Natality or Advent: Arendt and Moltmann on Hope and Politics

8/13/2019 Natality or Advent: Arendt and Moltmann on Hope and Politics

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i,#%tant t# teach us a$#ut ,#litical h#,e+ In additi#n! I &ind that A%endt5s n#ti#n #& natalit) can

$e use&ul in the c#nte4t #& Ch%istian eschat#l#g)+

I. Arendt on Natality

Hannah A%endt c#ncludes he% #nuental "#%*! The Origins of Totalitarianism! "ith a

st%i*ing and unantici,ated e4,%essi#n #& h#,e8

But the%e %eains als# the t%uth that eve%) end in hist#%) necessa%il) c#ntains ane" $eginning9 this $eginning is the ,%#ise! the #nl) :essage: "hich the end can eve%,%#duce+ Beginning! $e%e it $ec#es a hist#%ical event! is the su,%ee ca,acit) #& an9

,#liticall)! it is identical "ith an5s &%eed#+Initium ut esset homo creatus est .. :that a$eginning $e ade an "as c%eated: said Augustine+ This $eginning is gua%anteed $) eachne" $i%th9 it is indeed eve%) an+ ;A%endt 3=


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+ + + the ne" $eginning inhe%ent in $i%th can a*e itsel& &elt in the "#%ld #nl) $ecause thene"c#e% ,#ssesses the ca,acit) #& $eginning s#ething ane"! that is! #& acting+ In thissense #& initiative! an eleent #& acti#n! and the%e%e #& natalit)! is inhe%ent in all huanactivities+ M#%e#ve%! since acti#n is the ,#litical activit) ,a% e4cellence! natalit)! and n#t#%talit)! a) $e the cent%al categ#%) #& ,#litical! as distinguished &%# eta,h)sical!th#ught+ ;A%endt 3


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natu%e #& this "#%ld "e c#e int# that distinguishes natalit) ;as a cha%acte%istic #& huan

e4istence? &%# the $i%ths and $eginnings #& #the% living $eings+ Because huan $eings have the

,#"e% #& initiati#n ;$eginning s#ething ne" in a "a) that $%ings the %ec#gniti#n #& a

c#unit)?! the) e4ist &undaentall) as individuals %athe% than as e$e%s #& a s,ecies+ @hen a

,e%s#n ente%s the huan "#%ld th%#ugh s,eech #% acti#n! she discl#ses "h# she is in a "a) ade

e4istentiall) ,#ssi$le $) natalit)+

Acti#n and s,eech a%e s# cl#sel) %elated $ecause the ,%i#%dial and s,eci&icall)huan act ust at the sae tie c#ntain the ans"e% t# the /uesti#n as*ed #& eve%)ne"c#e%8 :@h# a%e )#u-: This discl#su%e #& "h# s#e$#d) is! is i,licit in $#th his

"#%ds and his deeds + + +In acting and s,ea*ing! en sh#" "h# the) a%e! %eveal activel) thei% uni/ue

,e%s#nal identities and thus a*e thei% a,,ea%ance in the huan "#%ld! "hile thei%,h)sical identities a,,ea% "ith#ut an) activit) #& thei% #"n in the uni/ue sha,e #& the $#d)and s#und #& the v#ice+ This discl#su%e #& :"h#: in c#nt%adistincti#n t# :"hat: s#e$#d)is .. his /ualities! gi&ts! talents! and sh#%tc#ings! "hich he a) dis,la) #% hide .. isi,licit in eve%)thing s#e$#d) sa)s #% d#es+ ;A%endt 3


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@ith#ut a "#%ld int# "hich en a%e $#%n and &%# "hich the) die! the%e "#uld $e n#thing$ut changeless ete%nal %ecu%%ence! the deathless eve%lastingness #& the huan as #& all#the% anial s,ecies+ ;A%endt 3


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@hile the language #& natalit) has a natu%al a&&init) "ith the e4,%essi#n #& h#,e! I see

di&&iculties "ith A%endt5s a,,a%ent c#nvicti#n that natalit) is su&&icient t# give us an ade/uate

h#,e+ These di&&iculties can $e seen i& "e c#,a%e A%endt5s vie" #& hist#%) t# that #& Augustine+

This c#,a%is#n is inst%uctive $ecause A%endt5s th#ughts a$#ut natalit) "e%e ins,i%ed $) he% "#%*

"ith Augustine ;B#"en.M##%e 3a n#t c#nvinced that it can ,%#vide ade/uate h#,e "hen it is %adicall) detached &%# an

eschat#l#gical c#nte4t+

In dealing "ith natalit)! A%endt &%e/uentl) /u#tes a ,assage &%# The City of %od8 :that a

