From Romanticism to Critical Theory: The Philosophy of German Literary Theory

Literary theory is now perceived by many as being in crisis because many of its dominant theoretical assumptions are proving hard to sustain. From Romanticism to Critical Theory offers a new view of literary theory, seeing it not as a product of the French assimilation of Saussurian linguistics and Russian Formalism into what we term deconstruction', but rather as an essential part of modern philosophy which begins with the German Romantic reactions to Kant, the effects of which can be traced through to Heidegger, Benjamin and Adorno. Andrew Bowie argues that, contrary to many current assumptions, the central question in contemporary literary theory is really the question of truth. He begins by showing how Kant's and F.H Jacobi's reflection on grounding truth in modern philosophy form the background to the exploration of the relationship between literature and philosophy in early German Romanticism. The importance attached by Friedrich Schlegel, Novalis and Schleiermacher to questions of literature for philosophical approaches to language is seen as playing a crucial role in the genesis of modern hermeneutics, as well as being significant for issues raised in contempor analytical semantics. Romantic ideas are also used to argue against the cultural materialist view of literature as merely a form of ideology. The book makes clear links between the thread of Romantic philosophical tradition, Martin Heidegger's approaches to art and truth, and the related work of Benjamin and Adorno. From Romanticism to Critical Theory argues that key problems in contemporary literary theory are therefore inseparable from the major questions of modern philosophy after Kant. In addition to offering detailed accounts, based on many untranslated texts, of major positions in German literary theory since the Romantics, this controversial new approach to literary theory makes fascinating and important links between hermeneutics, analytical philosphy and literary theory and will be a vital point of reference for future work in areas.

Table of Contents:
Preface and acknowledgements; Introduction, Andrew Bowie; Chapter 1 Philosophical origins, Andrew Bowie; Chapter 2 Shifting the ground, Andrew Bowie; Chapter 3 The philosophy of critique and the critique of philosophy, Andrew Bowie; Chapter 4 Interpretative reasons, Andrew Bowie; Chapter 5 The ethics of interpretation, Andrew Bowie; Chapter 6 Being true, Andrew Bowie; Chapter 7 The truth of art, Andrew Bowie; Chapter 8 Understanding Walter Benjamin, Andrew Bowie; Chapter 9 The culture of truth, Andrew Bowie; Chapter 102 Conclusion, Andrew Bowie;

About the Author :
Andrew Bowie is Professor of European Philosophy at Anglia Polytechnic University in Cambridge. He is the author of Aesthetics and Subjectivity: From Kant to Nietzsche and Schelling and Modern European Philosophy.

Review :
`Bowie argues brilliantly and persuasively for the continued relevance of the romantic project for contemporary thought...in the past few years I have found few books that display such a sovereignty with regard to the most difficult philosophical and aesthetic issues of the past two centuries.' - Robert Holub, University of California, Berkeley `Bowie's study is an impressive and thoughtful contribution to an important debate...he provides a rich intellectual context for the understanding of modern and postmodern culture in general and of recent critical theory in particular' - Martin Swales, University College, London 'Bowie manages to tease out insights from the thinkers he discusses with remarkable dexterity,' - Austin Harrington, Radical Philosophy 'Bowie's splendid book ... remains at all times demanding, intelligible and highly readable ... immensely impressive ... the book is certain to be referred to for a long time to come and should be acquired by all university libraries.' - BARS Bulletin and Review 'This is an essential contribution to Romantic studies, and one that should set the terms of the debate for many years to come.' - Romanticism