Franz Josef Wetz

Franz Josef Wetz (born March 19, 1958 in Rockenberg ) is a German philosopher. He teaches philosophy at the Schwäbisch Gmünd University of Education .

Life

Wetz studied philosophy, German and theology in Mainz, Frankfurt am Main and Gießen. Scholarship holder of the Cusanuswerk . 1984 First state examination for teaching at grammar schools. 1985 Master of Philosophy; Doctorate in 1989, habilitation in philosophy in 1992. From 1981 to 1993 Wetz worked at the Center for Philosophy and Fundamentals of Science at the University of Giessen as a research assistant and assistant to Odo Marquard . Both the post-doctoral fellowship and the Heisenberg fellowship were granted but not used. From 1991 to 1996 Wetz was a freelancer in the education department of the employers' association of the electrical and metal industry. Since 1992 substitute professorships in Germany and visiting professorships abroad. Since 1992 freelancer at Württemberg, Bavarian and Thuringian institutes for teacher training and curriculum development. Since 1994 professor of philosophy at the University of Education in Schwäbisch Gmünd. Head of the Academic Examination Office and the State Teacher Examination Office.

Main areas of work: cultural philosophy and ethics with the question of what consequences the findings of modern natural sciences have for the human understanding of self and the world - in existential, ideological, social, ethical and legal terms.

Wetz is a member of the scientific advisory board of the Humanistic Academy Bavaria and the advisory board of the humanistic Giordano Bruno Foundation . Also ethical advisor to the Anatomical Institute for Plastination (“Body Worlds”). He has been a member of the board of directors of the Hans Albert Institute since 2020.

philosophy

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Franz Josef Wetz takes a moderately naturalistic position. From this point of view, the knowledge of the natural sciences with all their consequences is unconditionally recognized. The human being is exposed as a transitory piece of nature worried about itself without claiming to be centered in the structure of the universe. In Art of Resignation it says: “The insignificance and insignificance of man in immeasurable space, his banishment to the edge of an average spiral galaxy: It dissolves his special and central position that has been claimed for centuries.” Despite this clear rejection of a special position of man, Wetz remains sensitive to questions and topics of traditional humanities and cultural studies. It is precisely on this basis of a consistent rejection of higher authorities that Wetz asks himself the question of the endurance of life.
To this end, the great promises of meaning in cultural history must all be invalidated and eliminated. “Now, however, the precarious question arises as to whether it is possible to eliminate the longing memory of previous models of meaning and to reduce the exuberant expectations of meaning. Is it so easy to get the sense cup out of the world? " Wetz says goodbye to all metaphysical sense designs against the background of billions of suns in space and the fleeting presence of humans in the vast expanses: " Many scientists are sure that in the whole of cosmic events this The occurrence of a conscious life, which is tied to the functionality of a brain and cannot proceed without neurophysiological processes, was highly unlikely. This and beyond that the scientific knowledge about the mechanisms of heredity as well as the natural history of human behavior hardly allow anthropocentric statements and traditions and rob all metaphysical models of meaning of their plausibility. ”
From this, diverse questions and complexes of topics can be derived. Despite the enormous range of his books, they all have one thing in common. This tries to illuminate a gray area: the border areas of the last great human questions in the context of our daily actions and thoughts.

Central topics and questions

• Is a meaningful life possible without religion? Wetz addresses this question in “Art of Resignation”.
• Man as an insignificant blob in the universe. More of a statement than a question raised. The universe, which is silent towards us, with all its questions about human existence forms the core of his extensive habilitation thesis "Lifeworld and Universe".
• What consolation can a person hope for in life and in the face of death when religion is no longer available? Franz Josef Wetz devotes himself to the question of contemporary secular sources of consolation in his books "Magic of Music" and "Dead Without God".
• Man has to think big of himself in order to survive in the world. But how is he supposed to do this when he is actually small and vain? In “Illusion of Human Dignity” and “Rebellion of Self-Esteem”, the focus is on human dignity cleared of metaphysical tints. Wetz, however, opposes a complete rejection of the concept of dignity, as this appears to be indispensable for a stable life.
• To perceive life as a pleasure is a big and often neglected challenge in our existence. “Praise of Infidelity” is dedicated to various taboo topics of an only ostensibly open and enlightened society. Lies accompany our existence and are by no means avoidable. Half-truths, pretenses and lies appear almost ethically justified in a life in which the individual does not fool himself and still tries to remain polite and sensual.
• There is an insurmountable desire for sensual excesses . Since the dark desire cannot be completely switched off, tamed and humanized, people need socially acceptable opportunities to live out their wild passions. Otherwise these lead to socially incompatible orgies of cruel violence. “Exzesse” deals with the joy of sensual intoxication in the context of a mature culture of lustful debauchery.

Influences

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Three terms are at the center of Wetz's philosophical work: self-respect, consolation and desire in a secular culture shaped by natural science. The discussion about the position of humans within these conceptual networks that spin our lives illuminate their dual character. On the one hand, humans appear as deficient beings who have to compensate for their deficits. This view is mainly influenced by Odo Marquard , Hans Blumenberg and Arnold Gehlen . On the other hand, people are portrayed as extremely talented, who have great sources of pleasure that want the individual to feel the full intensity of life. This view of man follows the line from Nietzsche to Bataille.

