Endlichkeit und Sammlung des Lebens

This study addresses the basic situation of the human being, who as such is capable of rational cognition, but who necessarily leads his life in the knowledge of himself. It explains what a recollection of this life means when all hope of another life has lost its certainty, as is the case in modern times. The result of this situation is an antithesis between an experience of unconditional meaning in finite and ephemeral life, and a nihilistic experience which can be realized in a demonstration of the irrelevance of life, a practice which was institutionalized in the extermination camps of the SS. These, however, were not able to hinder their victims on the path towards the recollection of their lives. For such a recollection is incommensurably superior to the motives of the nihilistic action.The author deals with the philosophical implications of such a recollection, and shows the reasons for the weaknesses of commemorative culture in Germany.
An English translation is printed on facing pages.