Fateful Shapes of Human Freedom
John William Miller and the Crises of Modernity
Published on 1. January 2003
Book
Paperback/Softback
360 pages
978-0-8265-1433-2 (ISBN)
Description
John William Miller's radical revision of the idealistic tradition anticipated some of the most important developments in contemporary thought, developments often associated with thinkers like Heidegger, Benjamin, Foucault, Derrida, and Rorty. In this study, Vincent Colapietro situates Miller's powerful but neglected corpus not only in reference to Continental European philosophy but also to paradigmatic figures in American culture like Lincoln, Emerson, Thoreau, and James.
The book is not simply a study of a particular philosopher or a single philosophical movement (American idealism). It is rather a philosophical confrontation with a cluster of issues in contemporary life. These issues revolve around such topics as the grounds and nature of authority, the scope and forms of agency, and the fateful significance of historical place. These issues become especially acute given Colapietro's insistence that the only warrant for our practices is to be found in these historically evolved and evolving practices themselves.
The book is not simply a study of a particular philosopher or a single philosophical movement (American idealism). It is rather a philosophical confrontation with a cluster of issues in contemporary life. These issues revolve around such topics as the grounds and nature of authority, the scope and forms of agency, and the fateful significance of historical place. These issues become especially acute given Colapietro's insistence that the only warrant for our practices is to be found in these historically evolved and evolving practices themselves.
Reviews / Votes
This is an important book. John William Miller's ideas are profoundly relevant to understanding and dealing with a range of contemporary problems-whether they relate to the nature of historical understanding, to the conduct of life, or to the history of philosophy itself-and deserve the systematic presentation and interpretation that Colapietro offers here."" - Robert H. Elias, Professor Emeritus, Cornell University""Colapietro writes a new and important chapter in American thought by recovering Miller's neglected insights into the interplay between fate and freedom in human history. We are met with the paradox that the forms in which freedom expresses itself, while subject to fate, are not overcome by it, but remain genuine fruits of human purpose. Miller emerges as a worthy follower of Royce and Hocking."" - John E. Smith, Yale University
""Colapietro argues that Miller successfully overcomes the dilemmas of recent historicism, but especially of nihilism and dogmatism. 'Learned' in the best sense of the word, he finds that Miller's ignored work is topical and important, and allows an engagement with, for example, not only Heidegger and Sartre, but with Foucault and Derrida. The comparisons are always provocative. Highly recommended."" - Peter Manicas, University of Hawaii
""Thank you, Vincent, for preventing the precipitous loss of Miller within a modernity that prohibits uniqueness, or a post modernity that prohibits the fabric."" - Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy Newsletter
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Tennessee
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 227 mm
Width: 154 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
540 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8265-1433-2 (9780826514332)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Vincent Colapietro is professor of philosophy at Pennsylvania State University and incoming president of the Metaphysical Society of America. He is author of Glossary of Semiotics and Peirce's Approach to the Self and editor of three other books.