“Der Sinn der Erde beginnt sich zu ändern” [“Der Sinn der Erde beginnt sich zu ändern”]

Abstract

This article examines Ernst Jünger’s rich yet fragmentary book-length essay An der Zeitmauer (At the Time Wall, 1959), which belongs to the neglected second half of his long literary career. Ostensibly focused on climate engineering, the article begins by situating Jünger in the overlooked early German discourse on the environment. Central to this section are Ludwig Klages, Oswald Spengler, Martin Heidegger, and Jünger’s brother, Friedrich Georg. At the center of my analysis, and implied by this conservative intellectual tradition, is the idea of the Anthropocene, which is testament to the unprecedented technological power of what Spengler calls “Faustian man.” Unique to Jünger’s conception, however, is the mythological narrative, by which modern humanity is engaged in a “Titanic insurrection” against the gods, transgressing long-held taboos, altering the shape of the earth, and risking planetary collapse. A prescient anticipation of contemporary sensibilities, the essay nevertheless stands out for its challenge to today’s ecological thinking, not least via the identification of totalitarian technocracy as the greatest danger of modern civilization.