The Sovereign Human Being
Carl Schmitt, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Responsible Decision-Making
Published on 12. December 2024
Book
Hardback
184 pages
978-0-567-71704-7 (ISBN)
Description
Sovereign is who decides; and who decides is responsible. The book develops these two arguments by comparing Carl Schmitt's and Dietrich Bonhoeffer's theories of sovereignty.
Carl Schmitt was an influential jurist of Nazi Germany. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran priest hanged for his involvement in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. In many ways, the two men could not be more different. But they both struggled with the question of how to maintain order and how to prevent violence at times of crisis.
In this considered work, Jeutner brings these two thinkers into careful dialogue. They both agreed that order is established not by appealing to existing norms or general principles but by an individual's sovereign decision. Ascribing sovereignty to individuals communicates that they always have a choice and that they are always responsible for these choices. Thus, it is not just powerful individuals who have the choice to bring wars to an end or who can combat climate change.
This exploratory work reveals that, by making sovereign decisions, ordinary individuals, too, can work towards the peaceful resolution of conflicts or reduce their carbon footprint. Making such sovereign decisions is not easy for individuals who are taught to follow orders and norms. For this reason, this book supplements the comparative analysis of Schmitt and Bonhoeffer with an action-guiding decision-making framework. While the proposed framework departs from Schmitt's and Bonhoeffer's theses by recognizing the agency, responsibility, and sovereignty of all individuals, Jeutner argues that this acknowledgement of the universal sovereignty of individuals is the only way to bring about the orderly and peaceful world of which Schmitt and Bonhoeffer dream.
Carl Schmitt was an influential jurist of Nazi Germany. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran priest hanged for his involvement in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. In many ways, the two men could not be more different. But they both struggled with the question of how to maintain order and how to prevent violence at times of crisis.
In this considered work, Jeutner brings these two thinkers into careful dialogue. They both agreed that order is established not by appealing to existing norms or general principles but by an individual's sovereign decision. Ascribing sovereignty to individuals communicates that they always have a choice and that they are always responsible for these choices. Thus, it is not just powerful individuals who have the choice to bring wars to an end or who can combat climate change.
This exploratory work reveals that, by making sovereign decisions, ordinary individuals, too, can work towards the peaceful resolution of conflicts or reduce their carbon footprint. Making such sovereign decisions is not easy for individuals who are taught to follow orders and norms. For this reason, this book supplements the comparative analysis of Schmitt and Bonhoeffer with an action-guiding decision-making framework. While the proposed framework departs from Schmitt's and Bonhoeffer's theses by recognizing the agency, responsibility, and sovereignty of all individuals, Jeutner argues that this acknowledgement of the universal sovereignty of individuals is the only way to bring about the orderly and peaceful world of which Schmitt and Bonhoeffer dream.
Reviews / Votes
A comparison of Carl Schmitt and Dietrich Bonhoeffer-one theorist justifying tyrannical rule and another justifying the termination of this very same rule-may initially appear perplexing and even offensive to some. However, upon closer scrutiny, the rationale behind Jeutner's decision to juxtapose these two authors becomes evident. Both authors presented theories of sovereignty at the same historical moment, placing the sovereign being and its individual and sovereign choices at their centre. In this light, the boldest choice Jeutner makes is not so much to compare Schmitt and Bonhoeffer. Rather, it is his choice to relate their thoughts on how to decide the state of exception or an extraordinary situation to the everyday decision-making challenges of contemporary life. Jeutner draws on these theories of decision-making under exceptional circumstances to establish an egalitarian theory of sovereign and responsible decision-making, which is applicable not only to extraordinary events but also to everyday action. Individuals are sovereign because they are free to choose. At the same time they are responsible for their choices. To make a decision is to choose one reality over other possible realities. Because we may perceive reality as different as a result of our choices, the reality realised requires justification. Nonetheless, Jeutner's lucidly argued study has an empowering message for individuals today. Change is possible, but it requires taking one's individual agency seriously and acting with sovereignty and responsibility to bring about realities that are worth living. * Judith Hahn, University of Bonn, Germany * Carl Schmitt and Dietrich Bonhoeffer - a truly unexpected combo! Yet a winning concept at a time when mutually exclusive labels and cancel culture deepen the ditches between people(s), opinions and ideas. Jeutner offers a sharp analysis of similarities and differences between these two Christian thinkers. In dialogue and contrast with both the lawyer and the theologian, he develops an egalitarian theory of sovereign and responsible decision-making. Mindful of the significance of a religious disposition and argued with great acumen and superb clarity, Jeutner presents a hands-on model for responsible decision-making. This is both timely and wanted, since empowerment of each and every one as sovereign decision-maker is an effective antidote to democratic apathy and social fatigue. * Antje Jackelen, Church of Sweden and Lund University, Sweden. * In this carefully researched and argued book, Valentin Jeutner draws from liberal democratic values to evaluate Carl Schmitt and Dietrich Bonhoeffer's political and ethical positions, to demonstrate their logical deficiencies, and to offer an alternative. Jeutner's delineation of a framework for sovereign decision-making will be of particular interest to students of law who want to know how Schmitt and Bonhoeffer may contribute to their thinking. * John P. Burgess, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, USA *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
420 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-567-71704-7 (9780567717047)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Valentin Jeutner
The Sovereign Human Being
Carl Schmitt, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Responsible Decision-Making
E-Book
10/2024
1st Edition
T.& T.Clark Ltd
€30.99
Available for download
Person
Valentin Jeutner is an Associate Professor of Law at Lund University, Sweden, and a Senior Retained Lecturer at Pembroke College, Oxford, UK.
Content
Introduction
1. Parallel Lives
2. Parallel Question
Chapter 1 - Carl Schmitt's Sovereign Fuehrer
1. The Exception
2. The Sovereign
3. The Decision
4. Summary
Chapter 2 - Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Sovereign Superiors
1. The Extraordinary Situation
2. Sovereign Superiors
3. The Decision
4. Summary
Chapter 3 - The Sovereign Human Being
1. Unexceptional Sovereignty
2. The Sovereign Human Being
3. The De-cision
4. A Framework for Sovereign Decision -Making
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
1. Parallel Lives
2. Parallel Question
Chapter 1 - Carl Schmitt's Sovereign Fuehrer
1. The Exception
2. The Sovereign
3. The Decision
4. Summary
Chapter 2 - Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Sovereign Superiors
1. The Extraordinary Situation
2. Sovereign Superiors
3. The Decision
4. Summary
Chapter 3 - The Sovereign Human Being
1. Unexceptional Sovereignty
2. The Sovereign Human Being
3. The De-cision
4. A Framework for Sovereign Decision -Making
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index