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A review by passarinho
On Pain by Russell A. Berman, David C. Durst, Ernst Jünger
4.0
An excellent essay by Jünger, which remains very relevant today. Originally published 1934, between both World Wars, Jünger already reflects on the influences of technology on human lives, driving people more detached and indifferent to the pain of others.
Another concept that I found particularly interesting was the idea of a second consciousness, or the ability to see the human as an object. Both ideas can be perfectly summarized in the quote
We saw that man is able to resist the assault of pain to the degree that he is capable of self-detachment.
The major problem I had with this particular edition was the introduction by Russell A. Berman, an American teacher of German studies and Comparative Literature at the Stanford University. Basically, on the basis of this essay by Jünger, Berman compares Nazism with Islamism. I’d say it’s because of quotes such as
We also see the individual ever more clearly fall into a state where he can be sacrificed without a second thought.,
and because this edition was published in the aftermath of the attacks on World Trade Center and right in the middle of the war on Iraq (Operation Enduring Freedom). A bit of a stretch, though, since Bush also didn’t seem to have much of a problem sending so many American soldiers into Afghan ground who also fell on the battlefield, both dead or wounded. Anyway, I digress.
Finally, I’d say this essay would probably be a good pairing to read along with the writings by Hannah Arendt.
Another concept that I found particularly interesting was the idea of a second consciousness, or the ability to see the human as an object. Both ideas can be perfectly summarized in the quote
We saw that man is able to resist the assault of pain to the degree that he is capable of self-detachment.
The major problem I had with this particular edition was the introduction by Russell A. Berman, an American teacher of German studies and Comparative Literature at the Stanford University. Basically, on the basis of this essay by Jünger, Berman compares Nazism with Islamism. I’d say it’s because of quotes such as
We also see the individual ever more clearly fall into a state where he can be sacrificed without a second thought.,
and because this edition was published in the aftermath of the attacks on World Trade Center and right in the middle of the war on Iraq (Operation Enduring Freedom). A bit of a stretch, though, since Bush also didn’t seem to have much of a problem sending so many American soldiers into Afghan ground who also fell on the battlefield, both dead or wounded. Anyway, I digress.
Finally, I’d say this essay would probably be a good pairing to read along with the writings by Hannah Arendt.