Entertaining the Idea: Shakespeare, Performance, and Philosophy

To entertain an idea is to take it in, pay attention to it, give it breathing room, and dwell with it for a time. Shakespeare's plays provide readers, listeners, viewers, and performers with equipment for living, inviting them to be more responsive to the texture and meaning of daily encounters.

Format: Hardback
Length: 252 pages
Publication date: 16 December 2020
Publisher: University of Toronto Press

Entertaining an idea is a multifaceted process that involves taking it in, giving it attention, allowing it to breathe, and dwelling with it for a period of time. This practice encourages us to approach philosophy as a form of hospitality, akin to a mental theatre, where we welcome and engage with ideas. In this collection, organized around key words shared by philosophy and performance, the editors propose that Shakespeare's plays offer readers, listeners, viewers, and performers valuable tools for living. Spanning from A Midsummer Night's Dream to King Lear and The Winter's Tale, Shakespeare invites readers and audiences to be more attuned to the texture and meaning of their daily encounters, whether they involve the intricacies of love, the challenges of social and political life, or moments of ethical decision-making.

Entertaining the Idea brings together established and emerging scholars who explore various themes related to role play, acknowledgment, judgment, entertainment, curse, and care. The volume also includes longer essays on Shakespeare, Kant, Husserl, and Hegel, as well as an afterword by theatre critic Charles McNulty, who delves into the philosophy and performance history of King Lear.

Through this exploration, the editors aim to demonstrate how Shakespeare's plays can serve as a rich source of insights and inspiration for those engaged in philosophical inquiry and performance practice. By engaging with Shakespeare's works, we can deepen our understanding of the human condition, expand our capacity for empathy and compassion, and cultivate a more nuanced and thoughtful approach to life's challenges.

Weight: 554g
Dimension: 161 x 236 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781487507435