The Philosophical Exploration of Free Will and Social Responsibility: The Path of Resistance in the Play 'Bartleby the Scrivener'

Abstract

German director Bolixin Von Pezer's theatrical play "The Copyist Bartleby" acts as a metaphor for philosophy, crafting a "monologue" through two actors. Within the drama, Bartleby exists in a form of "absence", yet, akin to the central tenet of existentialism, he lurks persistently throughout the entire narrative. His chosen response of "I would prefer not to" serves not only as a rejection of the external world but also as a profound exploration of his inner self. This mode of expression resonates with the potentiality thought of Italian philosopher Agamben. In Agamben's philosophy, saying "no" is not just a form of refusal but also an acknowledgment and experience of potentialities. Through this contemplation, freedom is redefined. It is not just an escape from constraints, but also an embrace and experience of latent possibilities. As philosophers have discussed, our current crisis stems not only from a lack of potential but more so from the misunderstanding and misuse of it. Only by breaking traditional frameworks and disrupting entrenched thought patterns can we genuinely enter the realm of freedom, experience the fullness of "form-of-life", break free from dualistic constraints, and achieve true self-redemption.