Blumenberg Response 1

Minwoo Choi
Graduate School & Job Applications: Style & Praxis
Rowan G. Tepper
June 16 2011
Response Paper 1: Hans Blumenberg
Through this book, Blumenberg tries to show and describe many aspects of human lives such as thoughts, ego, or the rules of the world. The similarity of what he wants to describe in words is that they are difficult to express only in words. He shows what he believes and finds through metaphors that are common in our lives.
In the first part of the book, Blumenberg offers shipwreck cases. The interesting point of his metaphors is that they could be translated in many different ways. Personally, the most brilliant concept in his metaphor is the relationship between the wind and the waves on the ocean. Although it should not be concentrated too much in reality, they could best be seen as the relationship between our world and money.
Our world is running by us, all the living creatures, which is described as a shipwreck. However, as it is written, the shipwreck is mainly depends on the waves which is caused by winds. The winds symbolize the basic economy, which is money. Many people in the world believe that money do not determine the level of happiness for human beings, no matter how much money is offered to each. Ironically, if the world is viewed in the broader perspective, it is easily assumed that money itself determines the meaning of our lives; furthermore, it controls the entire world. Whosever got the most money is considered as the best leader, and most of greatest respectful people can easily gain money if they decided to collect. Money determines human values.
It is true that Blumenberg is one of the greatest writers and philosophers. Even though he writes many precious books, the most valuable point of his writings is that he tries to include all the basic and common rules that human beings are tended to follow. Blumenberg’s works is not only limited to the literature, but also to the law of our lives. That is the most critical characteristic of his writings.