Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.29162/ANAFORA.v12i2.2
The Crisis of the Humane in Hermann Hesse’s Novel Das Glasperlenspiel
Veronica Alina Buciuman
orcid.org/0000-0001-5301-1166
; Faculty of Philology, University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania
Abstract
The underlying intention of the narrative in Herman Hesse’s Nobel-Prize winning novel Das Glasperlenspiel [The Glass Bead Game] reveals the possibility of an allegorical construction, regarding a generalised and autopoietic crises situation, which is determined by a lack of sinceritas, specifically of authenticity and sincerity of humans in the process of self-discovery and self-knowledge. This interpretative key seeks to highlight the crisis of the human condition as an axiological-existential crisis, which as a cyclical, chain phenomenon can be permanently addressed through the cultivation of sinceritas. Secondly, this study examines the similarities of the Glass Bead Game and what is currently referred to as good technology (Ponzanesi 21, 26) or humanitarian VR (Ponzanesi 27). As a laboratory of virtuality, the game can be utilised risk-free as a tool in crisis management. Therefore, the present study seeks to address the following research questions: To what extent does the novel in fact describe the symptoms of the post-humanitarianism and if so, which are the pitfalls of using such instruments in the process of teaching humanitarian behaviours to persons lacking human empathy.
Keywords
crisis of the human condition / of the humane, sinceritas, virtual reality, crisis managemen
Hrčak ID:
342955
URI
Publication date:
30.12.2025.
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