The Poet as Phenomenologist: Rilke and the New Poems (New Directions in German Studies Book 10)

The Poet as Phenomenologist: Rilke and the New Poems opens up new perspectives on the relation between Rilke’s poetry and phenomenological philosophy, and illustrates the ways in which poetry can offer an exceptional response to the philosophical problem of dualism. In its articulation of Rilke’s philosophical significance, it draws on the work of Husserl, Heidegger, and Merleau-Ponty as well as literature from leading international Rilke scholars. It makes a new contribution to the tradition of phenomenological poetics that begins with Heidegger’s readings of Hölderlin and expands the debate among Germanists concerning the phenomenological status of Rilke’s poetry, which has been severely limited to comparisons of Rilke and Husserl. After introducing the problem of dualism and demonstrating the need for a phenomenological resolution, the book explicates an implicit phenomenology of perception in Rilke’s writings from his middle period (1902-1910). It argues that Rilke cultivated an artistic perception (largely inspired by the French visual artists, Rodin and Cézanne) that, in a philosophically significant manner, overcomes the opposition between the sensuous and the intelligible while simultaneously transcending the boundaries of philosophy. Fischer offers novel interpretations of central poems from Rilke’s Neue Gedichte (New Poems, 1907) and Der neuen Gedichte anderer Teil (New Poems: The Other Part, 1908) and explicates them as the ultimate articulation of Rilke’s non-dualistic vision. The Poet as Phenomenologist thus demonstrates the continuity between Rilke and phenomenology while arguing that poetry, in this case, provides the most adequate response to a philosophical problem. FC 1 NEW DIRECTIONS IN GERMAN STUDIES 2 Volumes in the series 3 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Quote 7 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Preface 12 Note on the German and English 14 List of Abbreviations 16 Introduction 18 Poetry and the Crisis of Philosophy 18 Rilke and Phenomenology 25 The Structure of the Work 27 1 Phenomenology and the Problem of Dualism 32 The Problem of Dualism 32 Dualism as an Existential Condition 35 The Inadequacy of Metaphysical Dualism 39 Materialist Monism 40 Idealist Monism 41 The Privileged Status of Phenomenology 42 The Twofold Seeing of the Human Other 57 Elementary Reflections on the Perception of the Other 61 The Genesis of the Sense of an Individual Character 77 Conclusion of Chapter 82 2 Learning to See: Rilke and the Visual Arts 86 Rilke’s Formulation of the Problem of Dualism 92 Rilke’s Developmental Conception of the Dualistic Condition 95 Rilke and Romanticism 107 Rilke’s Engagement with Rodin and Cézanne: The Formulation of “das Werk des Gesichts” 113 The Disposition of the Artist 117 Rodin’s Physiognomic Vision 132 From Ding to Kunst-Ding: The Translation of Vision into the Sculptural Work of Art 140 Cézanne’s Participative Vision 158 The Task of Réalisation and Cézanne’s Sachliches Sagen 167 Conclusion of Chapter 186 3 Rilke as Seer: A Twofold Vision of Nature 188 Rilke’s Seeing 194 From the Middle Rilke to the Later Rilke 215 Rilke’s Sachliches Sagen 224 Conclusion of Chapter 228 4 The Neue Gedichte as a Twofold Imagining of Things 232 Introduction 232 The Phenomenological Character of the Neue Gedichte 233 Poetry as the Language of Imagination 238 Rilke’s Dinggedichte 244 Nature as Poetically Disclosed 248 Animal Poems 248 Flower Poems 270 Other Aspects of Nature 284 Conclusion of Section 292 Other Dinggedichte 292 Conclusion of Chapter 314 Conclusion 316 Epilogue 322 Bibliography 324 Index 336 The Poet As Phenomenologist: Rilke And The New Poems Opens Up New Perspectives On The Relation Between Rilke's Poetry And Phenomenological Philosophy, Illustrating The Ways In Which Poetry Can Offer An Exceptional Response To The Philosophical Problem Of Dualism. Drawing On The Work Of Husserl, Heidegger And Merleau-ponty, Luke Fischer Makes A New Contribution To The Tradition Of Phenomenological Poetics And Expands The Debate Among Germanists Concerning The Phenomenological Status Of Rilke's Poetry, Which Has Been Severely Limited To Comparisons Of Rilke And Husserl. Fischer Explicates An Implicit Phenomenology Of