Michael Meng Livres

Exploring the concept of immortality, the book examines three revolutionary contexts: the Soviet, Nazi, and Chinese Communist revolutions. It begins with the radical immortalism of Nikolai Fedorov and contrasts it with Martin Heidegger's finitism. The narrative then delves into modern Chinese philosophical perspectives on technology and nature, advocating for a harmonious relationship with mortality that seeks a balanced approach, avoiding the extremes of both Fedorov and Heidegger.

Bringing together incisive contributions from an international group of colleagues and former students, Modern Germany in Transatlantic Perspective takes stock of the field of German history as exemplified by the extraordinary scholarly career of Konrad H. Jarausch. Through fascinating reflections on the discipline’s theoretical, professional, and methodological dimensions, it explores Jarausch’s monumental work as a teacher and a builder of scholarly institutions. In this way, it provides not merely a look back at the last fifty years of German history, but a path forward as new ideas and methods infuse the study of Germany’s past.

After the Holocaust, many German and Polish cities were left with empty, silent spaces where vibrant Jewish life once thrived, including bombed-out synagogues and cemeteries. The postwar landscape raised questions about what happened to these sites and how Germans, Poles, and Jews have engaged with these remnants over the past sixty years. In the immediate aftermath, city officials often demolished many sites despite protests from Jewish leaders. However, by the late 1970s, a movement emerged among church groups, local residents, political dissidents, and tourists advocating for the preservation of the remaining ruins. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, the push to restore and maintain these sites intensified. This shift marks a significant and often overlooked change in postwar European history, as the neglected traces of Jewish heritage began to be recognized, fueled by heritage tourism, a nostalgia for ruins, and international dialogue about the Holocaust. Michael Meng explores this transformation, revealing a shared memory of tensions that transcends the East-West divide in Central Europe. His narrative highlights the evolving dynamics between local and transnational perspectives as various groups confront a built environment shaped by time. This work exemplifies urban history, uncovering a poignant postwar narrative of contemporary relevance.

KlappentextUm sprachliche Äußerungen verstehen zu können, muß im Verlaufe des Verarbeitungsprozesses deren syntaktische Struktur rekonstruiert werden. Wie aber reagiert das menschliche Sprachverarbeitungssystem auf sprachliche Ambiguitäten? Michael Meng untersucht die Prozesse bei der syntaktischen Verarbeitung von lokal ambigen Strukturen. Anhand von Leseexperimenten zeigt der Autor, daß sich die empirischen Befunde im Rahmen serieller Verarbeitungsmodelle einheitlich interpretieren lassen. Die Ergebnisse untermauern zudem Modellvorstellungen, die von einer Modularisierung des menschlichen Sprachverstehenssystems ausgehen.