Murdoch University
The Krishna Somers Foundation presents the year’s third lecture. The lecture will be given by
Emeritus Professor Horst Ruthrof.
Please come to the lecture, enjoy debating with Horst and drink some excellent wine
(or orange juice).
Abstract
The paper stipulates two fundamental reasoning processes, unitary reason and reason splitting (Vernunftspaltung), before addressing the notion of instrumental reason. A summary and critique of Heidegger’s ‘The Question Concerning Technology’ serves as an exemplary way of arguing the problematic of techno-logos. Other critiques of modernity are sketched briefly, those by Nietzsche, Adorno and Horkheimer, Husserl, Rorty, Taylor and others.
The paper then argues for an alternative approach to modernity by highlighting historical moments of acceleration of Vernunftspaltung: Islamic philosophy and science (800 – 1200), the North Italian Renaissance, and the European Enlightenment. The paper concludes with the question of what is reason today and suggests that reason splitting, far from pointing us in the wrong direction, and contrary to Heidegger, is at the core of the Being of being human.
Emeritus Professor Horst Ruthrof is the author of five major books and innumerable articles. His most recent essay, ‘The Fourth Critique,’ appeared in the highly respected journal New Literary History (2004). Professor Ruthrof continues to be a very active researcher.
