Critical Conditions: Postmodernity and the Question of Foundations: 8 (Literature, Culture, Theory, Series Number 8) - Hardcover

Horace L. Fairlamb

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521450470 ISBN 13: 9780521450478

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1994

Synopsis

The postmodern debate has been heavily influenced by often contradictory conclusions about the foundations of knowledge: hermeneutics challenges epistemology, politics challenges science, identity theory challenges critical theory, pragmatism challenges formalism, and so on. Horace Fairlamb contends that philosophy's foundationist quest has usually been misconceived as a choice between a 'super-science' and theoretical anarchy. Through an examination of the history of foundationism, and detailed analysis of the work of leading theorists including Fish, Foucault, Derrida, Gadamer and Habermas, Dr Fairlamb argues for a less reductive and less arbitrary conception of knowledge and meaning. The result in this 1994 book is a sophisticated critique of contemporary theory with implications for philosophers as well as literary theorists, and an important contribution to the re-evaluation of theoretical discourse.

About this title

Book Description

The postmodern debate has been heavily influenced by often contradictory conclusions about the foundations of knowledge. In this 1994 book, Horace Fairlamb examines the history of foundationism and analyses the work of leading theorists including Fish, Foucault, Gadamer and Habermas, in order to argue for a less reductive and less arbitrary theory of knowledge and meaning.

From the Back Cover

Providing a sophisticated critique of contemporary foundationist debate, this work contributes significantly to the current revaluation of theoretical discourse with implications for philosophers as well as literary theorists.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521450470
• ISBN 13: 9780521450478
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 286