The Persistence of Romanticism: Essays in Philosophy and Literature (Modern European Philosophy)

These challenging essays in this volume, first published in 2001, defend Romanticism against its critics. They argue that Romantic thought, interpreted as the pursuit of freedom in concrete contexts, remains a central and exemplary form of both artistic work and philosophical understanding. Marshalling a wide range of texts from literature, philosophy and criticism, Richard Eldridge traces the central themes and stylistic features of Romantic thinking in the work of Kant, Hölderlin, Wordsworth, Hardy, Wittgenstein, Cavell and Updike. Through his analysis he shows that Romanticism is neither emptily literary and escapist nor dogmatically optimistic and sentimental. This is the first serious philosophical defense of the ethical ideals of Romanticism and will appeal particularly to all professionals and students in philosophy, literature and aesthetics who are interested in what, philosophically, literature can show that philosophy cannot say. Has Romanticism Been Superseded By Realism, Modernism, And Postmodernism, All Of Which Are Often Taken To Acknowledge Reality More Fully Than Romanticism? What Is It That Romantic Thinkers And Writers Do? Why Does What They Do Matter? Is Romanticism A Think Of The Past? These Challenging Essays Defend Romanticism Against Its Critics. They Argue That Romantic Thought, Interpreted As The Ongoing Pursuit Of Freedom In Concrete Contexts, Crossed By Frustration And Marked By Desire, Remains A Central And Exemplary Form Of Both Artistic Work And Philosophical Understanding. Marshaling A Wide Range Of Texts From Literature, Philosophy, And Criticism, Richard Eldridge Traces The Central Themes And Stylistic Features Of Romantic Thinking In The Work Of Kant, Holderlin, Wordsworth, Hardy, Wittgenstein, Cavell, And Updike. Through His Analysis He Shows That Romanticism Is Neither Emptily Literary And Escapist Nor Dogmatically Optimistic And Sentimental. This Philosophical Defense Of The Ideals And Practice Of Romanticism Will Appeal Particularly To All Professionals And Students In Philosophy, Literature, And Aesthetics Who Are Interested In Expressivist Thinking About Value And Freedom, As It Is Developed In Both Literary And Philosophical Texts.--jacket. Introduction: The Persistence Of Romanticism -- Kant, Hölderlin, And The Experience Of Longing -- Modernity And Expression: Kant On The Value Of Absolute Music -- How Is The Kantian Moral Criticism Of Literature Possible? -- Hölderlin's Ethical Thinking: The Processes Of The Actual In Heidelberg -- Internal Transcendentalism: Wordsworth And A New Condition Of Philosophy -- Hypotheses, Criterial Claims, And Perspicuous Representations: Wittgenstein's Remarks On Frazer's The Golden Bough -- How Can Tragedy Matter For Us? -- Althusser And Ideological Criticism Of The Arts -- A Continuing Task: Cavell And The Truth Of Skepticism -- Plights Of Embodied Soul: Dramas Of Sin And Salvation In Augustine And Updike -- Cavell And Hölderin On Human Immigrancy. Richard Eldridge. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. These challenging essays defend Romanticism against its critics. They argue that Romantic thought, interpreted as the pursuit of freedom in concrete contexts, remains a central and exemplary form of both artistic work and philosophical understanding. Richard Eldridge traces the central features of Romantic thinking and shows that Romanticism is neither emptily literary and escapist nor dogmatically optimistic and sentimental. The first serious philosophical defense of the ethical ideals of Romanticism, this volume will appeal particularly to all professionals and students in philosophy, literature and aesthetics.