ernst jünger in cyberspace

mailing list archive - Re: Die Titanen and Die Perfektion der Technik

> The basis of titanism is the Enlightenment, that has
> managed to pudh away the Gods. The natural sciences have
> also led to human selfoverestimation and fostered the
> growth of Titanic government. Antireligiosity, rationalism
> and exact natural sciences are the base for the growing
> power of the Titans. Already in _Strahlungen_ EJ discusses
> his exchange with FGJ on Titanism. What we can hope for now 
> the most is that the letters between EJ and FGJ will soon
> be published and we will see, I am sure, the great
> influence of the book you mentioned on EJs writings.
> 
> Best greetings from the North
> 
> Bertil Haggman
> 
> 

Sciences AND technology, especially applied technology.  The moment when we 
(all we) became aware of the titanic world is when technology impacts on our daily 
life.  The discoveries of scientists may pave the way for it.  But titanism becomes 
fully perceptible when all the people yuou know own a cellular phone (this is just a 
small symptom--well, maybe not that small, after all).  *That* changes your 
perception of space and time.  Immediate availablilty!  Sounds much like Heidegger 
too.  

And yes, there's the big achievements, those which are well covered by media.  The 
tunnel under the Brit Channel.  Surely the Bridge over the Messina Strait would be 
something like that (don't worry, it's not coming).  The new space station.  A trip to 
Mars (something about which the US keep discussing).

But--let me tell you that all these achievements sound a bit half-hearted.  The really 
titanic moment seems to me to be in the past, in that 1969 when men reached the 
Moon and Heidegger was so deeply struck.  That was the Zenith of Titanism.

Sounds like a Juengerian reading of the Apollo project would work quite well...

Umberto Rossi

Se non sei sul web, hai torto!
If you're not on the web, you're wrong!


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