Eugen Diederichs and Theological Expressionism

Abstract

Studies of the history of thought had long been pursued within the framework of the “author-to-reader" relationship as an analysis of how readers or researchers perceive a “thinker-as-author," or the text written and expressed by the author. Since the modern period, however, it has become possible to pursue academic studies outside universities and academic institutions. This brought the end to the monopoly of thought by a small number of intellectual circles. It expanded the market of thought beyond specialists, such as university faculties and members of academic societies, to the general public. At this critical juncture of the collapse of the “author-reader" framework, the “editor" emerged as the promoter of knowledge in between the author and the reader. The function of the editor in this sense went well beyond the management side of publishing activities; the editor came to engage actively in the issues of thought. This article seeks to provide an analysis of the significance of this shift of editorial duties and the place the editor occupies within the studies of the history of thought by considering the case of Eugen Diederichs.