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FDU PRESS
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| Scholarly Review |
 | Literary Form, Philosophical Content: Historical Studies of Philosophical Genres
ISBN# 9780838642603
Reviewed by: D.C. Kolb, St. Meinard Archabbey Library
Choice, Feb. 2011 |
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Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above.
This thought-provoking anthology treats the relationship between literary form and philosophical content from a number of perspectives. The introduction surveys the genres of philosophical writing to be examined and discusses the importance of considering literary genre when interpreting philosophical texts. The epilogue examines how literary style can determine ethical relationships between author, reader, and text. Thirteen essays in between examine particular philosophers and texts in chronological order. Each uses literary elements of texts to shed light on their philosophical meaning. Many texts and authors are obvious choices: two essays on Plato's dialogues, one each on Aquina's commentaries and the Summa Theologica, one on skeptical tropes, and essays on Machiavelli, Mandeville, Nietzsche, and Foucault. Other essays push the boundaries of what counts as philosophical discourse. One on The Life of Aesop examies the philosophical life as philosophy; another treats philosophy as prayer in ancient and early medieval authors; another treats philosophy as science fiction. All of the essays offer fresh perspectives and insights and should leave readers to take up familiar and not-so-familiar philosophical texts with new eyes.
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