Commemorating Epimetheus (Philosophy/Communication) by Les Amis

by Les Amis

"Epimetheus has largely been forgotten. And yet he was once credited with bringing humans into the world naked and shoeless, with neither bed nor arms of defense. Rather than view this condition as one of lack to be covered over through some kind of technical artifice, Commemorating Epimetheus seeks to describe the human condition positively in terms of its originary state. In other words, this work seeks to articulate the goodness of fragility rather than merely rest content with the fragility of goodness." The goodness of our fragility is approached phenomenologically and described in terms of sharing, caring, meeting, dwelling, and loving. These ways of being with one another are seen to be not merely accidental characteristics of human being, or accidental characteristics of our relations with one another, but constitutive of the very beings we are. We come into the world dependent upon the care of others. It is through their care that we come to share in human being. And it is through their care that we are able meet with one another, dwell with one another, and perhaps love with one another. In these ways, we commemorate Epimetheus.

Paperback

First published January 1, 2008