Rolf Mengert - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Rolf Mengert

The site of Cap de Forma is frequently mentioned in the cartography of the 18th and 19th centurie... more The site of Cap de Forma is frequently mentioned in the cartography of the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly the tower of Es Canutells. The archaeological site of Cap de Forma is on a coastal cape, and consists of a main cyclopean monument, which closes off an isthmus, a necropolis of rock-cut tombs (cuevas) dug out the cliff overlooking the sea and a second, very degraded, more central area. The promontory rises above the sea, with cliffs of more than 30 m in height. On the isthmus, the large elongated rectangular cyclopean construction protects the entrance from the interior. It is not a Talayot, at least not in the common sense of the term, as the building is different from the known types of this class of monument. The external wall is roughly built. It consists of local limestone slabs, mainly placed horizontally but with some vertical ones juxtaposed among them. Once one passes this wall, through an opening near the edge of the cliff, one can access the south of the structure. Here the slow collapse of the monument and its use as a modern military lookout post have combined to give the walls an untidy appearance. It consists of massive parallel walls arranged roughly in large steps, alternating with piles of small stones. Some walls were probably destroyed by the troops stationed in the adjacent fortified manor house in the 18th century AD, were also detected in this space. In a open space, between two living areas (central and eastern spaces), a large cylindrical hollow carved into the limestone was found in a depression filled with small stones. This may well have been a cistern for collecting rainwater for the resident community.

Abstract In my treatise I seek to prove that the anthropology of Hans Blumenberg is primary inte... more Abstract

In my treatise I seek to prove that the anthropology of Hans Blumenberg is primary interdisciplinary. In this context I use the term „Anthropology“ as a philosophical model of interpretation for each of the numerous facets of human existence and interrelationships.

Blumenberg’s anthropology includes, besides the corporeality as extended during the lifespan between birth and death, human life in creating, developing and configurating his abilities to actively give shape to the world surrounding us.
Further it includes the evolvement of mental dimensions in language, culture and art and, above, the social competence in reference to our fellow men.
Last but not least it includes the utterly important role oft he unconscious as a human parameter.

Blumenberg founds his analysis basically on scientific data and model calculations. As a guiding principle he postulates generally the history of mankind as a phylogenetic phenomenon, developed from proto- and early species by adaption to the environment with all its threats, tribulations, dangers and narrow passageways of security for finding basic means of living. As a result of these considerations for Blumenberg the development of the brain derives directly from the struggle of life in tropical jungles and sub-tropical savannahs in which the archaic hominids had to survive. One of the most important motives in Blumenberg’s works is the declaration of humans as beings who act from a distance.

Blumenberg has published long essays on the results of profound studies of human curiosity and its implications for self-assertion in prevailing hostile environments. In these treaties he denied the –according to him- religious misinterpretations of the topic.
He extensively writes about anthropological interpretations of the achievements in astrophysics. Here he distinguishes between the socially relevant developments from the Copernican days on, as well as the contemporary insights.

Though Blumenberg represents the cultural anthropological discipline he denies all ideological interpretations of the world, does not accept any “divine purposes” for mankind, does not grant man a special place in universe. To Blumenberg the idea of a deity steering mankind towards its destination is a sheer construct of theological groups and schools.

However, next to the interpretations that are based on physics and biology he presents certain ideas that can be seen as guidelines for a peaceful and culturally acceptable use of the newly gained knowledge. The crucial human parameters detects Blumenberg in the enrichments of humans by the recognition of the fascinating construct as manifest in the physical, biological, psychological and social fields. In all these disciplines technical engineering can even extend this fascination, and can make a meaningful life in this world desirable, even without religious and metaphysical grids.

Blumenberg is a modern interpreter of our world, who thinks that mankind can escape from its given confinement at least partially by knowledge and insight in the function of the unconscious. This is easiest when it comes to the development of technologies to make our lives more comfortable and better, by using mans almost limitless creativity.

Where it comes to changing our behaviour however, the margins are far more narrow, because Blumenberg thinks of the influx of archaic structures as very limiting factors and describes them as nearly unchangeable.