$eginning $e ade an "as c%eated+:


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#& the ete%nal %ecu%%ence+ @he%eas Niet0sche insists that "e ust c#e t# e$%ace the ete%nal

%ecu%%ence i& huan e4istence is t# $e eaning&ul! Augustine vie"s the idea "ith h#%%#% and

disgust+ On this ,#int #& &undaental di&&e%ence! A%endt sees t# cast he% l#t "ith Augustine

%athe% than Niet0sche+ H#"eve%! the%e is a %ida$le i%#n) t# this alignent+ Niet0sche $elieves

#ne sh#uld e$%ace the ete%nal %etu%n ;in ,a%t? $ecause the eaning #& e4istence cann#t $e

de%ived &%# t%anscendent s#u%ces+ Augustine "#uld have seen Niet0sche5s atte,t t# &ind

eaning "ith#ut t%anscendence as a ,%#ect d##ed t# &ailu%e+ Yet A%endt! li*e Niet0sche! &inds

he%sel& in a situati#n "he%e she cann#t a,,eal t# the t%anscendent ideals #& a '#d di%ecting the

"#%ld in ,%#vidence! the &inal %ede,ti#n #& the individual a&te% death! #% an eschat#l#gical end

;divine #% huan? t# hist#%)+3Instead she ust a&&i% Augustinian $eginnings "ith#ut

Augustinian ends ;s#ething that Augustine "#uld have und ,#intless and ,e%ha,s inc#he%ent?!

t%anslate the Augustinian idi# #& c%eati#n int# he% #%e neut%al idi# #& $i%th! and then t%ans&e%

the c#nte4t #& the discussi#n &%# eschat#l#g) t# ,#litics+33

The h#,e that A%endt &inds sees t# $e c#ntained "ithin the e4,anding h#%i0#n #& the ne"

gene%ati#n ;and c#ing &utu%e gene%ati#ns?+ @ithin this h#%i0#n is the ,#ssi$ilit) that the

t#talita%ian e%a a) c#e t# an end+ A&te% the Na0i e%a! 'e%an) a) ente% int# a sta$le

de#c%atic stage+ A&te% Stalin! #ne li*e '#%$achev a) ee%ge+ Yet it is naive t# cus #n these

,#ssi$ilities+ The e4,anding h#%i0#ns! as A%endt neve% %gets! als# inv#lve the ,#ssi$ilities %

eve% "#%sening evils+ A&te% the &all #& c#unis in Easte%n Eu%#,e! ethnic hat%ed and gen#cide

a) %etu%n+ H#,e inv#lves an i%%educi$le eleent #& %is*+ H#"eve%! %is* d#es n#t c#nstitute h#,e

and ;it sees? h#,e cann#t $e %eas#na$l) sustained "hen the %is*s a%e t## g%eat+ Ta*en $) itsel&

and st%i,,ed &%# a c#nte4t #& eschat#l#gical ends! natalit) ,%#vides little h#,e+ Yes! the &utu%e

a) $e di&&e%ent $ecause #& the i,licit ,%#ise #& :the ne": in each ne" $i%th+ H#"eve%! this


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di&&e%ence a) $e evil+ Even in the da%*est da)s #& the &i%st "#%ld "a%! the%e "as the ,#ssi$ilit) ..

"ithin the c#nte4t #& huan natalit) .. that the ne4t gene%ati#n "#uld invent and e,l#) even

#%e h#%%i$le "a)s #& *illing+ @e cann#t a,,l) a la" #& ave%ages he%e! e4,ecting g##d %tune

a&te% $ad+ A $ad situati#n a) i,%#ve! $ut it als# a) get "#%se+ This e4t%ee unce%taint) #&

#utc#e! it sees! "#uld #st li*el) %esult in eithe% c)nical &atalis #% st#ic detachent .. n#t

%#$ust h#,e+ Even i& #ne can &ind s#e deg%ee #& h#,e in $a%e natalit)! it is /uesti#na$le "hethe%

such h#,e "ill $e st%#ng en#ugh t# sustain and ins,i%e dedicated ,#litical acti#n in da%* and

unce%tain ties+ The c#nvicti#n that natalit) "ith#ut eschat#l#g) can cultivate ,#litical h#,e

%e/ui%es /uali&icati#n #% #%e e4,lanati#n i& it is t# $e ,lausi$le+ A%endt d%a"s he% idea #&

$eginnings &%# Augustine $ut then atte,ts t# div#%ce these $eginnings &%# the idea #& ends+

Yet % Augustine! the %ati#nale % $eginnings is clea%l) "%a,,ed u, in ends+ As &a% as I can see!

