Psychocrisis and the Resonance of Forgiveness. A Reading Through Hartmut Rosa’s Critical Theory

Abstract

This article, through Hartmut Rosa’s theory, addresses the problem of how the relational logic of the late modern subject of dynamic stabilization −characterized by a constant increase in economic, technological and innovation levels− has led to a relationship with the world that seeks domination and appropriation for use and control. This dynamic has resulted in an accelerated and alienated life, where the subject, faced with the impossibility of continuing in the “race for life,” feels responsible, triggering a psychocrisis rooted in guilt, fear and anxiety. In this sense, the resonance of forgiveness represents the possibility of an exculpated existence, free from the fear of the other’s gaze, as it does not pose a threat that exacerbates guilt but rather creates a space that fosters a safe and welcoming world. The aim of this article is to delve into Hartmut Rosa’s critical theory to propose that resonance is not only a diagnostic concept but a therapeutic exercise, specifically the resonance of forgiveness as a facilitator of a space for encounter. Employing a hermeneutic-critical methodology, it is concluded that the resonance of forgiveness is found in Christianity as a possibility for connection with the world. Therefore, the main conclusion suggests that, through forgiveness, we can reconstruct the time and space of encounter, allowing the world (the relational) to speak once again. © 2024, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. All rights reserved.