A few years ago I wrote a piece that remains unpublished on
Ivan Illich's ideas of the "break with the world" and the "institutionalization of grace." I have considered re-writing this essay for publication (it overlaps with some of my published work, and there are things in it I would do differently) but I am unlikely to do so. It may be that there is something useful in here for others to ponder, and the piece marks a stepping stone for me in my work on Henry Corbin, so I offer it here via Google documents. If nothing else I hope it will turn some people's attention to Illich's work.
The Break With the World
Mr. Cheetham,
ReplyDeleteI downloaded your paper the other day and have been working my way through it. As someone fairly familiar with Illich, including the Rivers North book, I am finding your essay quite interesting and helpful. Thank you. (I've also mentioned it on my blog, such as it is, which is devoted primarily to all things Illich.)
I would like to bring to your attention a small error in the paper. In two places (p4 and p15), you quote from Illich's paper "The Loss of World and Flesh" a list of place names: Guernica, Leipzig, Bergen-Belsen, and Los Alamos. In fact, Illich cited Dresden, not Leipzig.
Seeing that name Leipzig made me wonder if there were some atrocity or crime against humanity I had never heard of. Thankfully, no! On the other hand, I was led back to that essay, which had slipped my mind. It is a powerful one.
Anyway, I look forward to reading more on your blog and in your rich, thoughtful essay about Illich and Corbin (new to me) and others. I have lots to learn.
Winslow, in Calif.