University of Muri


TheUniversity of Muri is the fictional university created by critic and metaphysician Walter Benjamin, and historian of Jewish mysticism and Philosopher Gershom Scholem.

History

It was presumed to be located in Muri, Switzerland and was shut down by Benjamin and Scholem a number of times but may be still "open." In his essay Walter Benjamin and his Angel Scholem writes, "The guardian angel of the Kabbalah from the year 1921 has become the guardian angel of the University of Muri, in whose Transactions a "philosopher" and a "kabbalist"—who in a traditional sense were neither a philosopher nor a kabbalist—made the traditional university and its scholars the object of their derision."
While a complete course offering was never available, Scholem reports that he and Benjamin mutually agreed to put Robert Eisler in charge of a course titled, "Ladies' coats and Beach Cabanas in light of the History of Religion."

Revival

The University appears to have been revived by unknown persons and is currently supporting fellowships, including Muhammed Asad, Fernando Pessoa, and Hannah Arendt.