Perception In Rilke's Writings From His Middle Period (1902-1910). He Argues That Rilke Cultivated An Artistic Perception That, In A Philosophically Significant Manner, Overcomes The Opposition Between The Sensuous And The Intelligible While Simultaneously Transcending The Boundaries Of Philosophy. Fischer Offers Novel Interpretations Of Central Poems From Rilke's Neue Gedichte (1907) And Der Neuen Gedichte Anderer Teil (1908) And Frames Them As The Ultimate Articulation Of Rilke's Non-dualistic Vision. He Thus Demonstrates The Continuity Between Rilke And Phenomenology While Arguing That Poetry, In This Case, Provides The Most Adequate Response To A Philosophical Problem-- Introduction -- 1. Phenomenology And The Problem Of Dualism -- 2. Learning To See: Rilke And The Visual Arts -- 3. Rilke As Seer: A Twofold Vision Of Nature -- 4. The Neue Gedichte As A Twofold Imagining Of Things -- Conclusion -- Epilogue -- Bibliography -- Index. Luke Fischer. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "The Poet as Phenomenologist: Rilke and the New Poems opens up new perspectives on the relation between Rilke's poetry and phenomenological philosophy, illustrating the ways in which poetry can offer an exceptional response to the philosophical problem of dualism. Drawing on the work of Husserl, Heidegger and Merleau-Ponty, Luke Fischer makes a new contribution to the tradition of phenomenological poetics and expands the debate among Germanists concerning the phenomenological status of Rilke's poetry, which has been severely limited to comparisons of Rilke and Husserl. Fischer explicates an implicit phenomenology of perception in Rilke's writings from his middle period (1902-1910). He argues that Rilke cultivated an artistic perception that, in a philosophically significant manner, overcomes the opposition between the sensuous and the intelligible while simultaneously transcending the boundaries of philosophy. Fischer offers novel interpretations of central poems from Rilke's Neue Gedichte (1907) and Der neuen Gedichte anderer Teil (1908) and frames them as the ultimate articulation of Rilke's non-dualistic vision. He thus demonstrates the continuity between Rilke and phenomenology while arguing that poetry, in this case, provides the most adequate response to a philosophical problem"-- "A groundbreaking contribution to Rilke scholarship that significantly expands the existing debate concerning the relation between Rilke's poetry and phenomenological philosophy"-- "The Poet as Phenomenologist: Rilke and the New Poems opens up new perspectives on the relation between Rilke's poetry and phenomenological philosophy, illustrating the ways in which poetry can offer an exceptional response to the philosophical problem of dualism. Drawing on the work of Husserl, Heidegger and Merleau-Ponty, Luke Fischer makes a new contribution to the tradition of phenomenological poetics and expands the debate among Germanists concerning the phenomenological status of Rilke's poetry, which has been severely limited to comparisons of Rilke and Husserl. Fischer explicates an implicit phenomenology of perception in Rilke's writings from his middle period (1902-1910). He argues that Rilke cultivated an artistic perception that, in a philosophically significant manner, overcomes the opposition between the sensuous and the intelligible while simultaneously transcending the boundaries of philosophy. Fischer offers novel interpretations of central poems from Rilke's Neue Gedichte (1907) and Der neuen Gedichte anderer Teil (1908) and frames them as the ultimate articulation of Rilke's non-dualistic vision. He thus demonstrates the continuity between Rilke and phenomenology while arguing that poetry, in this case, provides the most adequate response to a philosophical problem"-- Provided by publisher Machine generated contents note: Introduction Chapter 1. Phenomenology and the Problem of Dualism Chapter 2. Learning to See: Rilke and the Visual Arts Chapter 3. Rilke as Seer: A Twofold Vision of Nature Chapter 4. The Neue Gedichte as a Twofold Imagining of Things. Conclusion. Epilogue. Bibliography. Index. "A groundbreaking contribution to Rilke scholarship that significantly expands the existing debate concerning the relation between Rilke's poetry and phenomenological philosophy"-- Provided by publisher