The "world" as "making" (teuchein): Anthropological dimensions of Kostas Papaioannou’s thought

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Published: Feb 28, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/ethiki.33673
Keywords:
World (Kósmos); Nature (Phýsis); History; Civilization; Justice (Díke); Making (Teúchein); Totalitarianism; Nihilism
Konstantinos Th. Petsios
Abstract

This article explores the fundamental philosophical structures of Kostas Papaioannou’s thought, focusing on the criteria that shape human action and constitute the "Political". The author argues that Papaioannou identifies ancient Greek culture as being rooted in the unity of man and nature, where the human subject gives meaning to teuchein (making/creating) as a continuous, conscious production of meaning and collective realization. Through this lens, Papaioannou provides a devastating critique of 19th-century European nihilism—characterized by Nietzsche's "death of God"—and Soviet Marxism, which he deconstructs as a form of "cold ideology" and bureaucratic totalitarianism. The study highlights how Papaioannou navigates the rift between ancient unity and modern fragmentation, positioning the conscious production of art and historical presence as a means to regain human autonomy and beauty against the dehumanizing mechanisms of modern technology and impersonal markets.

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