A%endt &ails t# e4,lain h#" Augustinian $eginnings ,%#vide h#,e se,a%ated &%# thei% #%iginal

c#nte4t+

In s,ite #& these di&&iculties! A%endt5s ,#siti#n still has value+ He% language #& natalit)

,%#vides signi&icant insight int# the huan c#nditi#n and the e4,e%ience #& h#,e and gives us a

c#,elling "a) t# e4,%ess that h#,e ;as secti#n II indicates?+ M#%e#ve%! the%e a%e "ea*nesses in

Augustine5s ,#siti#n that A%endt can hel, us #ve%c#e+ As A%endt a%gues in he% d#ct#%al

disse%tati#n! Augustine cann#t devel#, an ade/uate vie" #& ,#litics $ecause l#ving the "#%ld %

its #"n sa*e is id#lat%) and secula% ;"#%ldl)? events cann#t attain t%ue signi&icance+36In #the%

"#%ds! "hile Augustine5s eschat#l#gical ends d# ,%#vide a *ind #& h#,e! the) d# n#t ,%#vide

,#litical h#,e .. i+e+! a h#,e that can sustain and en%ich ,#litical acti#n+ Augustine #&&e%s a h#,e

against the "#%ld ;"ith its g%eat calaities and &%ight&ul evils? %athe% than % the "#%ld+ A c#nce%n

"ith natalit)! #n the #the% hand! can hel, us t# %ec#gni0e that "e a%e $#%n int# this "#%ld! and


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that as ,a%ents #% educat#%s! "e ust ta*e %es,#nsi$ilit) $#th % the "#%ld and % #u% child%en

;A%endt 3


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e4a,le! :'%ace t# )#u and ,eace &%# hi "h# is and "h# "as and "h# is t# c#e + + +: ;Rev+

38>9 see M#ltann 3

the t%anscendental c#nditi#ns #& $#th tie itsel& and the "#%ld ;M#ltann 3


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&inal end+3>Rathe%! this c#nve%si#n :a*es.,%esent the ultiate in the ,enultiate! and the

&utu%e #& tie in the idst #& tie: ;M#ltann 3


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events $e #ve%c#e+ At least %all)! the ne" in natalit) and advent have an) c##n

&eatu%es+ B#th elicit ast#nishent+ Neithe% c#uld $e ,%edicted #n the $asis #& ,%i#% events+ A%endt

"%ites! :The ne" al"a)s ha,,ens against the #ve%"heling #dds #& statistical la"s and thei%

,%#$a$ilit)! "hich % all ,%actical! eve%)da) ,u%,#ses a#unts t# ce%taint)9 the ne" the%e%e

al"a)s a,,ea%s in the guise #& a i%acle: ;A%endt 3


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,#siti#n %eected $) Augustine and the ,#siti#n %eected $) M#ltann $#th den) the %adicall) ne"

;alth#ugh % di&&e%ent %eas#ns?+ The ne" #& natalit) and the ne" #& advent a%e su$stantiall)

siila% in this sense+ @h) then d#es A%endt e,l#) the language #& $i%th "hile M#ltann he%e

%eects it-

This di&&icult) can $e %es#lved $) a*ing a distincti#n $et"een $i%th andgiving$i%th+

M#ltann %eects the vie" that c#uld $e e4,%essed eta,h#%icall) as the ,%esent c#ntinuall)

giving $i%th t# the &utu%e+ Du%ing la$#%! $i%th is $#th inevita$le and iinent+ Du%ing la$#%! the%e

is n#thing ast#nishing a$#ut a $i%th #ccu%%ing+ I& this is #u% d#inant eta,h#% % the &utu%e!

then the &utu%e can c#ntain n#thing :ne": in the sense M#ltann $elieves ,#litical h#,e and

Ch%istian eschat#l#g) %e/ui%e+ H#"eve% % A%endt! la$#% and natalit) a%e distinct ;alth#ugh n#t

un%elated9 see A%endt 3

that a $i%th ll#"s la$#%+

S# the ne" in advent and the ne" in natalit) have $#th su$stantive and %al siila%ities

and at least #ne c%ucial su$stantive di&&e%ence ;i+e+! the divine #% huan #%igin #& the ne"?+ T#

"hat e4tent c#uld eithe% A%endt #% M#ltann a,,%#,%iate the insights #& the #the% #n this issue-

