The pleasure of the non conceptual: Theory, leisure and happiness in Hans Blumenberg's philosophical anthropology
Abstract The article discusses the place of leisure in Hans Blumenberg's philosophical anthropology, focusing on "Theorie der Unbegrifflichkeit" (2007) According to Blumenberg, the tradition of philosophical anthropology unjustly reduces human rationality to the attempt of self preservation. Not only is the actual process of anthropogenesis better described as led by a logic of prevention, not of preservation. Sedentary life, product of preventive behavior, not only secures survival but grants leisure as the condition of culture. Yet cultural practices, although an eminent product of human rationality, cannot be explained by the logic of either self preservation or prevention. Blumenberg thus argues that within philosophical anthropology, rationality can best be explained in is orientation towards happiness, an orientation encompassing not only preventive, conceptual forms of reason, but also contemplative, non conceptual uses, such as in myth and mysticism. As the condition for articulating a self understanding more adequate than self preservation or prevention, leisure thus assumes a central place in determining human nature. It is in leisure that rationality is experienced as a source of happiness.