The Critical Introduction to Salomo Friedlaender/Mynona: Twentieth-Century Performance Philosopher

Salomo Friedlaender/Mynona was a prominent figure in late Imperial Germany, Expressionism, Dadaism, and the Weimar Republic, writing and publishing works of philosophy, novels, parodies, and satirical grotesque tales. His philosophical texts have been rediscovered in his native language and are still generally unknown, with no translations available. The Critical Introduction to Salomo Friedlaender/Mynona: Twentieth-Century Performance Philosopher is the first English book introducing his philosophical works, including original translations of select passages from his most significant texts and correspondence with cultural personalities of the time. He was a forerunner of performance philosophy and gender theory, and a major influence in the development of Gestalt therapy. His extraordinary voice is of significant interest to Nietzsche and Kant Studies, shedding light on their respective relevance for a performance-oriented approach to philosophy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 376 pages
Publication date: 22 January 2025
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Salomo Friedlaender/Mynona (1871–1946) was a prominent, eccentric, and influential figure in late Imperial Germany, Expressionism, Dadaism, and the Weimar Republic. He wrote and published works of philosophy, novels, parodies, and satirical so-called grotesque tales, which he wrote under the pseudonym "Mynona"—the German word for anonymous, anonym, spelled backwards. Currently being rediscovered in his native language, F/M and his work are still generally unknown, and none of his philosophical texts have been translated. The Critical Introduction to Salomo Friedlaender/Mynona: Twentieth-Century Performance Philosopher is the first English book introducing F/Ms philosophical works. The volume includes three introductory framing chapters of historical context, contemporary relevance, and pertinence to the performance philosophy of F/M. The book also contains original translations of select passages from his most significant philosophical texts: Schöpferische Indifferenz/Creative Indifference (first published in 1918), the later Das magische Ich/The Magic I (1935) and his very last essay Ideenmagie/Idea Magic (1945/46), as well as translations of select correspondence with well-known cultural personalities of the time. Recognised as having inspired Walter Benjamin, F/M was also a forerunner of both performance philosophy and gender theory, and a major influence in the development of Gestalt therapy. Furthermore, not only did F/M belong to the first generation of avid Nietzsche readers, but he was also a lifelong tireless interpreter of Immanuel Kant and Schopenhauer. F/Ms extraordinary voice is of significant interest to Nietzsche and Kant Studies and sheds light on their respective relevance for a performance-oriented approach to philosophy.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538146132