Cambridge University Press 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. Review "What is impressive about Eldrige's work is that he is able to keep an eye on the important literary legacy of Romanticism without failing to provide sharp analysis of the central philosophical commitments that shaped early German Romantic philosophy, for example, anti-foundationalism and mediality." Philosophy Today, Elizabeth MilliÂn-Zaibert Book Description This volume, first published in 2001, argues that Romantic thought remains central to both artistic work and philosophical understanding.