Augustine And Postmodernism

by Caputo, John D.; Scanlon, Michael J.

• ISBN13: 9780253217318
• ISBN10: 0253217318
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-03-30
• Publisher: Indiana Univ Pr

Summary

While studies on and about Augustine as a philosopher abound, few approach his work from a deconstructionist point of view. Here, Jacques Derrida and an international group of philosophers add to the relatively new, but growing, philosophy of religion that is signified by the term "postmodernism." The newer and more established voices gathered in this volume continue a dialogue with Jacques Derrida by focusing on Augustine and questions of confession and religious commitment. Posed at the intersection of philosophy, theology, and religious studies, this volume will be of interest to scholars and students of Augustine as well as those interested in the invigorating discussion between philosophy, religion, and postmodernism. Book jacket.

Author Biography

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	IX
Introduction: The Postmodern Augustine	1	(18)
John D. Caputo and Michael J. Scanlon
Part I. After the Event
1. Composing "Circumfession"
Jacques Derrida	19	(9)
2. Confessions and "Circumfession": A Roundtable Discussion with Jacques Derrida
Moderated by Richard Kearney	28	(25)
Part II. Confessions and Circumfession
3. Time-for the Truth
Geoffrey Bennington	53	(15)
4. Instances: Temporal Modes from Augustine to Derrida and Lyotard
Hent de Vries	68	(20)
Response by Jacques Derrida	88	(7)
5. Shedding Tears Beyond Being: Derrida's Confession of Prayer
John D. Caputo	95	(20)
6. Heidegger: Reader of Augustine
Philippe Capelle	115	(9)
Response by Jacques Derrida	124	(3)
7. The Form of an "I"
Catherine Malabou	127	(11)
Response by Jacques Derrida	138	(6)
8. Time, Evil, and Narrative: Ricoeur on Augustine
Richard Kearney	144	(15)
9. Arendt's Augustine
Michael J. Scanlon	159	(14)
10. Reading like Angels: Derrida and Augustine on the Book (for a History of Literature)
Mark Vessey	173	(35)
Response by Jacques Derrida	208	(4)
11. Augustine's Unconfessions
James J. O'Donnell	212	(10)
12. On Not Retracting the Unconfessed
Elizabeth A. Clark	222	(22)
13. Why Augustine? Why Now?
Jean Bethke Elshtain	244	(13)
CONTRIBUTORS	257	(2)
INDEX	259