The Literary Absolute: The Theory of Literature in German Romanticism (Suny Series in Judaica) (SUNY series, Intersections: Philosophy and Critical Theory) - Softcover

Lacoue-Labarthe, Philippe

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0887066615 ISBN 13: 9780887066610

Publisher: State University of New York Press, 1988

Synopsis

"The authors have effectively situated romanticism within its philosophical context in a brilliant way." -- Mark C. Taylor, Williams College

The Literary Absolute is the first authoritative study of the emergence of the modern concept of literature in German romanticism. The authors trace this concept from the philosophical crisis bequeathed by Kant to his successors, to its development by the central figures of the Athenaeum group: the Schlegel brothers, Schelling, and Novalis.

This study situates the Jena' "fragmentary" model of literature--a model of literature as the production of its own theory--in relation to the development of a post-Kantian conception of philosophy as the total and reflective auto-production of the thinking subject. Analyzing key texts of the period, the authors articulate the characteristics of romantic thought and at the same time show historical and systematic connections with modern literary theory. Thus, The Literary Absolute renews contemporary scholarship, showing the romantic origins of some of the leading issues in current critical theory.

"It is the most useful historical and theoretical study of its topic that has been published during the last twenty odd years. Everyone concerned with literary criticism and philosophy should have it to read more than once." -- Werner Hamacher, The Johns Hopkins University

About this title

About the Author

Philippe Lacoue-Labarthe and Jean-Luc Nancy are philosophers who teach at the Université de Strasbourg. Cheryl Lester is Assistant Professor of English at the University of Kansas. Philip Barnard is Assistant Professor of Literature at American University.

Edition details

• Publisher: State University of New York Press
• Publication date: 1988
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0887066615
• ISBN 13: 9780887066610
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 196