Ernst Jünger (1895-1998), On Pain (1934)

          A bit about the author; Ernst Jünger (1895-1998) was a fascinating German writer of the Twentieth century.  He served in the trenches in France during World War I and during the Weimar period in Germany, he devoted himself as one of the foremost thinkers of what was later referred to as Conservative Revolution which attempted to add another position beyond the Left and the Right wings.  He was never a member of the National Socialist movement; however, he was hailed by them as a forerunner.  He refused invitation to the Nazi Party and to head the German Academy of Literature.  He was then later ostracized by them when he wrote about his negative perceptions and against situations of Hitler’s regime.  He served in the Wehrmacht during World War II in occupied France assigned in an administrative position.  He continued to write after the war, and as an enthusiast, he experimented with cocaine, hashish as well as LSD along with its inventor friend Dr. Albert Hofmann.  It can be said that he is one of the most astonishing German writers to have lived through the historical periods in German history including Wilhelmine or pre-Weimar Republic, Weimar Republic, the Third Reich, the divided Germany and then the reunification of Germany.

          I chose the following passage in which Jünger explains pain playing significant role in discipline.

“Here, too, pain plays a significant, but no doubt opposite, role.  This is because life strives incessantly to stay in contact with pain.  Indeed, discipline means nothing other than this, whether it is of the priestly-ascetic kind directed toward abnegation or of the warlike-heroic kind directed towards hardening oneself like steel.  In both cases, it is a matter of maintaining complete control over life, so that at any hour of the day it can serve a higher calling.  The central question concerning the rank of present values can be answered by determining to what extent the body can be treated as an object.”  (On Pain, p.16)

          It reminded me of the story of Spartacus the gladiator slave who opposed the Roman Empire and attempted to liberate the slaves.  Then Roman Empire wherein some people had no choice but to have gladiator slave-like mentality, with decrepit caste system without hope other than daily struggle with pain, treating one’s body, disciplining one’s body to pain, and to measure or negate pain in a “priestly-ascetic kind” or directing it towards anger and therefore the behavior of the “warlike-heroic kind hardening oneself like steel.”  (On Pain, p.16)  It also briefly reminded me of Descartes dualism wherein he argues the mind and body function separately.  “. . .determining to what extent the body can be treated as an object”, again in my opinion reproaches disciplining oneself; mind over matter, as in this case, mind over body.

          However, that was just but one type of pain explained among many that Jünger references and relates.  Which in my opinion overall led to an interesting reference and perspective on pain on a spiritual adaptation as one’s interpretation and acceptance of pain as well as one’s tolerance of pain, wherein he describes even “Boredom is nothing other than the dissolution of pain in time.” (On Pain. p.13).  I say subjective paradox with nihilistic approach on life and peace especially with the inevitable industrial supremacy.