CULTURAL TRAUMA OF GERMANY IN THE DISPUTE OF KARL JASPERS AND MARTIN HEIDEGGER

Abstract

Up to now the topic of trauma and traumatic experience is increasingly becoming the subject of detailed scientific analysis. Nevertheless, it can be argued that for all the variety of works, the term «trauma» has not yet been adequately described. It is obvious that the overthrow of the totalitarian regime, the defeat in the war and the division of Germany made a traumatic event for German culture. In the period from 1945 to 1963, the first German works on the problem of comprehension of the totalitarian past appeared and the problem of the Holocaust began to be actively discussed. A vivid example of such a discussion is the dispute between Jaspers and Heidegger. The article focuses on the different positions of the two most prominent philosophers on the issue of Germany's   «guilt». A special place in the debate of Jaspers and Heidegger is the Holocaust. The events of the 20th century caused doubts about traditional liberal values and rationality. The question «What is the Holocaust?» is still relevant, despite all the attempts that have been made to find the answer to this question. In connection with this topic, the article mentions the position of H. Arendt and her «non-standard» solution of this question.