Trost und Untröstlichkeit - Wie das Hadern mit der Welt die Oberhand gewann
Summary
Ralf Konersmann explores the shift from religious consolation to secular resilience, tracing how the 1967 ban on Louis Armstrong’s "What a Wonderful World" after 9/11 symbolized a modern rejection of naive optimism. He contrasts this with historical debates, including Voltaire’s critique of Pope’s optimism following the Lisbon earthquake, and the transition from theological comfort to philosophical pragmatism. The essay argues that while the world remains fundamentally unconsolable, individuals can find strength in diverse, self-chosen forms of comfort, such as art and activity, rather than…
Topics discussed
Introduction: Louis Armstrong's 'What a Wonderful World'
The 2001 ban on the song and the shift in public mood
The modern rejection of comfort and the 'politics of grief'
Biblical origins: The Fall, the Flood, and loss of trust
The world as a sign: Psalms and Paul's theology
Gnosticism and the suspicion of the material world
The 1755 Lisbon earthquake and Voltaire's critique of optimism
Voltaire's solution: 'Cultivate your garden' as pragmatic comfort
Philosophical comfort: From Stoicism to Montaigne and Simmel
Conclusion: The liberating power of 'weak' comfort
Credits and production details
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