Immunology, ADHD, and transcendence : exploring borders and boundaries through Byung-Chul Han’s Philosophy

Kovács, Gusztáv (author)

This paper examines the concept of boundaries, drawing on Central European experiences, particularly Hungary’s history behind the Iron Curtain, both after 1989 and in the 21st century. It explores the complex emotions surrounding borders, such as longing, fear, confusion, and the desire for transcendence. Using Byung-Chul Han’s philosophy, the article contrasts a society of negativity (rooted in external constraints) with a society of positivity, where individuals self-exploit within boundless systems of overachievement and performance. The COVID-19 pandemic is highlighted as a significant event that reshaped the boundaries between work and home life. Ultimately, the paper argues that the meaningful reordering of boundaries should not primarily concern separation but rather foster the potential for transcendence.

• Language: English
• Keywords: borders, boundaries, immunology, ADHD, transcendence
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: TEOF - Theological Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 06.08.2025
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 33-43
• Numbering: Letn. 85, [št.] 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-175372
• UDC: 111.8Han, B.-C.
• ISSN on article: 0006-5722
• DOI: 10.34291/BV2025/01/Kovacs
• COBISS.SI-ID: 245077763
• Publication date in RUL: 24.10.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Bogoslovni vestnik
• Shortened title: Bogosl. vestn.
• Publisher: Bogoslovna akademija, Bogoslovna akademija, Teološka fakulteta v Ljubljani, Teološka fakulteta Univerze v Ljubljani, Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 0006-5722
• COBISS.SI-ID: 8745472

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Imunologija, ADHD in transcendenca : raziskovanje meja in zamejitev skozi filozofijo Byung-Chul Hana

Abstract

Prispevek obravnava pojem meja, pri čemer se opira na srednjeevropske izkušnje, zlasti na madžarsko zgodovino za železno zaveso, tako po letu 1989 kot v 21. stoletju. Raziskuje kompleksna čustva, povezana z mejami, kot so hrepenenje, strah, zmedenost in želja po transcendenci. S pomočjo filozofije ByungChula Hana članek primerja družbo negativnosti (ki temelji na zunanjih omejitvah) z družbo pozitivnosti, kjer posamezniki sami sebe izkoriščajo znotraj brezmejnih sistemov pretirane storilnosti in učinkovitosti. Pandemija covida-19 je izpostavljena kot dogodek, ki je meje med delom in zasebnim življenjem izrazito preoblikoval. Prispevek v zaključku zagovarja tezo, da smiselno preurejanje meja ne bi smelo biti usmerjeno predvsem v ločevanje, temveč v spodbujanje možnosti za transcendenco.

• Keywords: meje, omejitve, imunologija, ADHD, transcendenca