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Die Verfügbarkeit des ewigen Lebens: Selbstopferszenarien in mittelalterlicher Literatur

  • Klaus Ridder
Published/Copyright: December 7, 2012
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Abstract

The article discusses the functions and structures of self-sacrifice in relevant literary representations. The central argument is that self-sacrifice – not only with a view to the culture of the Middle Ages – should, in a twofold sense, make verfügbar that which is not verfügbar: on the one hand, that which in current life is not accessible and, on the other, that which aims beyond the frontier of death. The prototype for self-sacrifice is, to be sure, constituted by the Passion of Christ which provides the model of imitatio as a certain path to salvation; however, since selfdestruction is part of this imitatio, it becomes an illegitimate form of disposing of one’s own life, and this is in conflict with the Christian ethic.

Published Online: 2012-12-07
Published in Print: 2012-12

© by Akademie Verlag, Berlin, Germany

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