The Coincidentia oppositorum and the Feeling of Being

Abstract

The Coincidentia oppositorum and the Feeling of Being

The coincidentia oppositorum formula abbreviates a profound tendency of human thought, which is present in all times and cultures. In other words, the thinking has always felt that its supreme and sublime task is to “make peace” between Perfect and Imperfect, Transcendence and Immanence, Spirit and Matter, Good and Evil. Also, almost all ontological projects axiomatically stipulate the primordiality and the superior metaphysical competence of a feeling of being, a pre(non)-thinking disposition of the human being. In this sense, the case of Martin Heidegger can be brought forth, who argues that affective disposition (Befindlichkeit), that is not “affects” or “feelings” or “state of soul,” pre-determines the entire perception, understanding and outlook on the world and ourselves, and it is one that provides, in the first instance, matching the Dasein with his being. This article examines how the coincidentia oppositorum and the feeling of being are assumed and operationalized in the ontological project designed by Mihai Șora, who is considered to be “the Philosopher par excellence” in Romanian culture.

Keywords: coincidentia oppositorum, feeling of being, Șora, metaphysics, purpose of being