Freemasonry and Performance

Abstract

This chapter discusses the ethical conception of Freemasonry as a modern ethics of habitus, which is possible only with reference to Freemasonry's specific roots in eighteenth century England. It addresses the question of whether and to what degree functional continuities or parallels exist that are relevant to today's time. The masonic fraternity's initiation and body staging rituals serve as catalysts for individual processes of self-invention which can be read as a performative, symbolic process along the lines of a collective imaginary. The historical roots of the concept of a performative self-invention can be found in seventeenth century England. Internal processes of differentiation and pluralisation went hand in hand with a redefined relationship between law and ethics, in which unions and clubs such as the masonic fraternity played a special role in terms of their potential to introduce norm changes. Keywords: body staging rituals; eighteenth century England; Freemasonry; masonic fraternity's initiation; masonic habitus; masonic self-invention