“The Atomic Age. Maximum of Science and Technology. Maximum for Responsibility.” This
is the theme of the 15th symposium held in the late October 2011 by Theodor-Litt -Institute of
Leipzig University. The theme was decided for the paper, “Wie versteht unser Zeitalter sich
selbst?” (“How is our age itself understood?”) that Theodor Litt (1880-1962) had given in the
conference, “Current Fatal Problems,” held in 1957 by the Department of Defense of the federal
government of the former West Germany.
The paper was a result of his vigorous dialogue with W. Heisenberg, the Novel prize laureate
for Physics in 1932, about various issues. It reflectively and quite dispassionately criticizes
the utilization of the “atomic power” that would be positively accepted to the German society
afterwards. He maintains his attitude not with “mythos and pathos” but with “logos and ethos.”
In the following, this paper will analyze and characterize Litt’s “thinking” in his responding to
the social issue, and elucidate what solution he obtained out of his dialogue with Heisenberg who
was a Kantian as well.
The outline of the study is : Introduction ; 1) The political Backgrand of a ‘Current Social issue’
(1957) by Th. Litt ; 2) The Position of a ’Current Social issue’ (1957) by Th. Litt’s works ; 3) Analyses
of the Thought and Logic of Th.Litt’s ‘Current Social issue’ (1957) ; 4) Conclusion.