I. Unverfügbarkeit

Along with the concepts of ‘acceleration’, ‘alienation’, and ‘resonance’, the notion of Unverfügbarkeit ranks among the most important reference points in Hartmut Rosa’s critical theory, especially in his recent work. Unverfügbarkeit—which, according to Rosa, constitutes a central characteristic of resonant experiences—refers to five different phenomena: (1) elusiveness, (2) unavailability, (3) unpredictability, (4) non-engineerability, and (5) uncontrollability. On this account, resonant experiences are elusive, unenforceable, unpredictable, non-engineerable, and—ultimately—uncontrollable. In terms of their occurrence (‘that’), substance and outcome (‘what’), and duration (‘how long’), resonant experiences are processes that escape our control.