(i%st #& all! I see n# c#nvincing "a) % A%endt t# ad#,t an advent sense #& the ne" % '#d ,la)s

n# ,a%t in he% thin*ing+ As I have al%ead) a%gued in secti#n III a$#ve! this signi&icantl) "ea*ens

the h#,e that natalit) $) itsel& can ,%#vide+ H#"eve%! s#e attenti#n t# the ne" #& natalit) c#uld

$e inc#%,#%ated int# M#ltann5s th#ught+

T# s,ea* e%el) #& :the ne": can $e e4t%eel) a$st%act and %al+ M#ltann5s novum

sees t# have this cha%acte%+ In c#nt%ast! natalit) i,lies a #%e ,a%ticula% and e$edded *ind #&

ne" $eginning+ This is a ne" $eginning that &aces the &utu%e $ut that is n#t enti%el) "ith#ut ties t#

3>


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the ,ast+ The ne"$#%n needs ,a%ents in #%de% t# su%vive! and ,a%t #& the #$ #& ,a%ents is t#

,%#vide a c#nte4t in "hich the ne"c#e% can g%#" and th%ive .. t# lin* the ne" t# the ,ast "ith

$#nds #& t%aditi#n and l#ve+ N# huan s#ciet) c#uld su%vive i& each ne" gene%ati#n "as n#t

lin*ed t# s#e deg%ee t# ,ast ,atte%ns #& living+ A%endt "%ites! :the child %e/ui%es s,ecial

,%#tecti#n and ca%e s# that n#thing dest%uctive a) ha,,en t# hi &%# the "#%ld+ But the "#%ld!

t##! needs ,%#tecti#n t# *ee, it &%# $eing #ve%%un and dest%#)ed $) the #nslaught #& the ne"

that $u%sts u,#n it "ith each ne" gene%ati#n: ;A%endt 3


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disc%iinati#n+ On the #the% hand! M#ltann d#es n#t #$lite%ate all ties t# the ,ast+ Indeed the

ve%) idea #& %ede,ti#n inv#lves aintaining "hat is t# $e %edeeed+ The c%eati#n is n#t

annihilated and %e,laced! %athe% the c%eati#n is gathe%ed u, and c%eated ane" ;M#ltann 3


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su%,%ises: ;M#ltann 3


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"ith th#se "h# a%e $#%n t# us! #% "e "ill n#t $e a$le t# live at all+ If"e acce,t A%endt5s d#u$le

identi&icati#n #n this ,#int ;and M#ltann ight &ind %eas#n t# %eect it?! then "e sh#uld $e

c#nce%ned a$#ut %#le #& #%talit) in M#ltann5s th#ught+ Clea%l)! M#ltann "ants his

eschat#l#g) t# $e in the %eal #& ,%a4is %athe% than the#%etical s,eculati#n ;V#l& 3F?+ But i& t%ansience and #%talit) a%e #u%fundamentalc#nce%n! the%e is ve%)

little that )ecan d#! #the% than "ait % the c#ing '#d and s,eculate a$#ut "hat this c#ing

"ill $e li*e+ In A%endtian te%s! M#ltann5s c#nce%n "ith "hat is ne" and even his insistence that

ete%nit) is nottieless hints at a ,lace % natalit) al%ead) at "#%* in his thin*ing ;alth#ugh n#t

%ec#gni0ed as such?+ @hat %eains is t# e4,l#%e #%e th#%#ughl) "hat insights an attentiveness t#

natalit) c#uld %eveal % M#ltann+ As I have said $e%e! I see n#thing that ,%events M#ltann

&%# c%iticall) inc#%,#%ating s#e #& A%endt5s ideas #n this su$ect+

On the #the% hand! the%e is a sense in "hich M#ltann c#uld tu%n this #$ecti#n

c#nce%ning #%talit) $ac* #n A%endt+ @hile it is t%ue that #%talit) in&luences and #tivates ;t# a

deg%ee? M#ltann5s th#ught! at least he envisi#ns a *ind #& s#luti#n t# the ,%#$le it ,#ses+ In

overcomingthe ,#"e% #& #%talit) th%#ugh the %ede,ti#n #& tie ;,ast! ,%esent! &utu%e?

