Description
Book SynopsisIn response to the contemporary crisis of democracy as a way of life, in particular, the anxieties of inclusion, this important new book explores the contemporary significance of American philosophy (the pragmatism and American transcendentalism of Emerson and Thoreau) and tries to present new ways of cultivating political emotions and political citizens. To take up this philosophical-political-educational task, the book introduces Cavell's idea of philosophy as translation – a broader sense of translation as being internal to the nature of language, and hence to the condition of human being as linguistic being and, hence, as political being. Translation is a lens through which to enhance the possibilities and to elucidate the shifting identities of American philosophy. Through this, a hidden tension within American philosophy, between pragmatism and transcendentalism, is exposed. Ultimately, the book presents a vision of an alternative political education for human transformation and perfectionist cosmopolitan education.
Table of ContentsPart I: Introduction: The crisis of democracy as a way of life / 1. The crisis of democracy as a way of life revisited / Part II: American philosophy in translation / 2. The new dawning of American philosophy / 3. Pragmatism and the tragic sense of life: Reclaiming the philosophy of affirmation and chance / 4. American philosophy in translation / Part III: Philosophy as translation: Translation from pragmatism to Cavell / 5. Stanley Cavell and philosophy as translation / 6. Skepticism and translation: Living with the anxieties of inclusion / 7. The feminine voice in philosophy / Part IV: Changing politics, challenging inclusion: Political education for human transformation / 8. Changing politics, challenging inclusion / 9. Political education for human transformation / Bibliography / Index
