A Diagnosis of Modern Life – Robert Musil’s Der Mann Ohne Eigenschaften as a Critical-Utopian Project

New book by Stijn de Cauwer

In 2012, Dr Stijn de Cauwer wrote his dissertation at Utrecht University, about the famous novel Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften from Robert Musil. Recently, his PhD-thesis, entitled A Diagnosis of Modern Life - Robert Musil's Der Mann Ohne Eigenschaften as a Critical-Utopian Project has been published. In this book, De Cauwer argues that the Austrian author can be regarded as one of the most original and hard-hitting cultural critics of his time.

Alongside James Joyce's Ulysses, Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften is often mentioned as one of the biggest modernist novels of the previous century. The book tells the story of Ulrich, the man without qualities, who decides to become a man with qualities. Then, he gets involved in the organisation of a feast, to celebrate the 70 year reign of emperor Franz Josef I.

Morality, ideology and utopia

In his dissertation, De Cauwer outlines how cultural critique plays an important role in Der Mann. Firstly, the place of morality and ideology in Musil's critique and how his writings function as an ideology critique are explained. Secondly, the question of Musil's utopianism is clarified. His utopianism is not a future or ideal place, but an increased awareness of the possibilities in the present, opened up by the process of critique. Thirdly, the function of the 'pathological' is analysed. De Cauwer argues that Musil's novel was meant to be an intervention into a condition which he compared to a pathological affliction. Finally, he takes up the difficult question of whether Musil's analysis and original ideas still have relevance today. 

Stijn de Cauwer is postdoctoral researcher in literature and culture at the University of Leuven. In 2012, he received his PhD. He wrote his dissertation under the supervision of his promotor Prof. Ton Naaijkens.

  • Title: A Diagnosis of Modern Life - Robert Musil's Der Mann Ohne Eigenschaften as a Critical-Utopian Project
  • Author: Stijn de Cauwer
  • ISBN: 978-2-87574-157-8
  • Publisher: 2014, Peter Lang