Giorgio Agamben's Poetic Philosophy on Auschwitz
In his work "Ce qui reste d'Auschwitz," Giorgio Agamben develops a philosophical form that blends poetry and fiction to address the unbearable reality of Auschwitz. He centers his reflection on the figure of the "Muselmann," a fictional character analogous to Melville's Bartleby. Agamben argues that the traumatic experience of Auschwitz revealed a split within humanity between the living and the speaking, the non-human and the human.
Key facts
- Giorgio Agamben wrote 'Ce qui reste d'Auschwitz'.
- The work uses a poetic philosophical form.
- Agamben invokes fiction to address the reality of Auschwitz.
- The reflection is organized around the figure of the 'Muselmann'.
- The 'Muselmann' is a fictional character similar to Melville's Bartleby.
- Agamben claims Auschwitz revealed a split between the living and the speaking.
- The split is between the non-human and the human.
- The work was published in 1999.
Entities
Artists
- Giorgio Agamben
- Herman Melville
Locations
- Auschwitz
Sources
- artpress —