Formen philosophischer Schriften zur Einführung

The volume introduces the forms of writings by great European philosophers. It shows how the content of these writings can be newly understood through their forms. The author was inspired by the observation that innovative philosophies were often presented in new literary forms: Parmenides created a narrative of gods to convey his doctrine of true being, Plato used dialogue to avoid a dogmatic teaching, Aristotle employed the treatise to present his ideas under his own name, Augustine wrote an autobiographical confession to explore his inner self before God, and Montaigne utilized the essay to seek truth through self-observation. This continues with Frege's Begriffsschrift, Wittgenstein's album, and Levinas' interpretation of the Talmud. The philosophically new requires new forms to make itself comprehensible.