Peter Sloterdijk. From life as an exercise/a practice to an enlightened social optimism.

Abstract

We present the concept of Sloterdijk, based on the “term of crutches“ of “optimism“. We try to explore the basis upon which, as for Sloterdijk, a more peacefully inhabitable world can evolve. The study is particularly centered on his books “You Must Change Your Life“ and “Anger and Time“, depicting the difficulties – sometimes contradictions – of maintaining this enlightened optimism. In any case, it is demonstrated that Sloterdijk is playing a game in his philosophical discourse that escapes the strict argumentative art, evading conflicts in regard of content. However, we base ourselves on following abstract concepts: “argument“ and „contradiction“ to propaedeutically present the first in a series of articles about the German philosopher.