Walter Benjamin: Analysis of the Concept of Adam State

Abstract

This paper attempts to provide an explanation about the concept of “Adam’s state” put forward by Walter Benjamin according to his theological thinking. Adam’s state is divided into Adam’s paradise state in the garden of Eden and Adam’s secular state after his fall. As the origin of human beings, paradise state is a harmonious, unified and perfect heaven state. The secular state is the broken exile life of mankind after Adam’s fall. The paradise state is the metaphysical basis of Benjamin’s philosophy of language, while the secular state is the background where Benjamin’s philosophy presents the fragmentary characteristics and points to the doctrine of redemption. Benjamin’s Adam state is not only an important content of Benjamin’s theology, but also one of the important logical dark lines of Benjamin’s thought.