The site of Cap de Forma is frequently mentioned in the cartography of the 18th and 19th centurie... more The site of Cap de Forma is frequently mentioned in the cartography of the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly the tower of Es Canutells. The archaeological site of Cap de Forma is on a coastal cape, and consists of a main cyclopean monument, which closes off an isthmus, a necropolis of rock-cut tombs (cuevas) dug out the cliff overlooking the sea and a second, very degraded, more central area. The promontory rises above the sea, with cliffs of more than 30 m in height. On the isthmus, the large elongated rectangular cyclopean construction protects the entrance from the interior. It is not a Talayot, at least not in the common sense of the term, as the building is different from the known types of this class of monument. The external wall is roughly built. It consists of local limestone slabs, mainly placed horizontally but with some vertical ones juxtaposed among them. Once one passes this wall, through an opening near the edge of the cliff, one can access the south of the structure. Here the slow collapse of the monument and its use as a modern military lookout post have combined to give the walls an untidy appearance. It consists of massive parallel walls arranged roughly in large steps, alternating with piles of small stones. Some walls were probably destroyed by the troops stationed in the adjacent fortified manor house in the 18th century AD, were also detected in this space. In a open space, between two living areas (central and eastern spaces), a large cylindrical hollow carved into the limestone was found in a depression filled with small stones. This may well have been a cistern for collecting rainwater for the resident community.

Abstract In my treatise I seek to prove that the anthropology of Hans Blumenberg is primary inte... more Abstract

In my treatise I seek to prove that the anthropology of Hans Blumenberg is primary interdisciplinary. In this context I use the term „Anthropology“ as a philosophical model of interpretation for each of the numerous facets of human existence and interrelationships.

Blumenberg’s anthropology includes, besides the corporeality as extended during the lifespan between birth and death, human life in creating, developing and configurating his abilities to actively give shape to the world surrounding us.
Further it includes the evolvement of mental dimensions in language, culture and art and, above, the social competence in reference to our fellow men.
Last but not least it includes the utterly important role oft he unconscious as a human parameter.

Blumenberg founds his analysis basically on scientific data and model calculations. As a guiding principle he postulates generally the history of mankind as a phylogenetic phenomenon, developed from proto- and early species by adaption to the environment with all its threats, tribulations, dangers and narrow passageways of security for finding basic means of living. As a result of these considerations for Blumenberg the development of the brain derives directly from the struggle of life in tropical jungles and sub-tropical savannahs in which the archaic hominids had to survive. One of the most important motives in Blumenberg’s works is the declaration of humans as beings who act from a distance.

Blumenberg has published long essays on the results of profound studies of human curiosity and its implications for self-assertion in prevailing hostile environments. In these treaties he denied the –according to him- religious misinterpretations of the topic.
He extensively writes about anthropological interpretations of the achievements in astrophysics. Here he distinguishes between the socially relevant developments from the Copernican days on, as well as the contemporary insights.

Though Blumenberg represents the cultural anthropological discipline he denies all ideological interpretations of the world, does not accept any “divine purposes” for mankind, does not grant man a special place in universe. To Blumenberg the idea of a deity steering mankind towards its destination is a sheer construct of theological groups and schools.

However, next to the interpretations that are based on physics and biology he presents certain ideas that can be seen as guidelines for a peaceful and culturally acceptable use of the newly gained knowledge. The crucial human parameters detects Blumenberg in the enrichments of humans by the recognition of the fascinating construct as manifest in the physical, biological, psychological and social fields. In all these disciplines technical engineering can even extend this fascination, and can make a meaningful life in this world desirable, even without religious and metaphysical grids.

Blumenberg is a modern interpreter of our world, who thinks that mankind can escape from its given confinement at least partially by knowledge and insight in the function of the unconscious. This is easiest when it comes to the development of technologies to make our lives more comfortable and better, by using mans almost limitless creativity.

Where it comes to changing our behaviour however, the margins are far more narrow, because Blumenberg thinks of the influx of archaic structures as very limiting factors and describes them as nearly unchangeable.