"Part I consists of a monographis study of Johann George Hamann] Socratic memorabili ... preceded by an introduction to his life and work ... Part II consists of a translation of the work, accompanied by the original German text [Sokratische Denkwurdigkeiten] and notes."
Author(s): Johann Georg Hamann, James C. O'Flaherty
Publisher: Johns Hopkins Press
Year: 1967
Language: English
Pages: 264
City: Baltimore
Tags: Johann Hamann, Hamann, Socratic Memorabilia, Socrates and Hamann, German Romanticism, Counter-Enlightenment
Foreword . vii
Key to Abbreviations . xv
Part I THE CONCEPT OF FORM IN THE SOCRATIC MEMORABILIA
Introduction . 3
Hellenism and Christianity not discontinuous for Hamann. Socrates seen as challenge to Enlightenment. Inseparability of form and content for Hamann. Form and content understood as appearance and reality. Disharmony between appearance and reality in the Socratic actuality. Method adopted in the study.
Chapter 1 : Hamann’s Life and Work . 17
Goethe’s and Hegel’s interest in Hamann. His influence in various fields. Hamann research at present. Hamann’s general relevance to contemporary thought. Forebears. Pre-university training. At the university. In Baltic provinces. Journey to London and conversion. Return to Riga and Konigsberg. Clerk and translator with Adminis¬ tration Generale. Packhofverwalter. "Marriage of conscience.” Friendships. Sojourn and death in Munster. Important writings. Letters and translations. Private library. Hamann and the state of Frederick 11. Philosophi¬ cal achievement: overcoming of subject-object dualism.
Chapter 2 Genesis of the Essay. 49
General historical context. Hamann’s religious conversion. The attempt of J. C. Berens and Immanuel Kant to "reconvert” him to tenets of Enlightenment. Socrates as ideal philosopher of Enlightenment. Hamann’s long standing interest in Socrates.
Chapter 3 Outward Form: Style . 61
The work durchkomponiert. “Mimetic” nature of style. Anticlassical features. Literary genre of the Memorabilia. Difficulty of Hamann's style. Delimiting the investigation. Title of work. Antonomasia and periphrasis. Obscure epithets. Effective use of compound noun. Striking aphorisms. Hamann’s style not consistently aphoristic. Stilbruch. Paradoxical nature of Hamann’s thought. Typology. Summary and conclusion.
Chapter 4 Inward Form: Essential and Dramatic Unity of the Work . 87
Two aspects of inward form: essential and dramatic unity. Metaschematism. Influence of the Memorabilia on Goethe. “Essence” of the work. Response of characters. “Essential unity” defined. Anecdote of card swindlers. Sincerity of Socrates. Daimon. “Proto-plot.” Catharsis. Christian emphasis in the Memorabilia unappealing to Goethe. Influence on Kierkegaard. Intrinsic artistry of the Memorabilia.
Chapter 5 The Word as Socratic Form . 109 Advantages of studying single term. Logical and philo¬ logical parallel in study of single term. Hamann’s dual use of pejorative expressions. Terms studied from areas of aesthetics, ethics, and religion: "Cyclopen’'; "Kolossen”; "Kaminpuppe”; "Brosamen”; "Allmosen"Raub”; "Biicklinge machen”; "Tellerlecken"; "Thurn (Libanons der nach Damasek) gaft”; "Maulwurfshiigel.”
Conclusion. Chapter 6 Conclusion . 125 Summary of findings. Implications of principle for ethics, philosophy, and theology. Knechtsgestalt as a priori condi¬ tion of valid spiritual knowledge. Eaith required by Hamann’s principle. Baroque features of the essay. Hamann and modern tendencies in art and literature. Abiding value of the Memorabilia.
Part II TRANSLATION AND NOTES
German and English text . 136
Translator’s Notes . 187
Addendum to Hamann’s Notes . 205
Appendixes
A. Typological Themes . 207
B. Biblical References . 209
C. Graphic Representation of the Essential Unity of the Work . 211
Bibliography. 213
Index . 221
