Diachronics of Redemption: A Systems Theoretic Exploration of - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Diachronics of Redemption: A Systems Theoretic Exploration of Rosenzweig’s Star Martin Zwick Systems Science Program Portland State University zwick@pdx.edu http://www.pdx.edu/sysc/research-systems-theory-and-philosophy https://www.pdx.edu/sysc/sites/www.pdx.edu.sysc/files/Rosenzweig%20NPC2018.pdf Systems Science Seminar, Feb 8, 2019 A modified version of a presentation soon to be given at “Back to Redemption,” International Rosenzweig Society Conference, February 17-20, 2019, Van Leer Institute, Jerusalem. (Above NPC link is to earlier philosophy conference version.) 1

Abstract • This presentation offers an interpretation of the conceptual structures of Franz Rosenzweig’s book, The Star of Redemption . These structures, which join three fundamental relations – Creation, Revelation, and Redemption – with three fundamental elements – God, World, and Human – are examined from a systems-theoretic perspective. • Moses, Pollock, and others have noted the systematic character of the Star . While “systematic” doesn’t necessarily mean systems-theoretic, the philosophical theology of the Star and its core hexad of elements and relations exemplify ideas salient in the systems theory literature. • The hexadic star itself fits the classic definition of “system,” and the Yes and No of Rosenzweig’s elements and their reversals illustrate the bridging, in this definition, of element and relation with the third category of attribute. Rosenzweig’s thought resonates with the opposing ontological and epistemological notions of “system,” the constitutiveness of function as well as structure, and the diachronics of system formation, all of which are fundamental to systems thought. 2

Diachronics of Redemption 1. Introduction 2. System 2.1 Elements and relations 2.2 Attributes; structure & function 2.3 Incompleteness, inconsistency, reversal 3. Diachronics 3.1 Creation, Revelation, Redemption 3.2 Ascent towards unity 3.3 Beyond experience 3

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Diagrams in the Star Although the Star is deeply architectonic, it has only three diagrams. Each of these diagrams introduces a part of the book; at its beginning all three are displayed on a single page arranged vertically. 7

Diachronics of Redemption 1. Introduction 2. System 2.1 Elements and relations 2.2 Attributes; structure & function 2.3 Incompleteness, inconsistency or reversal 3. Diachronics 3.1 Creation, Revelation, Redemption 3.2 Ascent towards unity 3.3 Beyond experience 8

Equal & unequal elements; mediation GOD GOD GOD WORLD HUMAN HUMAN WORLD WORLD HUMAN (b) Unequal (a) Equal, but asymmetric (c) Mediation 9

Rosenzweig’s star (a) Conventional star; (b) showing relations connecting elements GOD GOD CREATION REVELATION CREATION REVELATION All All WORLD HUMAN WORLD HUMAN REDEMPTION REDEMPTION (a) (b) 10

Systems representations of the star All All REVELATION REDEMPTION REVELATION CREATION CREATION REDEMPTION WORLD GOD WORLD HUMAN GOD HUMAN time (a) Synchronic (b) Diachronic 11

Adding attributes to elements & relations (a) Attributes mediate between elements and relations (b) Rosenzweig’s elements have attributes Sache (substance), Tat (a ct) (c) Sache (substance) + Tat (a ct) = Tatsache (fact) (d) Relations can also bind together attributes (e) Attributes carried by elements & relations are potential actualized. 12

Attributes of Rosenzweig’s elements Yes (y) & No (n) are Sache (substance) & Tat (act), connected by ‘AND’, the element itself. 13

Structure & function These attributes characterize synchronic structure & function. “ Tatsache ” and “system” label the whole double cone figure, not merely its vertex. (a) Rosenzweig’s terminology; vertex is “AND” that binds substance (y) & act (n) (b) Systems-theoretic terminology: mine, GERARD’S, duCoudray’s (EsEx). [A similar dyad in Chinese philosophy: substance (essence)-function] function Tat BEHAVING act exchange System Tatsache essence Substance BEING Sache structure (b) (a) 14