M#ltann #,ens u, a s,ace % h#,e&ul ;,#litical? acti#n+ H#"eve% % A%endt #%talit) ust

%eain a *ind #& #,en "#und and the ,ast ust %eain un%edeeed+ She cann#t antici,ate a

change in the t%anscendental c#nditi#ns #& tie itsel&+ The ,e%anence #& death is e4hi$ited in the

unchangea$leness and un%edeea$ilit) #& the ,ast+ N#thing can $e d#ne % the victis #& ,ast

c%ies ;at least! c%ies #& a ce%tain s#%t?+ The Na0i and Stalinist %egies :disc#ve%ed: %adical ;#%

a$s#lute? evil "ith thei% :c%ies that en can neithe% ,unish n#% %give: ;A%endt 3


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#ve%c#e this t)%ann) #& hist#%)+ The &act that A%endt "#uld n#t have und M#ltann5s s#luti#n

,lausi$le ;$eing $ased in the c#ing #& '#d? d#es n#t itigate the dilea that she &aces+

Conclusion: Natality )ithin $schatology

@hat have A%endt and M#ltann t# teach each #the%- @hat have $#th t# teach us t#da)-

B#th ,e%s,ectives a%e valua$le and i,#%tant+ Yet s#e ch#ices ust $e ade+ I have und it

#%e ,lausi$le t# inc#%,#%ate A%endt5s insights int# M#ltann5s &%ae"#%* #& th#ught than the

#the% "a) a%#und+ This sh#uld n#t $e su%,%ising+ M#ltann5s ideas a$#ut '#d have n# #th#ld in

A%endt5s vie" #& the "#%ld! $ut M#ltann can have n# #$ecti#n t# an) genuine insights int# the

huan c#nditi#n+ But h#" can a h#,e $ased u,#n '#d $e %ec#nciled "ith a h#,e g%#unded in the

huan c#nditi#n- The ans"e% t# this /uesti#n has al%ead) $een suggested th#ugh n#t stated

e4,licitl)+ The divine and the huan c#e t#gethe% in the inca%nati#n+ The inca%nati#n e4hi$its a

unit) #& the ne" #& natalit) and the ne" #& advent+ This g%#unds ) clai that a %ec#gniti#n #&

natalit) is c#,ati$le "ith M#ltann5s gene%al ,#siti#n+ M#ltann5s Ch%ist#l#gical ,e%s,ective

;Bauc*ha 3

eschat#l#g)! the ne" thing #& "hich I a ca,a$le a) $e a %e&lecti#n #& the $i%th #& Ch%ist "ithin

tie and "ithin e+ As Meiste% Ec*ha%t sa)s! eve%)thing de,ends u,#n that+

3


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NOTES

6


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@ORS CITED

A%endt! Hannah+ 3


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V#l&! Mi%#slav+ 3


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3+ @hile the events leading t# and su%%#unding the sec#nd "#%ld "a% had the g%eatest ,e%s#nali,act u,#n $#th! each %es,#nds t# a va%iet) #& c#nte,#%a%) challenges+ B#th a%e sensitive t# thei,act #& the $attle&ields #& the &i%st "#%ld "a% and the $eginning #& the at#ic age "hich c#ncluded thesec#nd+ In additi#n t# he% highl) c#nt%#ve%sial anal)ses #& the h#l#caust ;#st n#ta$l) he% %e,#%t #n theEichann t%ial?! A%endt %es,#nds t#! % e4a,le! Stalinis! @este%n i,e%ialis! %adical student#veents! the Vietna c#n&lict! and even s,utni*+ M#ltann enti#ns Ausch"it0 and Hi%#shia as%e,%esentative t"entieth centu%) challenges! $ut als#! % e4a,le! Che%n#$)l and the &all #& Easte%nEu%#,ean c#unis+

6+ A%endt %est%icts he% use #& the te% :acti#n: t# "hat "e ight call utual #% c##%dinatedacti#n+ It is % A%endt a s,eci&icall) ,#litical te%+ The ,#litical i,licati#ns #& eschat#l#g) have al"a)s$een a ,a%t #& M#ltann5s c#nce%n ;Bauc*ha 3


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+ This e4a,le is e%el) intended t# illust%ate the natu%al a&&init) $et"een h#,e and natalit)+ I d# n#t"ish t# i,l) that huan $eings can #nl) $e h#,e&ul "hen the) have descendants+


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3>+ A%endt e4,%esses a siila% c#nce%n in a di&&e%ent c#nte4t "hen she a%gues that the Ma%4ian end #&hist#%) ;the classless s#ciet)?! &a% &%# giving eaning t# the ,%i#% st%uggles! actuall) %#$s all hist#%) ,%i#% t# itsculinati#n #& t%ue signi&icance ;A%endt 3

Natality or Advent: Arendt and Moltmann on Hope and Politics

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Transcript of Natality or Advent: Arendt and Moltmann on Hope and Politics