Joyce's Ulysses: Philosophical Perspectives

Though James Joyce was steeped in philosophy and humanism, he has received too little attention from contemporary philosophers. This book explores the possibilities for thinking philosophically about Joyce's masterpiece, Ulysses, through readings by renowned scholars. It examines the philosophical quandaries presented to the central characters, such as death, conscious thought, vision, identity, and the possibility of revising one's values. The readings provide new inroads and a firm orientation for Joyce's project, and readers will come away with renewed appreciation for one of our greatest works of literature and a deepened understanding of Joyce's attempt to offer alternative ways of structuring and enriching the world of our experience.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 224 pages
\n Publication date: 05 September 2020
\n Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc
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James Joyce, a renowned philosopher and humanist, has garnered relatively less attention from contemporary philosophers compared to many other giants of modernist fiction. This book delves into the possibilities of philosophical exploration of Joyce's masterpiece, Ulysses, featuring readings from esteemed scholars such as David Hills, Garry L. Hagberg, Vicki Mahaffey, Martha C. Nussbaum, Sam Slote, Wendy J. Truran, and Philip Kitcher. Additionally, the introduction by these scholars provides a broader context, situating Ulysses as a work of philosophical interest.

For the central characters of Ulysses—Leopold Bloom, Molly Bloom, and Stephen Dedalus—the question of "How to live?" becomes paramount. Each character faces a choice between starting anew or attempting to reclaim lost paths. The chapters delve into the profound philosophical dilemmas that confront these characters, encompassing reflections on death, the overcoming of disgust, Leopold Bloom's evocations of conscious thought, the dominance of vision in our understanding of the senses, identity, and the possibility of revising one's values.

Ulysses, an inherently and profoundly philosophical work, offers new avenues for exploration and provides a solid foundation for Joyce's project. Readers will emerge with a renewed appreciation for one of the greatest works of literature in the English language and a deeper understanding of Joyce's endeavor to offer alternative ways of structuring and enriching the world of our experience.

\n Weight: 320g\n
Dimension: 139 x 208 x 20 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780190842253\n \n