Description
The Last God. The Lesson of the Twentieth Century
Book Summary
In this posthumous work, philosopher Hans-Georg Gadamer offers a profound reflection on the major questions that shaped the twentieth century. Starting from the crisis of metaphysics and the death of the Nietzschean God, the author explores the Heideggerian idea of a "last god" as a new path for humanity. The book addresses the philosophy of finitude, the importance of the Other, the relationship between ethics and politics, and the future of philosophical thought. An invitation to rethink the transcendent from a fully human perspective.
What is it about?
Gadamer examines the lessons drawn from the twentieth century through a dialogue between philosophy and history. The text is structured around several fundamental axes: the reflection on human finitude and the need to recognize the Other as a central element of ethical experience; the tension between ethics and politics, as well as between ethics and rhetoric; and the analysis of the various expressions of authoritarianism and antisemitism that marked the past century. The author also pauses on the main exponents of contemporary philosophy and the role of religion in today's world. The work culminates in the Heideggerian proposal of a "last god," a reinterpretation of the transcendent that invites humanity to chart a new existential course.
Main themes
- Philosophy of finitude and the human condition
- Alterity and the recognition of the Other
- Relationship between ethics, politics, and rhetoric
- Crisis of metaphysics and the death of God in Nietzsche
- Heidegger’s "last god" as a new interpretation of the transcendent
- Authoritarianism and antisemitism in the twentieth century
- Contemporary philosophy and its main exponents
- The future of philosophy and religion
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at students and professionals of philosophy, especially those interested in hermeneutics, phenomenology, and twentieth-century thought. It will also be of great interest to readers with a background in the humanities who wish to understand the philosophical keys to the great conflicts and transformations of the past century, as well as those seeking a profound reflection on the meaning of the transcendent in the contemporary era.
What this book offers
- A lucid and synthetic look by a great philosopher at the lessons of the twentieth century
- Keys to understanding the relationship between ethics, politics, and rhetoric from the perspective of hermeneutics
- A reflection on alterity and finitude as foundations of human experience
- The analysis of the Heideggerian proposal of the "last god" as a response to the crisis of metaphysics
- An updated bibliography of H. G. Gadamer and an index of names to facilitate academic reference
Technical data
- Author: HANS-GEORG GADAMER
- Publisher: ANTHROPOS EDITORIAL
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: HUMANITIES, PHILOSOPHY, PHILOSOPHY OF MIND, RELIGION AND BELIEFS
- Collection: NONE
- Binding: Other
- Edition date: June 2010
- Number of pages: 176
- Weight: 120 g
Editorial review
This posthumous work by Gadamer condenses, with the clarity and depth characteristic of the author, the reflections of a lifetime dedicated to philosophy. Its value lies in offering an accessible synthesis of complex themes—from hermeneutics to the crisis of metaphysics—while inviting the reader into a critical dialogue with the thought of the twentieth century. It is an essential read for those who wish to understand the philosophical roots of our present and the role of transcendence in a disenchanted world.