Oedipus is the name for Metamorphosis

Man, who lived close to nature and the proximity of Gods as physical powers, during the ancient eras, and who, in Middle Ages faced the distance of an omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient God creator beyond nature and physical powers, has recently focused on himself, as a precious, existent subject to free will, predetermined intentionality, thorough investigation, deep agony and even more to the foundations of economy or language or unconscious. He has become himself the very question, predestined to be overcome by his own products of artificial intelligence, unable to follow or manipulate the constant technological or ecological or nuclear flow.

Marked by a primordial inadequacy – deficit, fall, aporia, ignorance –  that gives rise to numerous complicated needs, desires, hidden drives for survival, mere beliefs and thoughts, he explores the world and the means for its conquest. Man stands in himself looking beyond himself. He endeavours to secure his well-being while simultaneously compromising it through the potential consequences of nuclear war or ecological collapse, leading to his own detriment. Finally what is at stake is man himself always looking for a salvation, a solution.

Man under a perceptual metamorphosis has to open to the World – Cosmos, both material and spiritual, that involves and surpasses what we call Nature, God, and Man, not as a coming-back to nature, god or man, but as a strong turn to physicality, sacredness and friendliness respectively. Who is this man of metamorphosis? He is a man of no-land, no-nature, no-substance! A unity through multiplicity. Limited as he is, aims for the unlimited! Simultaneously whole and partial, broken from the very beginning , trying to overcome the habitual split into body / mind, ego / other, subject / object, person / persona-mask, presence / absence, in / out of himself, conscious / unconscious! Born within the world, gives birth to the world.

Oedipus is the mythical, remarkable exemplar of man as “deinon” or “enigma”. A symbol that haunts us, ambiguously hovering above us, suspending upon the chaos of nothingness that frightens us, prone to error and failure. We consider Oedipus as the nomadic person of Greek tragedy who solved the “enigma” and committed error – “hybris” – and misfortune for the community. On the other hand, Oedipus is the privileged exemplar of man’s metamorphosis. He is the blind man with the clear seeing, a mere beggar who seeks for and receives hospitality, the former follower of fear and power that abandones everything and embraces death! Through surrendering he reaches his own transformation. Thus, we consider Oedipus as the holy keeper of an enormous secret that shines through man’s withdrawal!

What does this man’s withdrawal actually mean, for what is coming as the new “paradigm”? Man and the modern anthropocentric view is not the final move in the cosmic game. Subject is not the authentic or actual topos or ground or starting point for our senses, thoughts, desires, drives, or actions. Man exists within space, being himself an in-between space, a threshold that shines for a certain amount of time, facing his “fate” under a light that does not belong to him. Nobody knows what is the real name or definition of man’s nature. Perpetual metamorphosis under timing through clear openings is what remains for sure. Mytho-technological era is our new fate, our great new challenge. Beyond man means beyond meaning, constant unfolding through wandering.