Fiction, Philosophy and the Ideal of Conversation / Erin Greer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Greer, Erin Elizabeth, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Conversation in literature.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (248 p.)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Edinburgh : Edinburgh University Press Ltd, [2024]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

Develops a literary-philosophical account of 'conversation' that reframes core concerns in contemporary ethics, democratic politics, and literary criticismCombines new analyses of canonical works of British fiction with rigorous scholarship in ordinary language philosophy, aesthetic theory, ethics, and political philosophyBridges recent work in both literary studies and political philosophy, where scholars are reviving interest in ordinary language philosophy. Lays groundwork for future work at the intersection of literary studies, political philosophy, and ordinary language philosophyDeparts from period-bound and historicist approaches typical of literary studies and shows that this manner of reading makes the philosophical resources of canonical works of British fiction newly legibleDevelops a framework for interdisciplinary scholarship that integrates literary criticism and philosophy on the model of conversationThe ideal of 'conversation' recurs in modern thought as a symbol and practice central to ethics, democratic politics, and thinking itself. Interweaving readings of fiction and philosophy in a 'conversational' style inspired by Stanley Cavell, Fiction, Philosophy, and the Ideal of Conversation clarifies this lofty yet vague ideal, while developing a revitalizing model for interdisciplinary literary studies. It argues that conversation is key to exemplary responses to sceptical doubt in ordinary language and political philosophy - where scepticism threatens ethics and democratic politics - and in works of British fiction spanning from Jane Austen through Ali Smith. It shows that for these writers, conversation can shift attention from metaphysical doubts regarding our capacity to know 'reality' and other people, to ethical, democratic, and aesthetic action. The book moreover proposes - and models - 'conversational criticism' as a framework linking literary studies to broader political and ethical commitments, while remaining responsive to aesthetic form.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations

Introduction: Conversation as Worldmaking in Literature, Philosophy and Criticism

1. Perfectionism and the Conversation of Justice: Austen and Cavell

2. Performative Conversation and Acknowledgement: Meredith, Austin and Cavell

3. Conversation and Common Sense: Woolf, Russell and Kant

4. Public Conversation and Judgement: Rushdie and Arendt

5. Digital vs Political Conversation: Ali Smith, Arendt and Wittgenstein

Afterword

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 30. Jan 2024)

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-3995-2024-5

1-3995-2023-7

OCLC:

1416143071