
Philosophy's Version of Pastoral
The Sense and Sensibility of Ordinary Language in J. L. Austin and William Empson
Stephen Mulhall(Author)
Oxford University Press
Will be published approx. on 21. July 2026
Book
Hardback
112 pages
978-0-19-791023-8 (ISBN)
Description
This book explores the ways in which Austin's and Empson's conceptions of the ordinary, in language and in life, might be used to illuminate each other, despite (and because of) their differing disciplinary allegiances.
Stephen Mulhall focusses on three dimensions of comparison: the structural analogies between their broad conceptions of how words work; how Empson's treatment of sense and sensibility can be seen as in dialogue with Austin's treatment of sense and sensibilia; and how Empson's conception of pastoral might be used to illuminate both the unity and the diversity of the tradition of ordinary language philosophy (primarily in Austin, but also including Wittgenstein and his American reception in Cavell). As a result, the volume offers an original way of placing philosophy and literary criticism (hence, literature) into conversation with each other.
Stephen Mulhall focusses on three dimensions of comparison: the structural analogies between their broad conceptions of how words work; how Empson's treatment of sense and sensibility can be seen as in dialogue with Austin's treatment of sense and sensibilia; and how Empson's conception of pastoral might be used to illuminate both the unity and the diversity of the tradition of ordinary language philosophy (primarily in Austin, but also including Wittgenstein and his American reception in Cavell). As a result, the volume offers an original way of placing philosophy and literary criticism (hence, literature) into conversation with each other.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 138 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-19-791023-8 (9780197910238)
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Stephen Mulhall is Professor of Philosophy, Russell H. Carpenter Fellow, and Tutor in Philosophy at New College, University of Oxford.
Content
- Introduction
- 1: 'Little bits of machinery'
- 2: Complex Equations
- 3: Sense and Sensibility
- 4: Sense and Sensibilia
- 5: Empson's Version of Pastoral
- 6: Austin's Version of Pastoral
- 7: Wittgenstein's Version of Pastoral
- 8: Coda-American Pastoral