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This transcript (edited by Alexander Bazelow) contains two lectures by Heinrich Blücher, delivered at the New School for Social Research in May 1954, presenting a philosophical analysis of Jesus of Nazareth. Blücher argues that when viewed purely as a man, apart from religious belief, Jesus stands as one of history's greatest and most original thinkers. He refutes the characterizations of Jesus by thinkers like Nietzsche and Dostoevsky as an "idiot" or naive idealist, positing instead that Jesus demonstrated a profound understanding of the political and religious conditions of his time.

Blücher identifies Jesus's core philosophical contribution as the discovery of the human "will" or "heart," a dimension he argues was overlooked by previous philosophers who focused on the mind. Through this concept, Jesus established foundational principles for Western thought, including the infinite value of every human person, absolute equality in quality, and a definitive philosophical reason against murder. The lectures conclude that Jesus's goal was to establish a "trans-political" Kingdom of God on earth through the inward decision of individuals to reject hatred, embrace love, and recognize their creative potential as "the Son of man."

Publication Date

1954

08-VIII. Jesus (1954)

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