Aesthetic Ideology

Aesthetic Ideology

Paul de Man
Edited and with an introduction by Andrzej Warminski

Table of Contents

$20.00 paper
ISBN: 0-8166-2204-3
ISBN-13: 978-0-8166-2204-7

An important reconsideration of ideology by one of this century's most eminent theorists.

This long-awaited volume by one of the major figures of twentieth-century thought represents perhaps the most provocative, serious, and important rethinking of "ideology" since the publication of Althusser's essays in the 1960s and 1970s. Aesthetic Ideology offers the definitive resource to de Man's thoughts on philosophy, politics, and history.

The core of Aesthetic Ideology is a rigorous inquiry into the relation of rhetoric, epistemology, and aesthetics, one that presents radical notions of materiality. De Man reads Kant and Hegel with a combination of philosophical rigor, interpretive pressure, speculative daring, and ironic good humor that is unique to him, ultimately reaching the heart of philosophical aesthetics.

The texts collected here were written or delivered as lectures during the last years of de Man's life, between 1977 and 1983. Many of them have never been available previously in any form; these include essays on Kant's materialism, his relation to Schiller, and the concept of irony. A culmination of de Man's thinking on these central issues, Aesthetic Ideology is a necessary and vital component of your humanities bookshelf.

“de Man’s essays are gems.” —Journal of Popular Culture

While reconfirming de Man’s brilliance as a close reader in the rhetorical tradition, Aesthetic Ideology also adds several new facets to our understanding of its author. Most obviously, the extensive interpretations of Kant and Hegel are new and show de Man at his best.” —Monatshefte

“de Man’s essays are gems.” —Journal of Postmodern Culture

“Aesthetic Ideology merits attention for many reasons, not the least of which is that it throws into relief the relative strengths and weaknesses of the deconstructive approach as applied in philosophical, rather than literary, contexts.” —Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism

Paul de Man (1919-1983) held appointments at Cornell, Johns Hopkins, the University of Zurich, and Yale. Among his books are Blindness and Insight (1983), The Resistance to Theory (1986), Critical Writings, 1953-1978 (1993), and Allegories of Reading (1979).

Andrzej Warminski is professor of comparative literature at the University of California, Irvine. He is the author of Readings in Interpretation (1987) and the forthcoming Material Inscriptions.

224 pages | 5 7/8 x 9 | 1996
Theory and History of Literature Series, volume 65

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction: Allegories of Reference

1. The Epistemology of Metaphor
2. Pascal's Allegory of Persuasion
3. Phenomenality and Materiality in Kant
4. Sign and Symbol in Hegel's Aesthetics
5. Hegel on the Sublime
6. Kant's Materialism
7. Kant and Schiller
8. The Concept of Irony
9. Reply to Raymond Geuss



Aesthetic Ideology Paul de Man Edited and with an introduction by Andrzej Warminski Table of Contents		$20.00 paper ISBN: 0-8166-2204-3 ISBN-13: 978-0-8166-2204-7
An important reconsideration of ideology by one of this century's most eminent theorists. This long-awaited volume by one of the major figures of twentieth-century thought represents perhaps the most provocative, serious, and important rethinking of "ideology" since the publication of Althusser's essays in the 1960s and 1970s. Aesthetic Ideology offers the definitive resource to de Man's thoughts on philosophy, politics, and history. The core of Aesthetic Ideology is a rigorous inquiry into the relation of rhetoric, epistemology, and aesthetics, one that presents radical notions of materiality. De Man reads Kant and Hegel with a combination of philosophical rigor, interpretive pressure, speculative daring, and ironic good humor that is unique to him, ultimately reaching the heart of philosophical aesthetics. The texts collected here were written or delivered as lectures during the last years of de Man's life, between 1977 and 1983. Many of them have never been available previously in any form; these include essays on Kant's materialism, his relation to Schiller, and the concept of irony. A culmination of de Man's thinking on these central issues, Aesthetic Ideology is a necessary and vital component of your humanities bookshelf. “de Man’s essays are gems.” —Journal of Popular Culture While reconfirming de Man’s brilliance as a close reader in the rhetorical tradition, Aesthetic Ideology also adds several new facets to our understanding of its author. Most obviously, the extensive interpretations of Kant and Hegel are new and show de Man at his best.” —Monatshefte “de Man’s essays are gems.” —Journal of Postmodern Culture “Aesthetic Ideology merits attention for many reasons, not the least of which is that it throws into relief the relative strengths and weaknesses of the deconstructive approach as applied in philosophical, rather than literary, contexts.” —Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism Paul de Man (1919-1983) held appointments at Cornell, Johns Hopkins, the University of Zurich, and Yale. Among his books are Blindness and Insight (1983), The Resistance to Theory (1986), Critical Writings, 1953-1978 (1993), and Allegories of Reading (1979). Andrzej Warminski is professor of comparative literature at the University of California, Irvine. He is the author of Readings in Interpretation (1987) and the forthcoming Material Inscriptions. 224 pages \| 5 7/8 x 9 \| 1996 Theory and History of Literature Series, volume 65 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction: Allegories of Reference 1. The Epistemology of Metaphor 2. Pascal's Allegory of Persuasion 3. Phenomenality and Materiality in Kant 4. Sign and Symbol in Hegel's Aesthetics 5. Hegel on the Sublime 6. Kant's Materialism 7. Kant and Schiller 8. The Concept of Irony 9. Reply to Raymond Geuss