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Work #468 · Mid

The Concept of the Political

Carl Schmitt
1932 (revised from 1927 essay; English 1976) · German
Political theory · German conservative political theory

Schmitt's 1932 controversial definition of the political as the friend-enemy distinction

Attribute Fingerprint

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

Attribute The Concept of the Political (Mid)
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 None
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

The Concept of the Political

The political time of friend-enemy decisions.

Space

The Concept of the Political

The political-territorial space of collectives.

Matter

The Concept of the Political

The embodied political collective.

Observer

The Concept of the Political

The political decision-maker.

Energy

The Concept of the Political

Energies of existential political conflict.

Information

The Concept of the Political

Friend-enemy political-theoretical framework.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

The Concept of the Political

Schmitt's account in continuing controversy due to his Nazi association (1933) and influence on both left and right.