Tragic Thoughts at the End of Philosophy: Language, Literature, and Ethical Theory

Recently, a number of Anglo-American philosophers of very different sorts--pragmatists, metaphysicians, philosophers of language, philosophers of law, moral philosophers--have taken a reflective rather than merely recreational interest in literature. Does this literary turn mean that philosophy is coming to an end or merely down to earth? In this collection of essays, one of the most insightful of contemporary literary theorists investigates the intersection of literature and philosophy, analyzing the emerging preferences for practice over theory, particulars over universals, events over structures, inhabitants over spectators, an ethics of responsibility over a morality of rules, and a desire for intimacy with the world instead of simply a disengaged knowledge of it.

Summary

Here, Bruns investigates the recent phenomenon of philosophers taking an interest in literature and literary theory. He offers a view of what happens when philosophers begin looking at the world from the ground level - that is, as inhabitants, rather than as disengaged observers.

Product details

• Authors: Gerald L. Bruns
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.07.1999
• EAN: 9780810116757
• ISBN: 978-0-8101-1675-7
• No. of pages: 299
• Dimensions: 156 mm x 232 mm x 20 mm
• Weight: 440 g
• Series: Rethinking Theory; Rethinking Theory (Paperback); Rethinking Theory; Rethinking Theory (Paperback)
• Subject: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies