Critical ethics : text, theory, and responsibility ; [adapted from papers given at the Literature and Ethics Conference at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, in July 1996

The current resurgence of ethics in the beleaguered humanities reflects an increasing anxiety about the value and utility of critical/philosophical debate in the wake of poststructuralism. This book addresses this 'return to ethics' in relation to a wide variety of theories and texts. It covers substantial areas of ethical debate, particularly in relation to queer politics, biography, history, postmodernism, atrocity literature, utilitarianism, pedagogy and the philosophy of science. Theorists discussed in the volume include Rorty, Heidegger, Levinas, Mill, Lyotard, Leavis, Kuhn, Davidson, Nussbaum and Freud. In The Last Few Years An Increasing Number Of Scholars And Teachers In The Beleaguered Humanities Have Begun To Talk About Ethics - A Term That Had Apparently Been Out Of Favour For Several Decades. This Tendency Reflects A Growing Anxiety About The Value And Utility Of Critical/philosophical Debate In The Wake Of Poststructuralism. This Book Addresses The 'return To Ethics' In Relation To A Wide Variety Of Theories And Texts. It Covers Substantial Areas Of Ethical Debate, Particularly In Relation To Queer Politics, Biography, History, Postmodernism, Atrocity Literature, Utilitarianism, Pedagogy And The Philosophy Of Science. Theorists Discussed In The Volume Include Rorty, Heidegger, Levinas, Mill, Lyotard, Leavis, Kuhn, Davidson, Nussbaum And Freud.--book Jacket. Introduction: Ethics And Intellectuals / Dominic Rainsford, Tim Woods -- The Politics Of Ethics -- What Price Collaboration? The Case Of F.r. Leavis / Michael Bell -- Imagining The Centre / Geoffrey Galt Harpham -- Ethics And History -- Ethics, Hermeneutics And Philosophy Of Science / Christopher Norris -- Flaws: James, Nussbaum, Miller, Levinas / Robert Eaglestone -- The Original Traumatism: Levinas And Psychoanalysis / Simon Critchley -- Spectres Of History: Ethics And Postmodern Fictions Of Temporality / Tim Woods -- The Construction Of Identity -- The Ethics Of Biography And Autobiography / Larry Lockridge -- The Ethics Of Queer Theory / Colleen Lamos -- Ethics, Value And The Politics Of Recognition / David Parker -- Moral Synonymy: John Stuart Mill And The Ethics Of Style / Dan Burnstone -- Ethics And The State Of The Humanities -- The Benefit Of Doubt: The Ethics Of Reading / Lori Branch West -- Care Of The Self Or Care Of The Other? Towards A Poststructuralist Ethics Of Pedagogy / Margaret Toye -- The Ethics Of The Voice / Steven Connor -- Bosnia And The Gulag: Literature As Witness -- Testimony As Art: Varlam Shalamov's 'condensed Milk' / Leona Toker -- Cosmopolitanism As Resistance: Fragmented Identities, Women's Testimonial And The War In Yugoslavia / Anne Cubilie. Edited By Dominic Rainsford And Tim Woods. Adapted From Papers Given At The Literature And Ethics Conference At The University Of Wales, Aberystwyth, In July 1996--acknowledgements. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xi Introduction: Ethics and Intellectuals....Pages 1-19 Front Matter....Pages 21-21 What Price Collaboration? The Case of F. R. Leavis....Pages 23-36 Imagining the Centre....Pages 37-52 Front Matter....Pages 53-53 Ethics, Hermeneutics and Philosophy of Science....Pages 55-76 Flaws: James, Nussbaum, Miller, Levinas....Pages 77-87 The Original Traumatism: Levinas and Psychoanalysis....Pages 88-104 Spectres of History: Ethics and Postmodern Fictions of Temporality....Pages 105-121 Front Matter....Pages 123-123 The Ethics of Biography and Autobiography....Pages 125-140 The Ethics of Queer Theory....Pages 141-151 Ethics, Value and the Politics of Recognition....Pages 152-168 Moral Synonymy: John Stuart Mill and the Ethics of Style....Pages 169-184 Front Matter....Pages 185-185 The Benefit of Doubt: The Ethics of Reading....Pages 187-202 Care of the Self or Care of the Other? Towards a Poststructuralist Ethics of Pedagogy....Pages 203-219 The Ethics of the Voice....Pages 220-237 Front Matter....Pages 239-239 Testimony as Art: Varlam Shalamov’s ‘Condensed Milk’....Pages 241-256 Cosmopolitanism as Resistance: Fragmented Identities, Women’s Testimonial and the War in Yugoslavia....Pages 257-276 Back Matter....Pages 277-284