Incompleteness, inconsistency or reversal Attributes as carried by elements  attributes as carried by relations. Incompleteness : attributes B and A’ not involved in any relation; hence only potential, not yet actual. (Function is constitutive.) Inconsistency : attributes A and B’ have two different values when carried by elements or relations. Reversal : attribute values might be viewed as reversing when value carried by element differs from value carried by relation. Reversal can be supplementation as opposed to replacement . 15

Diachronics of Redemption 1. Introduction 2. System 2.1 Elements and relations 2.2 Attributes; structure & function 2.3 Incompleteness, inconsistency, reversal 3. Diachronics 3.1 Creation, Revelation, Redemption 3.2 Ascent towards unity 3.3 Beyond experience 16

Primordial incompleteness The reference point: elements as isolated, unrelated to one another; with attributes more potential than actual. 17

From the beginning: a play in three acts Through attribute reversals, elements enter into relations: first Creation, then Revelation; finally Redemption achieves the ALL . TIME CREATION GOD y n CREATION y y n n n y power freedom being particulars character logos WORLD HUMAN GOD WORLD HUMAN CREATION REVELATION GOD CREATION REVELATION n y y n y y y n n n y power freedom being particulars logos character WORLD HUMAN GOD WORLD HUMAN ALL REVELATION CREATION REDEMPTION GOD CREATION REVELATION n y y n y n y n y y n n power freedom being particulars character logos WORLD HUMAN GOD WORLD HUMAN REDEMPTION 18 (a) (b)

We’re in the middle: the ALL is not here now The human perspective of the present moment: creation is what is ‘ at hand ’, redemption is an anticipated ‘ not yet ’. Synchronic double-cone figure (structure/function) turned 90 °  diachronic (past/future) REVELATION past future Present moment REDEMPTION CREATION time 19

Ascent towards unity Borrowing ideas from graph theory: Creation, Revelation, & Redemption are ascending steps in a Lattice of Structures of the ALL . 1 triadic relation GWH 3 dyadic relations (the star) GW:GH:WH REDEMPTION GW:GH GW:WH WH:GH 2 dyadic relations REVELATION GW:H GH:W WH:G 1 dyadic relation CREATION Elements G:W:H No relations … Φ : Φ : Φ Nothings of elements No elements 20

Borromean rings & the three-fold cord The fully integrated form for GWH: God, World, & Human (in the perspective of equal elements) as three interlocked Borromean rings: “a triple stranded cord is not easily broken” (Talmud). 21

Stages of knowledge of the ALL Knowledge of the ALL gained by thought, then experience, then intuition. Thought is substance; experience is act. A level transcending GWH is beyond human comprehension. . The Star G GWH intuition Part III GW:GH:WH experience Part II G:W:H thought Part I Φ : Φ : Φ 22

Some references • duCoudray, Hugo (2011). Mentius Nuncius: A Schema for Psychology . lulu.com • Hall, Arthur D. and Fagen, Robert E. (1956). “Definition of System.” General Systems, 1: 1848 • Krippendorff, Klaus (1986). Information Theory: Structural Models for Qualitative Data . Beverly Hills: Sage. • Moses, Stephanie (1992). Translated by Catherine Tihanyi. System and Revelation: The Philosophy of Franz Rosenzweig . Detroit: Wayne State University Press. • Pollock, Benjamin (2009). Franz Rosenzweig and the Systematic Task of Philosophy . New York: Cambridge University Press. • Rosenzweig, Franz (1921). The Star of Redemption . Translated (2005) by Barbara E. Galli. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press. • Rubinstein, Ernest (1999). An Episode of Jewish Romanticism: Franz Rosenzweig’s The Star of Redemption . New York: SUNY Press. • Samuelson, Norbert (1999). A User’s Guide to Franz Rosenzweig . Abingdon-on- Thames: Routledge. • Zwick, Martin (2008). “A Conversation on Theodicy.” Metanexus, Jan 9, 2008. 23

• Thank you. • Acknowledgment: This paper draws extensively from Pollock’s Franz Rosenzweig and the Systematic Task of Philosophy (2009), which both inspired this study & made Rosenzweig’s thought accessible to the author 24