicted
in the long run, or else take less and more seldom: In this way the drug
maintains its initial effects and gives its initial pleasure at a
relatively low and safe dose". Which is indeed what Jünger does. He
never smoked more than a few cigarettes a day (but he still does), he
liked a bottle, but only now and then, he threw acid, but only as a
spiritual ceremony with Albert Hoffmann (who is just having his 92nd
birthday by the way, looking strong and well). This attitude however
requires LOTS of désinvolture. 

There are more explanations and interpretations of what désinvolture is.
But it is just like with money: One does possess it but one does not
talk about ist. 

> Re: What did your native Russian friend say about "neprivyazannost'" as a
> translation for "désinvolture?"

The poor man is having a severe flue, he lost his job and his father has
just died. I felt that he was not in the mood to talk about
désinvolture, so I will tell you later.

Ulrich