Human freedom and dignity in late 18th-century debates on revelation, religion, and the human
Subproject of H2020 ITN-HHFDWC-676258 – The History of Human Freedom and Dignity in Western Civilization
Project manager: Prof. Dr. Daniel Cyranka
Project associate: N.N.
Duration of project: 01.08.2016 - 31.07.2019
In exploring the theological and philosophical controversies of the 1770s, this project centers on the notions of apokatastasis and metempsychosis, as invoked by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729-1781), which can be traced back to Origenian debates. The controversies concerning reason and revelation, history and religion, as well as the anthropology of humankind played a crucial role in the formulation of the enlightened concepts of human autonomy and free will, which became highly influential in articulating a modern understanding of humanity. With Lessing as its point of departure, the project focuses on these debates in the second half of 18th century.
Links
Further readings
Daniel Cyranka: Lessing im Reinkarnationsdiskurs. Eine Untersuchung zu Kontext und Wirkung von G.E. Lessings Texten zur Seelenwanderung. Göttingen 2005.
Daniel Cyranka: ‚Warum nicht?‘ – Lessings Äußerungen zur Seelenwanderung. In: Hans-Edwin Friedrich et al. (ed.), Literatur und Theologie im 18. Jahrhundert. Konfrontationen – Kontroversen – Konkurrenzen, Tübingen 2011 (Hallesche Beiträge zur Europäischen Aufklärung, 41), pp. 122–138.
Daniel Cyranka: Schwärmerei, Betrug, Vernunft oder Irrtum? Zum Mohammed-Bild bei Gottfried Leß. In: Andreas Deutsch/Ulrich Kronauer (ed.), Der „Ungläubige“ in der Rechts- und Kulturgeschichte des 18. Jahrhunderts, Heidelberg 2015, pp. 175-206.