Walter Benjamin's First Philosophy: Experience, Ephemerality and Truth

This book explores Walter Benjamin's early philosophy, focusing on his insights into later works, the nature of truth, method, experience, the relation of body and mind, and the limits of human knowledge. It argues that this early work establishes original and lasting questions and insights, such as the notion of language as a medium of experience, a philosophy of perception based on the natural history of the human body, an emphasis on mimesis as a faculty of creative assimilation, and a discovery of memory as a power for the excavation of meaning in past experience.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the multifaceted world of Walter Benjamin's first philosophy, offering a profound exploration in two distinct senses. Firstly, it serves as a valuable source of insight into Benjamin's later works, shedding light on the philosophical themes and ideas that shaped his intellectual trajectory. Secondly, it delves into Benjamin's profound thinking about the nature of truth, method, experience, the relationship between body and mind, and the boundaries of human knowledge. While much attention is given to Benjamin's later writings, his writings from approximately 1914 to 1925 also showcase his philosophical development and the establishment of a critical method.

In this book, the author argues that Benjamin's early work sets the stage for a series of original and enduring questions and insights. Benjamin's understanding of experience is characterized as a fragmented continuum of diverse spiritual expressions, each fleeting in nature. This perspective leads Benjamin to develop a series of thought figures that shape his philosophical inquiry. These figures include the notion of language as a medium of experience, a philosophy of perception rooted in the natural history of the human body, an emphasis on mimesis as a faculty of creative assimilation, and a profound discovery of memory as a tool for excavating meaning from past experiences.

Through meticulous analysis and interpretation, this book demonstrates that the need for a new understanding of the metaphysical structure of experience and a new conception of truth play a pivotal role in shaping Benjamin's subsequent work. It sheds light on the philosophical foundations upon which Benjamin built his intellectual legacy, making it an essential resource for scholars and advanced students engaged in the study of Walter Benjamin, 20th-century Continental philosophy, comparative literature, and modern German thought.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367616991