Diachronics of Redemption: A Systems Theoretic Exploration of - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1

Diachronics of Redemption:

A Systems Theoretic Exploration of Rosenzweig’s Star

Martin Zwick

Systems Science Program Portland State University

zwick@pdx.edu http://www.pdx.edu/sysc/research-systems-theory-and-philosophy

https://www.pdx.edu/sysc/sites/www.pdx.edu.sysc/files/Rosenzweig%20NPC2018.pdf

Systems Science Seminar, Feb 8, 2019

A modified version of a presentation soon to be given at “Back to Redemption,” International Rosenzweig Society Conference, February 17-20, 2019, Van Leer Institute, Jerusalem. (Above NPC link is to earlier philosophy conference version.)

2

Abstract

• This presentation offers an interpretation of the conceptual structures of

Franz Rosenzweig’s book, The Star of Redemption. These structures, which join three fundamental relations – Creation, Revelation, and Redemption – with three fundamental elements – God, World, and Human – are examined from a systems-theoretic perspective.

• Moses, Pollock, and others have noted the systematic character of the Star.

While “systematic” doesn’t necessarily mean systems-theoretic, the philosophical theology of the Star and its core hexad of elements and relations exemplify ideas salient in the systems theory literature.

• The hexadic star itself fits the classic definition of “system,” and the Yes and

No of Rosenzweig’s elements and their reversals illustrate the bridging, in this definition, of element and relation with the third category of attribute. Rosenzweig’s thought resonates with the opposing ontological and epistemological notions of “system,” the constitutiveness of function as well as structure, and the diachronics of system formation, all of which are fundamental to systems thought.

Diachronics of Redemption

• 1. Introduction
• 2. System

2.1 Elements and relations 2.2 Attributes; structure & function 2.3 Incompleteness, inconsistency, reversal

• 3. Diachronics

3.1 Creation, Revelation, Redemption 3.2 Ascent towards unity 3.3 Beyond experience

3

4

5

6

Diagrams in the Star

Although the Star is deeply architectonic, it has only three diagrams. Each of these diagrams introduces a part of the book; at its beginning all three are displayed on a single page arranged vertically.

7

Diachronics of Redemption

• 1. Introduction
• 2. System

2.1 Elements and relations 2.2 Attributes; structure & function 2.3 Incompleteness, inconsistency or reversal

• 3. Diachronics

3.1 Creation, Revelation, Redemption 3.2 Ascent towards unity 3.3 Beyond experience

8

9

Equal & unequal elements; mediation

(b) Unequal

HUMAN

WORLD

GOD HUMAN WORLD GOD (a) Equal, but asymmetric HUMAN WORLD GOD (c) Mediation

Rosenzweig’s star

(a) Conventional star; (b) showing relations connecting elements

10

(a) HUMAN WORLD GOD REVELATION CREATION REDEMPTION

All

(b) HUMAN WORLD GOD REVELATION CREATION REDEMPTION

All

Systems representations of the star

11

(a) Synchronic CREATION REDEMPTION REVELATION

All

WORLD GOD HUMAN (b) Diachronic CREATION REVELATION REDEMPTION

All

GOD WORLD HUMAN time

Adding attributes to elements & relations

(a) Attributes mediate between elements and relations (b) Rosenzweig’s elements have attributes Sache (substance), Tat (act) (c) Sache (substance) + Tat (act) = Tatsache (fact) (d) Relations can also bind together attributes (e) Attributes carried by elements & relations are potential actualized.

12

Attributes of Rosenzweig’s elements

Yes (y) & No (n) are Sache (substance) &Tat (act), connected by ‘AND’, the element itself.

13

Structure & function

These attributes characterize synchronic structure & function.

“Tatsache” and “system” label the whole double cone figure, not merely its vertex. (a) Rosenzweig’s terminology; vertex is “AND” that binds substance (y) & act (n) (b) Systems-theoretic terminology: mine, GERARD’S, duCoudray’s (EsEx). [A similar dyad in Chinese philosophy: substance (essence)-function]

function

BEHAVING

exchange

System

essence

BEING

structure (b) Tat

act

Tatsache

Substance

Sache (a)

14

Incompleteness, inconsistency or reversal

Attributes as carried by elements  attributes as carried by relations. Incompleteness: attributes B and A’ not involved in any relation; hence

• nly potential, not yet actual. (Function is constitutive.)

