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Understanding of Human Experience through a Story according to Arendt

Publication at Protestant Theological Faculty |
2014

Abstract

This essay explores Arendt's notion of storytelling, which assists in seeking understanding of human experience. Thinking and judging of particular evens initiated in the silence of the mind turn into a story in an audible and visible company of others.

There, seemingly unrelated and isolated events gain meaning. Since one is able to think not only from his/her own but also in others' position, knowing each other is an inescapable condition for such thinking.

Then it is possible to seek meaning of one's own as well as of others' experiences. From an interaction of people's words and deeds-expressing their unique identities-grows a wider story of human experience.

Just as it arises in an interaction with others, so only in their company it is possible to strive for its understanding and for disentangling strings of its particular stories.