>The southern Baltic Sea is full of a thick soup of floating algae
>from the overflowing rivers of Poland and Middle Germany. The
>algae will later sink to the bottom of the sea and consume
>dearly needed oxygen.
>
>The continuin Titanism may result in the selfdestruction
>of the Promethides.
>
>"Die explosive Welt will sich ad absurdum fuehren; sie
>will sich erschopfen, wenn die Ausbeuting keinen Stoff
>mehr findet, oder in einer Superexplosion endigen." (1)
>
>Maybe Gaea has accepted technics to get rid of mankind ?
>The prognosis of EJ is that a growing number of earthquakes
>and volcanic eruptions are to be expected. Gaea does not
>only rely on the technical collapse because of Titanism,
>she helps by providing great catstrophies.
This brings us to a point at which Jüngers theology arises. What are EJ's
references to God and the divine? Any thoughts?
Although I haven't read this far, I don't think that this is at all an end
with regards to the humans on the planet. The technological process will
certainly burn out, as EJ has stated. What remains is alway the return of
the gods in the metaphorical and real sense. It does seem that Jünger has
been struck by a degree of millenial fever here. Would this all have
something to do with Revelation?
What strikes me at the moment about Nevin's book and I would wonder if the
particpants might agree, that the leitmotiv of EJ's work from begining to
end is our overcoming the titanic. Earlier on he seems to be more positive
in our relationship to the nature of technology, but later after the tract
of the Arbeiter, we find a more pessimistic approach to technology in his
work, and finally its utter rejection. It seems though that all of this
stems from his experience on the battlefield and in the trenches. Or that
is where this ideas find their first formulation.
In over the line, for example Jünger sites eros as a means to overcome
(überwinden) technology:
Jünger says:
The second basic power is eros. Where two people are in love, they
take away territory from the Levithian, and create from it uncontrolled
space. Eros will always triumph as the true messenger of the gods over
every titanic formation. One will never fail, when one steps onto its
side. It is this relationship that the novels of Henry Miller touch upon.
Sex is sent to battle against technology. It brings salvation from the
iron force of the time; one destroys the world of machines, in that one
turns to eros. The fallacy lies in that this annihilation is selective
and must be steadily increased. The sexus doesn't contradict but
corresponds to the technical courses in the organic. On this level it is
related to the titanic, something like senseless bloodshed, because the
drives only contradict there where they lead out. Be it for love, be it
for sacrifice. It frees us.
Eros also lives in friendship, which experiences the last tests
opposite the tyrannis. It is tested here as gold is tested and purified in
the oven. In times when suspicion penetrates even into the family. Man
conforms to the structure of the state. He arms himself like a fortress,
from which no sign appears to the outside. There where a joke, yes even
the omition of a gesture could mean death, there a great guardedness
reigns. Thoughts and feelings remain locked in the innermost heart; one
even avoids wine, because it wakes the truth. In such situations
conversation with an intimate friend not only infinitely comforts but also
confirms and brings back the world in its free and just measure. One man
is sufficient as a witness that freedom has not disappeared. But we need
his type. Then the powers of resistance increase in us. The tyrannts know
that and seek to break up the human in general and publicly- that keeps
the unpredictable, the exceptional at bay.
E. Jünger/Over the Line.
This is one form of many which Junger gives us as a means to surpass this
era of titanism, what remains is how we understand it and are able to
react. It might just end as Bertil quotes.
On that dire note, I give my regards.
Abdalbarr
Markup © John King, 2008. Web archive generated Tue, 21st August 2007.