Mit anderen Augen

Fremdes im interkulturellen Diskurs

Abstract

The phenomenon of the alien is the exemplum crucis of intercultural philosophy: on the question of whether the foreign can be epistemically recognised, the theories are basically divided into those that are intercultural and those that are not. Helmuth Plessner's philosophy of nature can be read as a genuine intercultural philosophy. His approach at a descriptive boundary, which is only inherent in animate things, allows intercultural philosophy to be systematically addressed as a sphere of encounter between one's own and the alien. In order to become aware of this border, we must learn to see with different eyes. Plessner's approach goes beyond the scope of the discipline of intercultural philosophy: If philosophy today wants to be more than a purely academic discipline, it must in principle be open to the alien.