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Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.21464/sp32105

Mourning Marginalized: Totalitarianism and the Shared World

Mikołaj Sławkowski-Rode ; University of Warsaw, Institute of Philosophy, Krakowskie Przedmieście 3, 00-927 Warszawa, PL; University of Oxford, Blackfriars Hall, OX1 3LY, UK


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Abstract

In this paper I compare two attitudes to death and the two contrasting ways of understanding mourning connected with these: one emphasizes the need to move on after loss has been suffered, the other stresses the need to reaffirm the value of what was lost. I argue that without the latter prospects for both community formation and self-determination may be damaged. I suggest this is because the death of another impoverishes the way we experience the world, threatening the continuity of mutually affirmed meanings and values which constitute the Lebenswelt. However, this effect can be mitigated through the process of mourning which attempts to reclaim this experience. I argue that one of the most devastating aspects of twentieth century totalitarianism was the thwarting of mourning understood in this way.

Keywords

mourning; loss; death; shared experience; totalitarianism; otherness; reconciliation

Hrčak ID:

190382

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/190382

Publication date:

23.8.2017.

Article data in other languages: croatian french german

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