vita contemplativa

In his philosophical essay The scent of time Byung-Chul Han asserts a temporal crisis, which coincides with a crisis of identity. The predominant temporality of work in Western societies at the beginning of the 21st century foregrounds vita activa and the absolute value of work. It, further, filters and shapes any relation that humans have to the world through the perspective of work (which includes the parameters of domination and subjectivity) (Han, 2017, 85-114). The mode of constantly being active and the gradual diminishing of non-activity transforms time into empty time. With the goal to resist temporality of work Han proposes a transformative dialogue of vita contemplativa and vita activa (Han, 2017, 107-114). He relate vita contemplativa to reflection, hesitation (the capacity to pause) and to a practice of gentleness and friendliness.