Awards

• 1989: Dissertation award from the Justus Liebig University in Giessen

Work (selection)

author

• Dead without god. A new culture of parting . Alibri Verlag, Aschaffenburg 2018, ISBN 978-3-86569-249-8 .
• Excesses. Those who dance do not kill . Alibri Verlag, Aschaffenburg 2016, ISBN 978-3-86569-197-2 .
• Self-esteem rebellion. Against humiliation . Alibri Verlag , Aschaffenburg 2014, ISBN 978-3-86569-177-4 .
• Praise for infidelity. An outrage . Diederichs, Munich 2011, ISBN 978-3-424-35061-6 .
• Construction site body. Bioethics of self-respect . Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2009, ISBN 978-3-608-94201-9 .
• Illusion of human dignity. The rise and fall of a core value . Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-608-94122-3 . (= completely revised new edition of The dignity of the people is touchable. A provocation. 1998)
• The magic of music. Why tones comfort us . Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2004, ISBN 3-608-93232-1 .
• Hans Blumenberg for an introduction . Junius, Hamburg 1993, ISBN 3-88506-887-7 . (New version 2011, ISBN 978-3-88506-684-2 ).
• The art of resignation . Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-608-94252-1 . (= dtv, Munich 2003, ISBN 3-608-94252-1 ).
• Dead on horseback. From the triumph of the statue to the ban on plastinate . Arts and Sciences, Heidelberg 2003, ISBN 3-937256-00-8 .
• Human dignity can be touched. A provocation . Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3-608-91908-2 .
• Friedrich WJ Schelling as an introduction . Junius, Hamburg 1996, ISBN 3-88506-939-3 .
• Edmund Husserl. (= Campus Introductions. Volume 1087). Campus, Frankfurt am Main 1995, ISBN 3-593-35423-3 .
• The indifference of the world . Knecht, Frankfurt am Main 1994, ISBN 3-7820-0686-0 .
• Hans Jonas for an introduction . Junius, Hamburg 1994, ISBN 3-88506-897-4 .
• Lifeworld and universe. Hermeneutics of Inevitable Questions . Neske, Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 3-7885-0344-0 .
• The naked that. On the question of facticity . Neske, Pfullingen 1990, ISBN 3-7885-0326-2 .
• Tübingen triad. On the work of Walter Schulz . Neske, Pfullingen 1990, ISBN 3-7885-0325-4 .

editor

• Blaise Pascal : The I consists in my thinking. Philipp Reclam Verlag, Stuttgart 2017.
• Odo Marquard : The future needs a past, philosophical essays. Philipp Reclam-Verlag, Stuttgart 2015.
• Odo Marquard : The individual. Existential philosophy. Philipp Reclam Verlag, Stuttgart 2013.
• Odo Marquard : Philosophy of finitude. About aging. (= UB. 20278). Philipp-Reclam-Verlag, Stuttgart 2013, ISBN 978-3-15-020278-4 .
• Texts on human dignity. Reclam, Stuttgart 2011.
• Practical Philosophy College in Four Volumes. Reclam, Stuttgart 2008.
  • Volume 1: Ethics between cultural and natural science.
  • Volume 2: Basic positions and fields of application of ethics.
  • Volume 3: Time diagnosis.
  • Volume 4: Right to Rights.
• Francesco Petrarch. The lonely life. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2004.
• The cross-border commuter. Arts and Sciences, Heidelberg 2004.
• Luck. A selection. 2nd Edition. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2002.
• Beautiful new body worlds. The dispute over the exhibition. 2nd Edition. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2001.
• The art of survival. On the philosophy of Hans Blumenberg. Suhrkamp, ​​Frankfurt 1999.
• Hermeneutics and Naturalism. Mohr-Siebeck, Tübingen 1998.

Individual evidence

1. ^ Humanist Academy of Bavaria: About Us ( Memento from November 12, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
2. ↑ Board of Directors - Hans Albert Institute. Retrieved April 5, 2020 . 
3. ^ Franz Josef Wetz: The art of resignation. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2000 / dtv, Munich 2003, p. 89.
4. ^ Franz Josef Wetz: Lifeworld and Universe. Hermeneutics of Inevitable Questions. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 1994.
5. ^ Franz Josef Wetz: The art of resignation. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2000 / dtv, Munich 2003, pp. 166, 171, 173ff.
6. ^ Franz Josef Wetz: Praise of unfaithfulness. An outrage. Diederichs, Munich 2011.
7. ^ Franz Josef Wetz: Illusion of human dignity. The rise and fall of a core value. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2005.
8. ↑ Rolf Löchel: The main thing is happy. Franz Josef Wetz resigned himself to the lack of religion . In: Literaturkritik.de, November 2000. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
9. ^ Franz Josef Wetz: The art of resignation. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2000 / dtv, Munich 2003, p. 150.
10. ^ Franz Josef Wetz: The art of resignation. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2000 / dtv, Munich 2003, pp. 149, 150.
11. ^ Franz Josef Wetz: The art of resignation. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2000 / dtv, Munich 2003.
12. ^ Franz Josef Wetz: Lifeworld and Universe. Hermeneutics of Inevitable Questions. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 1994.
13. ^ Franz Josef Wetz: The magic of music. Why tones comfort us. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2004.
14. ^ Franz Josef Wetz: Illusion of human dignity. The rise and fall of a core value. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2005.
15. ↑ See also Franz Josef Wetz: Self-respect. “I decide who offends me” (Oscar Wilde) . In: Alexander Max Bauer and Nils Baratella (eds.): Oldenburger Yearbook for Philosophy 2017/2018. Oldenburg: BIS-Verlag 2019.
16. ^ Franz Josef Wetz: Praise of unfaithfulness. An outrage. Diederichs, Munich 2011.

Web links

• Literature by and about Franz Josef Wetz in the catalog of the German National Library