Being and theatrical play

An Aesthetic Interpretation of Trinitarian Ontology with Klaus Hemmerle and Hans Urs von Balthasar

Abstract

‘Why is there Spiel (Play) and not Nicht-Spiel (non-Play)?’, Hemmerle asks us in Theses toward a Trinitarian Ontology, reformulating the ancient question of all philosophy. In order to try to answer it, the paradigm of Spiel (Play) will be presented in this article within that experience of thought which Klaus Hemmerle in 1975 called Trinitarian Ontology, in a birthday letter written on Hans Urs von Balthasar’s 70th anniversary. The exposition consists of three parts. The first one, “Prelude” (Vorspiel), is based on the programmatic text titled: Manifesto. Per una riforma del pensare (CODA-CURI, 2021), where we will dwell on the vocation of rethinking aesthetics, from the current situation of cultural, anthropological and theological crisis. In the second one, “Theatrical Play” (Spiel), we will continue to explore its dynamics not only as ‘content’, but also as ‘form’ of thought in action between the two authors. Our dramatic metaphor, explored in its expressive dimensions of dance, music and theatre, will offer performative and concrete examples to the argumentation. In the third part, “Epilogue” (Nachspiel), we propose a dancing ontology with an ontological interpretation in accordance with the characteristics and rhythm of the itinerary that has taken place.