Abstract

BEY, FACUNDO. The mystical structure of Walter Benjamín s philosophical criticism ofthe concept of progress. Revista SAAP [online]. 2019, vol.13, n.2, pp.70-72. ISSN 1853-1970.

The general aim of this paper is to examine the role of Walter Benjamin’s criticism of the idea of progress within his philosophy, mantaining that the roots of his political thought may be found in the kabbalistic mysticism. The main intention is to determine, following Benjamin, some of the main characteristics of the belief in progress as a problem and its relationship to a given historical normativity. This would allow to elucidate what would be the relationship that, for Benjamin, a linear and processualist understanding of history may have with a political-intellectual attitude based on conformism and indifference. Finally, this article proposes to consider the original interpretation on temporality of a Jewish mysticism trend, Isaac Luria’s kabbalism, actualized in a heterodox way by Benjamin. This may let to understand in a new and particular way the temporal bond that suppose the ideas of tradition and remembrance in Benjamin’s historical materalism.

Keywords : progress; temporality; historical materialism; kabbalism; Walter Benjamín.

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