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Work #387 · Late

Theses on the Philosophy of History

Walter Benjamin
1940 (German; English 1968) · German
Philosophical theses · Frankfurt School / Jewish-messianic Marxism

Benjamin's 1940 final essay on history, messianic time, and revolution — the Angel of History

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Theses on the Philosophy of History (Late)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency Personal
Observer · Moral Authority Tradition
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

Theses on the Philosophy of History

Central — messianic Jetztzeit blasted out of historical continuum.

Space

Theses on the Philosophy of History

The historical-political space of revolution and oppression.

Matter

Theses on the Philosophy of History

The materiality of historical struggle.

Observer

Theses on the Philosophy of History

The Angel of History — backward-facing witness of catastrophe.

Energy

Theses on the Philosophy of History

Energies of revolutionary-messianic interruption.

Information

Theses on the Philosophy of History

Eighteen aphoristic theses.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Theses on the Philosophy of History

Benjamin's messianic-materialist synthesis in continuing dialogue with both orthodox Marxism and Jewish theology.