Inconsistency: attributes A and B’ have two different values when carried by elements or relations. Reversal: attribute values might be viewed as reversing when value carried by element differs from value carried by relation. Reversal can be supplementation as opposed to replacement.

15

Diachronics of Redemption

• 1. Introduction
• 2. System

2.1 Elements and relations 2.2 Attributes; structure & function 2.3 Incompleteness, inconsistency, reversal

• 3. Diachronics

3.1 Creation, Revelation, Redemption 3.2 Ascent towards unity 3.3 Beyond experience

16

Primordial incompleteness

The reference point: elements as isolated, unrelated to one another; with attributes more potential than actual.

17

From the beginning: a play in three acts

Through attribute reversals, elements enter into relations: first Creation, then Revelation; finally Redemption achieves the ALL.

18

y n

CREATION GOD

n y being power

WORLD

n y logos particulars

HUMAN

n y character freedom y n y y n n

ALL REDEMPTION REVELATION CREATION GOD

n y being power

WORLD

n y logos particulars

HUMAN

n y character freedom y n y y n

REVELATION CREATION GOD

n y being power

WORLD

n y logos particulars

HUMAN

n y character freedom

HUMAN WORLD GOD CREATION HUMAN WORLD GOD REVELATION CREATION HUMAN WORLD GOD REVELATION CREATION REDEMPTION

(a) (b)

TIME

19

We’re in the middle: the ALL is not here now

REVELATION CREATION REDEMPTION

time Present moment

past future

The human perspective of the present moment: creation is what is ‘at hand’, redemption is an anticipated ‘not yet’.

Synchronic double-cone figure (structure/function) turned 90°  diachronic (past/future)

Ascent towards unity

Borrowing ideas from graph theory: Creation, Revelation, & Redemption are ascending steps in a Lattice of Structures of the ALL.

20 GWH 1 triadic relation GW:GH:WH 3 dyadic relations (the star)

REDEMPTION

GW:GH GW:WH WH:GH 2 dyadic relations

REVELATION

GW:H GH:W WH:G 1 dyadic relation

CREATION

Elements G:W:H No relations … Nothings of elements Φ:Φ:Φ No elements

Borromean rings & the three-fold cord

The fully integrated form for GWH: God, World, & Human (in the perspective of equal elements) as three interlocked Borromean rings: “a triple stranded cord is not easily broken” (Talmud).

21

Stages of knowledge of the ALL

Knowledge of the ALL gained by thought, then experience, then intuition. Thought is substance; experience is act. A level transcending GWH is beyond human comprehension.

.

22

G

The Star GWH intuition Part III GW:GH:WH experience Part II G:W:H thought Part I Φ:Φ:Φ

23

Some references

• duCoudray, Hugo (2011). Mentius Nuncius: A Schema for Psychology. lulu.com
• Hall, Arthur D. and Fagen, Robert E. (1956). “Definition of System.” General

Systems, 1: 1848

• Krippendorff, Klaus (1986). Information Theory: Structural Models for Qualitative
• Data. Beverly Hills: Sage.
• Moses, Stephanie (1992). Translated by Catherine Tihanyi. System and Revelation:

The Philosophy of Franz Rosenzweig. Detroit: Wayne State University Press.

• Pollock, Benjamin (2009). Franz Rosenzweig and the Systematic Task of Philosophy.

New York: Cambridge University Press.

• Rosenzweig, Franz (1921). The Star of Redemption. Translated (2005) by Barbara E.
• Galli. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.
• Rubinstein, Ernest (1999). An Episode of Jewish Romanticism: Franz Rosenzweig’s

The Star of Redemption. New York: SUNY Press.

• Samuelson, Norbert (1999). A User’s Guide to Franz Rosenzweig. Abingdon-on-

Thames: Routledge.

• Zwick, Martin (2008). “A Conversation on Theodicy.” Metanexus, Jan 9, 2008.

• Thank you.
• Acknowledgment: This paper draws extensively from Pollock’s

Franz Rosenzweig and the Systematic Task of Philosophy (2009), which both inspired this study & made Rosenzweig’s thought accessible to the author

24