Modernity and Its Discontents

by Marsh, James L.; Caputo, John D.; Westphal, Merold

• ISBN13: 9780823213450
• ISBN10: 0823213455
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1992-03-01
• Publisher: Fordham Univ Pr

Summary

The introduction by Merold Westphal sets the scene: "Two books, two visions of philosophy, two friends and sometimes colleagues...". Modernity and Its Discontents is a debate between Caputo and Marsh in which each upheld their opposing philosphical positions by critical modernism and post-modernism. The book opens with a critique of each debater of the other's previous work. With its passionate point-counterpoint form, the book recalls the philosphical dialogues of classical times, but the writing style remains lucid and uncluttered. Taking the failure of Englightenment ideals as their common ground, the debaters challenge each other's ideas on the nature of post-foundationalist critique. At the core of the argument lies the timely question of the role that each person can play in creating a truly humane society.

Author Biography

James L. Marsh is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Fordham University. He has published widely in such philosophical journals as International Philosophical Quarterly, New German Critique, and International Journal for Philosophy of Religion.

John D. Caputo is the David R. Cook Professor of Philosophy at Villanova University and is editor of Fordham University Press' Perspectives in Continental Philosophy Series.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations	p. vii
Preface	p. viii
Postmodernism/Critical Modernism	p. 1
Notes	p. 21
Uncapitalizing on Radical Hermeneutics	p. 23
On Being Inside/Outside Truth	p. 45
Notes	p. 62
Understanding and Difference: Reflections on Dialectical Phenomenology	p. 65
Ambiguity, Language, and Communicative Praxis: a Critical Modernist Articulation	p. 87
Notes	p. 105
Notes	p. 107
Open Forum	p. 111
Philosophical Dialogue	p. 119
The Cheating of Cratylus (genitivus Subjectivus)	p. 163
A Final Word (eight Famous Ones)	p. 183
The Gentle and Rigorous Cogency of Communicative Rationality	p. 197
Index	p. 217
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.