The Time Is Out of Joint: Shakespeare as Philosopher of History
The Time Is Out of Joint handles the Shakespearean oeuvre from a philosophical perspective, finding that Shakespeare's historical dramas reflect on issues and reveal puzzles which were taken up by philosophy proper only in the centuries following them. Shakespeare's extraordinary handling of time and temporality, the difference between truth and fact, that of theory, and that of interpretation and revelatory truth are evaluated in terms of Shakespeare's own conjectural endeavors, and are compared with early modern, modern, and postmodern thought. Heller shows that modernity, which recognized itself in Shakespeare only from the time of Romanticism, found in Shakespeare's work a revelatory character which marked the end of both metaphysical system-building and a tragic reckoning with the inaccessibility of an absolute, timeless truth. Heller distinguishes the four stages found in constantly unique relation in Shakespeare's work (historical, personal, political, and existential) and probes their significance as time comes to fall 'out of joint' and may be again set aright. Rather than initially bestowing upon Shakespeare the dubious honorary title of philosopher, Heller probes the concretely situated reflections of characters who must face a blind and irrational fate either without taking responsibility for the discordance of time, or with a responsibility which may both transform history into politics, and set right the time which is out of joint. In the ruminations and undertakings of these characters, Shakespeare's dramas present a philosophy of history, a political philosophy, and a philosophy of (im)moral personality. Heller weighs each as distinctly modern confrontations with the possibility of truth and virtue within a human historical condition no less multifarious for its momentariness.
"1112284700"
The Time Is Out of Joint: Shakespeare as Philosopher of History
The Time Is Out of Joint handles the Shakespearean oeuvre from a philosophical perspective, finding that Shakespeare's historical dramas reflect on issues and reveal puzzles which were taken up by philosophy proper only in the centuries following them. Shakespeare's extraordinary handling of time and temporality, the difference between truth and fact, that of theory, and that of interpretation and revelatory truth are evaluated in terms of Shakespeare's own conjectural endeavors, and are compared with early modern, modern, and postmodern thought. Heller shows that modernity, which recognized itself in Shakespeare only from the time of Romanticism, found in Shakespeare's work a revelatory character which marked the end of both metaphysical system-building and a tragic reckoning with the inaccessibility of an absolute, timeless truth. Heller distinguishes the four stages found in constantly unique relation in Shakespeare's work (historical, personal, political, and existential) and probes their significance as time comes to fall 'out of joint' and may be again set aright. Rather than initially bestowing upon Shakespeare the dubious honorary title of philosopher, Heller probes the concretely situated reflections of characters who must face a blind and irrational fate either without taking responsibility for the discordance of time, or with a responsibility which may both transform history into politics, and set right the time which is out of joint. In the ruminations and undertakings of these characters, Shakespeare's dramas present a philosophy of history, a political philosophy, and a philosophy of (im)moral personality. Heller weighs each as distinctly modern confrontations with the possibility of truth and virtue within a human historical condition no less multifarious for its momentariness.
67.0 In Stock
The Time Is Out of Joint: Shakespeare as Philosopher of History

The Time Is Out of Joint: Shakespeare as Philosopher of History

by Agnes Heller Professor Emeritus, New S
The Time Is Out of Joint: Shakespeare as Philosopher of History

The Time Is Out of Joint: Shakespeare as Philosopher of History

by Agnes Heller Professor Emeritus, New S

Paperback

$67.00 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    Qualifies for Free Shipping
  • PICK UP IN STORE
    Check Availability at Nearby Stores

Related collections and offers


Overview

The Time Is Out of Joint handles the Shakespearean oeuvre from a philosophical perspective, finding that Shakespeare's historical dramas reflect on issues and reveal puzzles which were taken up by philosophy proper only in the centuries following them. Shakespeare's extraordinary handling of time and temporality, the difference between truth and fact, that of theory, and that of interpretation and revelatory truth are evaluated in terms of Shakespeare's own conjectural endeavors, and are compared with early modern, modern, and postmodern thought. Heller shows that modernity, which recognized itself in Shakespeare only from the time of Romanticism, found in Shakespeare's work a revelatory character which marked the end of both metaphysical system-building and a tragic reckoning with the inaccessibility of an absolute, timeless truth. Heller distinguishes the four stages found in constantly unique relation in Shakespeare's work (historical, personal, political, and existential) and probes their significance as time comes to fall 'out of joint' and may be again set aright. Rather than initially bestowing upon Shakespeare the dubious honorary title of philosopher, Heller probes the concretely situated reflections of characters who must face a blind and irrational fate either without taking responsibility for the discordance of time, or with a responsibility which may both transform history into politics, and set right the time which is out of joint. In the ruminations and undertakings of these characters, Shakespeare's dramas present a philosophy of history, a political philosophy, and a philosophy of (im)moral personality. Heller weighs each as distinctly modern confrontations with the possibility of truth and virtue within a human historical condition no less multifarious for its momentariness.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780742512511
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date: 07/23/2002
Pages: 384
Product dimensions: 5.96(w) x 8.78(h) x 0.83(d)

About the Author

Agnes Heller is Hannah Arendt Professor of Philosophy at the New School for Social Research in New York.

Table of Contents

Part 1 The Time is Out of Joint Chapter 2 1. What is Nature? What is Natural? Part 2 No Man or Woman Can Set Time Right Chapter 3 2. Who Am I? Dressing Up, Stripping Naked Chapter 4 3. Acting, Playing, Pretending, Disguising Chapter 5 4. Absolute Strangers Chapter 6 5. Judgment of Human Character: To Betray and To Be Betrayed Chapter 7 6. Love, Sex, Subversion: Political Drama, Family Drama Chapter 8 7. The Sphinx Called Time Chapter 9 8. Virtues and Vices; Guilt, Good, and Evil Chapter 11 A. The History Plays Chapter 12 1. Richard II Chapter 13 2. 1, 2, and 3 Henry IV Chapter 14 3. The Tragedy of Richard III Chapter 15 B. Three Roman Plays Chapter 16 1. Corialanus Chapter 17 2. Julius Caesar Chapter 18 3. Antony and Cleopatra
From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews