Daniel Heller-Roazen se zabývá otázkami jazyka, smyslového vnímání a práva napříč literárními tradicemi. Jeho práce prozkoumává, jak se naše chápání světa formuje skrze zapomínání a jak se podstata lidské zkušenosti odvíjí od našeho vztahu k neuchopitelným pocitům. Autenticita jeho stylu spočívá v pronikavé analýze, která spojuje filozofii, literární historii a kritickou teorii, a nabízí tak čtenářům nový pohled na klíčové literární a filozofické koncepty. Jeho díla odhalují hluboké souvislosti mezi zdánlivě nesourodými oblastmi myšlení a kultury.
An original, elegant, and far-reaching philosophical inquiry into the sense of being sentient--what it means to feel that one is alive--that draws on philosophical, literary, psychological, and medical accounts from ancient, medieval, and modern cultures
Renowned for its profound impact on medieval literature, this work intricately weaves themes of chivalry, morality, and the human experience. It explores the complexities of love, honor, and the quest for identity through its rich characters and vivid storytelling. The narrative serves as a reflection of the societal values and conflicts of the time, making it a cornerstone of European literary heritage. Its enduring relevance continues to inspire readers and writers alike, highlighting the timeless nature of its themes.
Homer recounts how, trapped inside a monster's cave, with nothing but his wits
to call upon, Ulysses once saved himself by twisting his name. He called
himself Outis: No One, or Non-One,No Man, or Non-Man. The ploy was a success.
He blinded his barbaric host and eluded him, becoming anonymous, for a while,
even as he bore a name. Philosophers never forgot the lesson that the ancient
hero taught. From Aristotle and his commentators in Greek, Arabic, Latin, and
more modern languages, from the masters of the medieval schools to Kant and
his many successors, thinkers have exploited the possibilities of adding non-
to the names of man. Aristotle is the first to write of indefinite or infinite
names, his example being non-man. Kant turns to such terms in his theory of
the infinite judgment, illustrated by the sentence, The soul is non-mortal.
Such statements play major roles in the philosophies of Maimon, Fichte,
Schelling, Hegel, and Hermann Cohen. They are profoundly reinterpreted in the
twentieth century by thinkers as diverse as Carnap and Heidegger.
"From missing persons to disenfranchised civil subjects, from individuals tainted with infamy to the dead, Absentees explores the varieties of "nonpersons," human beings all too human, drawing examples, terms and concepts from the archives of European and American literature, legal studies, and the social sciences"--
This philosophical inquiry explores the essence of being alive through an original and elegant lens. It delves into the complexities of human experience, examining emotions, consciousness, and existence. The work invites readers to reflect on their own lives and the deeper meanings behind their feelings, ultimately fostering a greater understanding of vitality and the human condition.
The pirate is the original enemy of humankind. As Cicero famously remarked, there are certain enemies with whom one may negotiate and with whom, circumstances permitting, one may establish a truce. But there is also an enemy with whom treaties are in vain and war remains incessant. This is the pirate, considered by ancient jurists to be "the enemy of all." In this book, Daniel Heller-Roazen reconstructs the shifting place of the pirate in legal and political thought from the ancient to the medieval, modern, and contemporary periods, presenting the philosophical genealogy of a remarkable antagonist. Today, Heller-Roazen argues, the pirate furnishes the key to the contemporary paradigm of the universal foe. This is a legal and political person of exception, neither criminal nor enemy, who inhabits an extra-territorial region. Against such a foe, states may wage extraordinary battles, policing politics and justifying military measures in the name of welfare and security
"In Echolalias, Daniel Heller-Roazen reflects on the many forms of linguistic forgetfulness. In twenty-one concise chapters, he moves between classical, medieval, and modern culture, exploring the interrelations of speech, writing, memory, and oblivion. Whether the subject is medieval literature or modern fiction, classical Arabic poetry or the birth of French language, structuralist linguistics or Freud's writings on aphasia, Heller-Roazen considers with precision and insight the forms, effects, and ultimate consequences of the persistence and disappearance of language. In speech, he argues, destruction and construction often prove inseparable. Among speaking communities, the vanishing of one language can mark the emergence of another, and among individuals, the experience of the passing of speech can lie at the origin of literary, philosophical, and artistic creation."--Jacket