Lebensphilosophie: The Balance between Biology and the Human Spirit

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Introduction

I chose to research the theory behind Simmel’s life-philosophy, otherwise known as Lebensphilosophie, in relation to my research concerning memoirs. I thought that his philosophy would be pertinent to what I’ve been studying because it deals with finding meaning and value in life, a pursuit that memoirs tend to be completely centered around. As I demonstrated in this post, I’m exploring the sense of awe that results from reading these memoirs, or encapsulations of people’s lives, and also the awe that is captured within these memoirs as pertaining to the life of the individual. Because of what I am striving to discover, it is important for me to deconstruct what we consider to be life in itself. 

Lebensphilosophie Theory

Basically, Simmel’s theory serves as the middle ground between two trains of thought regarding life. The first train of thought it stands between is that of reductionism, where the meaning and value of life is reduced to simply the fact that something is alive. Under this train of thought, it is easy to reduce life “to genes, DNA, or organism” (Pyyhtined 79). Those who see life under this train of thought are those who deal with technoscience, slowly revealing life’s mysteries through the power of technology and science. On the other side of the spectrum is the train of thought that deals with mysticism. Under this train of thought, life is seen to be as an ethereal thing dominated by the acts of the soul. These ideas come from religious ideologies and other institutions dealing with the things in life that are largely unseen. 

In the middle of both of these trains of thought stands Simmel’s theory. He is not entirely reductionist, but he is not overly mystical either. Although this philosophy does acknowledge the biological side of life that is largely related to science, it does not reduce life to be merely a succession of organisms but rather recognizes that there is certain singularity to human life that can not be ignored in the realm of human experience. However, although Simmel’s life philosophy views humans as separate during life, when it comes to death it puts humans “on par with all living organisms” (78). Thus, the qualifications for life under Simmel’s philosophy come to encompass a sense of “being” for lack of a more succinct word.

Connection to Memoir Research

I thought that the article I read concerning this theory was interesting in the fact that it brought up the point that life is simultaneously an elusive concept that none of us can seem to fully grasp as well as a scientific experiment that can be reduced to genetics and biology, a concept mentioned in this post by Tara. I think it is in this very paradox that the fascination of the memoir lies. It is fascinating for us to read about the journey and expression of other lives as they too play in this game of chance. It brings awe to us to watch their lives unfold as they play the cards they were given genetically and physically under the influence of motivations, passions, and personalities that almost seem ethereal in nature. It is this combination between the spiritual and the physical that drives our fascination with the memoir. 

Examples in Literature

In the memoirs I have been reading so far, this theme is highly prevalent. For example, in the book Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s, the main character must battle with a disability that he is unaware of. The whole book centers on his striving to live a “normal” life despite this disability that he is largely unaware of until his adult life. He must learn to live out the desires of his heart and reach his goals by adapting his methods to work within his range of abilities. It is, like the theory discusses above suggest, a struggle between the spirit within and the biological makeup without. 

Another example is the memoir Lucky. This book is a documentation of the author’s journey to come to terms with her life after being raped as a freshman in college. From the first few pages of the memoir, the author must overcome extreme physical and psychological scarring. She is bruised, beaten, and demoralized and through all of this she fights to find a way to recover the spirit within her that she feels was broken on that fateful night. The story is fascinating because of the sheer physical trauma and her ability to grow back after being cut down so low.

A third example is in the book The Last American Man. Although this book is not written by the subject on which it focuses and as a result is more of a biography than a memoir, it follows similar trends and falls in the same vein as memoir. The story is essentially the struggle of a man who feels it is his destiny to bring the American people back to the wilderness. Since he was a young boy, he has had the biological and mental capacities and inclinations to thrive in the wild. These genetic predispositions used in combination with his indomitable spirit and desire to fulfill what he sees to be his destiny ultimately lead him on a journey to opening up his own wilderness camp as well as becoming a nationwide speaker.

Works Cited

Buchanan, Ian. "bare life,"A Dictionary of Critical Theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. 

Print.

Pyyhtinen, O. "Life, Death and Individuation: Simmel on the Problem of Life Itself." Theory, Culture & Society 29.7–8 (2013): 78–100. Print.