DIALÉTICA E HERMENÊUTICA: A POESIA ENTRE A NEGATIVIDADE E A POSITIVIDADE

Abstract

This paper develops an analysis on the poetic word based on Gadamer’s Philosophical
Hermeneutics paradigm. It is specifically analyzed the dialectical dimension of poetic experience,
which is exposed in two moments: its negativity and its positivity. The first one is exemplified by an
interpretation of some excerpts of the poet Paul Celan. The second one is realized by a reading of
Plato’s dialogues Phaedrus and Symposium. In fact, one of the fundamental tasks of Philosophical
Hermeneutics is to develop a new ontology of language, in which poetry shows itself as a
paradigmatic phenomenon. In general, Gadamer considers language to be a way of appearing of
beings, although it can be hindered by a petrification of meaning in everyday life. In this context, the
poetic word shows itself as way of clearing language’s creative capacity from such obstruction. It is
the case, inclusively, of the so-called hermetic poetry, as that of Paul Celan. Due to its closure and strangeness before everyday life speech, it opens up language, through this negativity, to a more
fundamental dimension: bringing the unheard-of (even the abominable) into word. From that, it is then
necessary to consider what is this “bringing into [poetic] word”. Considering Gadamer’s own
comprehensive appropriation, the concept of “beautiful”, extracted here mainly from Plato’s dialogues
Phaedrus and Symposium, will have a leading part by articulating “Being” and “Appearance” in a
positive way. In this sense, the “erotic” function of poetic word emerges, insofar as it launches us into
a creative poverty.