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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Goethes „Weltliteratur“: Begriff oder Diskurs?

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Based on Birus’ suggestion to understand Goethe as an “initiator of discursive practices”, the present study reconsiders the Goethean comments on World Literature (“Weltliteratur”) not in terms of a concept but rather in terms of a discourse. The initial point is the observation that Goethe’s comments on World literature share in two different notions of culture relevant at the time, namely culture as a technique of comparison that implies a competent and sober handling of cultural difference, as well as culture as ultimate foundation of a group that allows for enthusiastic reference on a community. By operating a combination of competence for comparison and enthusiasm, without however referring to a concrete community, Goethe’s comments constitute a new possibility of speech, the discourse of World literature.