Augustine and Postmodernism: Confessions and Circumfession

by John D. Caputo (Editor), Michael J. Scanlon (Editor)

Overview

At the heart of the current surge of interest in religion among contemporary Continental philosophers stands Augustine's Confessions. With Derrida's Circumfession constantly in the background, this volume takes up the provocative readings of Augustine by Heidegger, Lyotard, Arendt, and Ricoeur. Derrida himself presides over and comments on essays by major Continental philosophers and internationally recognized Augustine scholars. While studies on and about Augustine as a philosopher abound, none approach his work from such a uniquely postmodern point of view, showing both the continuing relevance of Augustine and the religious resonances within postmodernism. Posed at the intersection of philosophy, theology, and religious studies, this book will be of interest to scholars and students of Augustine as well as those interested in the invigorating discussion between philosophy, religion, and postmodernism.

Contributors include Geoffrey Bennington, Philippe Capelle, John D. Caputo, Elizabeth A. Clark, Hent de Vries, Jacques Derrida, Jean Bethke Elshtain, Richard Kearney, Catherine Malabou, James O'Donnell, Michael J. Scanlon, and Mark Vessey.

Indiana Series in the Philosophy of Religion—Merold Westphal, general editor

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780253217318
Publisher:	Indiana University Press
Publication date:	03/10/2005
Series:	Philosophy of Religion
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

John D. Caputo is the Thomas J. Watson Professor of Religion and Humanities at Syracuse University. He is also David R. Cook Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Villanova University. He is author of More Radical Hermeneutics (IUP, 2000) and The Prayers and Tears of Jacques Derrida (IUP, 1997).

Michael J. Scanlon, O.S.A., is Josephine C. Connelly Chair of Christian Theology at Villanova University. He is co-editor with John Caputo of God, the Gift, and Postmodernism (IUP, 1999) and Questioning God (IUP, 2001).

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction: The Postmodern AugustineJohn D. Caputo and Michael J. Scanlon
Part I. After the Event
1. Composing "Circumfession"Jacques Derrida
2. Confessions and "Circumfession": A Roundtable Discussion with Jacques DerridaModerated by Richard Kearney
Part II. Confessions and Circumfession
3. Time—for the TruthGeoffrey Bennington
4. Instances: Temporal Modes from Augustine to Derrida and LyotardHent de Vries
Response by Jacques Derrida
5. Shedding Tears Beyond Being: Derrida's Confession of PrayerJohn D. Caputo
6. Heidegger: Reader of AugustinePhilippe Capelle
Response by Jacques Derrida
7. The Form of an "I"Catherine Malabou
Response by Jacques Derrida
8. Time, Evil, and Narrative: Ricoeur on AugustineRichard Kearney
9. Arendt's AugustineMichael J. Scanlon
10. Reading like Angels: Derrida and Augustine on the Book (for a History of Literature)Mark Vessey
Response by Jacques Derrida
11. Augustine's UnconfessionsJames J. O'Donnell
12. On Not Retracting the UnconfessedElizabeth A. Clark
13. Why Augustine? Why Now? Jean Bethke Elshtain
Contributors
Index