Paradox in Friedrich Schlegel’s Early Philosophy

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  • フリードリヒ・シュレーゲルの初期思想における「逆説」
  • フリードリヒ ・ シュレーゲル ノ ショキ シソウ ニ オケル 「 ギャクセツ 」

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Paradox is one of the central concepts in the early philosophy of Friedrich Schlegel (1772-1829) and underlies his unique theoretical endeavors. This study examines its meaning, function and significance, which have, despite its apparent importance, rarely been independently discussed. While paradox has often been identified with logical self-contradiction, a historical contextualization shows that in Schlegel’s time, it was primarily understood in its most etymologically fundamental meaning, namely as “contrary to expectation”. When Schlegel encouraged the quality of being paradoxical as desirable in philosophy, he was aiming for a confrontation with the reader’s preconceived assumptions (be it socially shared or more personal). It is, as Kant argued, often a hazardous enterprise to entertain a paradoxical opinion. However, according to Jacobi’s interpretation of Lessing’s paradoxes, the contradiction itself can operate educationally; it prompts readers to re-examine their own beliefs and the interrelations between them. Following Jacobi in this respect, Schlegel recognizes the importance of paradoxes in their capacity to stimulate the ability of people to think for themselves. Self-contradictions, which arise only when the act of contradiction is applied self-reflexively, form the basis of Schlegel’s dialectic philosophy.

Journal

  • Aesthetics

    Aesthetics 69 (1), 25-, 2018

    The Japanese Society for Aesthetics

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