Rudolf Pannwitz
Pannwitz, Rudolf (Crossen/Oder, 1881-1969, Astano, Ticino), except for a short period as a private tutor after completing his university studies, spent his life in the study of philosophy, arts, letters, and civilization in general. His wide-ranging works, a first outline of which is contained in the autobiographical Grundriß einer Geschichte meiner Kultur 1886 bis 1906 (1921), aimed at the fundamental (European) renewal of humanity which, based on the co-ordination of the arts and sciences, involved the reassessment of our philosophical and mythical heritage that shows man's close communion with nature and the cosmic spirit. Largely motivated by his opposition to nihilism and among other influences indebted to Nietzsche, he elaborated his nature philosophy (Kosmologie) in his theoretical writings, including Die Krisis der europäischen Kultur (1917), Kosmos Atheos (1926), Die Freiheit des Menschen (1926), Nietzsche und die Verwandlung des Menschen (1940), Der Nihilismus und die werdende Welt (1951), and Beiträge zu einer europäischen Kultur (1954). His visionary poetic work which combines Nietzsche's rhapsodic manner with the discrimination of S. George, whom he knew personally, is best characterized by his Dionysische Tragödien (1913) and his series of Mythen (9 Pts., 1919-21) which, adapting myths through the ages, include Das Kind Aion, Der Elf, Das Lied vom Ehlen, Faustus und Helena, Der Gott, and Logos. His poetry, which includes Urblick (1926) and Hymnen aus Widars Wiederkehr (1927), was collected in the volume Wasser wird sich ballen (1963). He also wrote the epic poems Prometheus (1902) and König Laurin (1956). With Otto zur Linde, who influenced his early work, he was co-founder of the periodical Charon and its associated group. Pannwitz, who from 1921 to 1948 lived on the small Adriatic island of Koločep near Dubrovnik and thereafter in Switzerland, never achieved the success and influence for which he strove. In 1968 he was awarded the Gryphius Prize.
An autobiography, Nach siebzig Jahren (1951), is included in Über den Denker Rudolf Pannwitz by U. Rukser (1970). A selection of his works, ed. E. Jaeckle, appeared in 1983, correspondence with Hofmannsthal in 1993.
