Abstract

Against the widespread tendency to devalue consolation, Hans Blumenberg emphasizes man’s anthropological need for consolation. This need arises from the elementary groundlessness of his existence. Man must learn to bear the unbearability of the ›big questions‹ in order to be able to live ›in spite of them‹. This requires consolation; but, at the same time, this is exactly what consolation provides. For Blumenberg, inconsolability, the need for consolation, and the ability to be consoled are thus closely related. The appropriate means of consolation is rhetoric. It makes it possible to distance oneself from the horror of reality by distorting the view, distracting or delaying it. In this sense, consolation is about »humane« avoidance of reality. However, this should not be confused with a mere escape from reality. Blumenberg aims at enabling a consoled way of dealing with the inconsolability of man. In place of the alternative of illusionary consolation and desolate resignation, he sets an attitude of thoughtfulness, which both recognizes and preserves the elementary need for consolation of man.