The Promise of Phenomenology
Posthumous Papers of John Wild
Edited by Richard I. Sugarman, Roger Duncan
Publication date:
07 March 2006Length of book:
328 pagesPublisher
Lexington BooksDimensions:
238x163mm6x9"
ISBN-13: 9780739109427
The Promise of Phenomenology: Posthumous Papers of John Wild includes articles that remained unpublished during Wild's lifetime, a journal, wherein he recorded conversations with major British and Continental philosophers during 1957-8, as well as a masterful exposition and commentary on Emmanuel Levinas's book Totality and Infinity. It also contains a complete bibliography of all of Wild's unpublished writings open for research at the Beinecke Rare Book Library at Yale University. More personal and less reserved than Wild's published scholarship, yet containing Wild's characteristic clarity and rigor, the writings in this book cover such subjects as a phenomenological approach to moral relativism, an exploration of lived time, and reflections on the other and religious transcendence. The Promise of Phenomenology gives a lively picture of a master philosopher at work conveying the vitality and importance of philosophy to everyday life.
This book contains a landmark collection of essays on the foundational issues of existential phenomenology. It displays the depth and versatility of one of the most influential philosophers of the twentieth century. These posthumous papers of John Wild are a treasure trove of erudition, cogent argumentation, and a jargon-free exploration of timeless philosophical questions. Wild confronts the phenomenological tradition with his own vast knowledge of the history of philosophy. His approach is fresh, surprising, and exciting. A final bonus is Wild's introduction to the thought of Emmanuel Levinas which marks the very first American recognition of Levinas' overall importance. This book is not only an invaluable look at a key historical moment in contemporary philosophy; it is also a challenge to continental thought, calling for a renewed examination of its most basic points of departure.