Return of the Gods: Mythology in Romantic Philosophy and Literature

Why was mythology of vital importance for the romantics? What role did mythology play in their philosophical and literary work? And what common sources of influence inspired these writers across Britain and Germany at the turn of the nineteenth century?In this wide-ranging study, Owen Ware argues that the romantics turned to mythology for its potential to transform how we see ourselves, others, and the world. Engaging with authors such as William Blake, Friedrich Schlegel, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Friedrich von Hardenberg (Novalis), and Percy Bysshe Shelley, Ware shows why they believed that neither perception nor reason alone can sustain a vision of the unity of all things. A new mode of cognition is necessary, they claimed, one that revives the poetic origin of mythology and reveals our own mythmaking powers. Return of the Gods investigates the rise of mythology in the British and German traditions and the romantics' practices of reinterpreting old myths and inventing new ones. Their shared aim was nothing less than to elevate the human imagination to higher stages of self-development in which philosophy and poetry, as well as intellect and imagination, form an integrated whole. Far from calling us to return to the past, the romantics' work on mythology points us to a future where we can live in harmony with the personal, social, and natural worlds we inhabit.Owen Ware combines intellectual history with philosophical analysis and literary criticism to offer a bold reflection on why mythology mattered for the romantics--and why it still matters today.

Table of Contents:
Introduction: Romantic Mythologies 1: Life and Ideal 2: Mythologies Old and New 3: Marriages of Heaven and Hell 4: Searching for the Blue Flower 5: The Imageless Truth Conclusion: Return of the Gods

About the Author :
Owen Ware is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Toronto. He is the author of Fichte's Moral Philosophy (OUP, 2020), Kant's Justification of Ethics (OUP, 2021), Kant on Freedom (CUP, 2023), Indian Philosophy and Yoga in Germany (Routledge, 2024), and the co-editor of Fichte's System of Ethics: A Critical Guide (CUP, 2021).

Review :
Owen Ware's interpretation of the complex texts of the romantic era is rich with literary as well as philosophical insights. It succeeds magnificently in its objective of showing how deeply intertwined the traditions of British and German romanticism were at the turn of the nineteenth century. For readers of all kinds seeking a concise account of the philosophical significance of early romanticism, Ware's lucid and well-researched book is an invaluable guide Owen Ware has authored a first-rate study of the major romantics, both British and German, which combines clarity and accessibility with impressive erudition. ... Ware has not only done justice to his subjects; he has gifted us with an opportunity to rediscover the richness of their artistic and philosophical visions in our own era of fragmentation. This fascinating new book draws attention to the way that a revival of myth operates in both British and German romanticism. It is novel both in its treatment of the shared sources and interplay between British and German romanticism, as well as in the fluidity with which Ware moves between the philosophical-theoretical and the literary-artistic aspects of romanticism Essential reading for those interested in the lasting significance of romanticism. Return of the Gods should spark discussions on the value of mythology to Romantic thought in both traditions. Ware's book is a real achievement. At once addressing lacunae in scholarship and offering a global perspective on Romanticism, it will be of immense benefit to the scholar and the general reader. Owen Ware's study is exemplary in terms of its clarity and the breadth of literature taken in consideration. Because of this, and because of the pivotal role of the chosen subject, Return of the Gods will be an essential resource for any scholar wishing to take their first steps in discovering British and German Romantic philosophy. Return of the Gods .... reflects a perfect marriage of sensibilities of a philosopher and a poet that the subject matter of this book demands, and that the age of romanticism had beautifully accomplished.