Reiner Schürmann's Broken Hegemonies: Toward an epistemological interpretation.

Abstract

Reiner Schürmann's last monograph, Broken Hegemonies, constitutes an original reconstruction of the history of metaphysics, where Schürmann's philosophical erudition is combined with the author's original hermeneutic approach. In this text, Schürmann develops what he calls a topology of broken hegemonies, a research methodology to study certain crucial junctures of the history of thought. Impressive as Schürmann's reconstruction of the "doctrine of principles" may be, there are nonetheless many questions that remain open after reading Broken Hegemonies: this study will be dedicated precisely to these points. In this regard, the aim of this thesis will be dual. First of all, thanks to the growing scientific literature dedicated to the author, this study will attempt to look closely at the destituting moments of Schürmann's hegemonic history, respectively focusing on his treatment of Plotinus, of Meister Eckhart, and of Heidegger. Paired with the improved framing of Schürmann's Abbau, this study will also pursue the goal of understanding Schurmann’s discovery of what he called a "tragic truth" behind the customary strategies of traditional metaphysics.Thus, the destituting moments in Schürmann’s speculation will become points of departure to engage with the tragic truth that they reveal, drawing connections between the philosophical sites described by Schürmann and other aspects of contemporary philosophy. This approach has the goal of shining a light on Schürmann’s deconstruction of the turning points in the history of metaphysics. In doing so Schürmann’s approach will be analyzed with the instruments of historical epistemology to better situate his contribution in the landscape of deconstructionist thought, with special attention to the politico-epistemological implications of his use of categories such as hegemony and tragic truth.