Love, Subjectivity, and Truth: Existential Themes in Proust

Love, Subjectivity, and Truth explores the overlapping areas of philosophy, literature, and existential thought, particularly focusing on the concept of subjective truth in Proust's novel In Search of Lost Time. The novel examines how our way of knowing shapes what we know and how love can provide a unique insight into the world. While there are skeptical views about love expressed in the novel, there are also countercurrents that suggest love is a prerequisite for veridical apprehension.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 03 August 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Love, Subjectivity, and Truth delve into the intricate interplay between philosophy, literature, the philosophy of emotions, and existential thought, engaging in a vibrant and thought-provoking exchange. The concept of subjective truth, coined by Marcel Proust in his novel In Search of Lost Time, carries profound existential implications. It draws upon the works of philosophers such as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and others who explore the themes of love, subjectivity, and truth. In Search of Lost Time, in particular, delves deeply into the realm of understanding others through the lens of love. As a novel that conveys and analyzes experience, it possesses the capacity to explore both existential questions and engage in a phenomenological exploration. It is evident that our knowledge is shaped by the manner in which we perceive and comprehend the world, much like the characteristics of visible objects are determined by the wavelengths of light that our eyes can detect. When we view things through the eyes of love, the subjective basis of our awareness becomes particularly apparent. In Proust's novel, we encounter both skeptical views and countercurrents that suggest that love can provide a unique form of insight. At such moments, love appears to be a prerequisite for attaining a genuine understanding of the world. Love, Subjectivity, and Truth explores this tension as it unfolds within the pages of Proust's fiction, shedding light on the complexities and contradictions that arise when love and truth collide.

Dimension: 210 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197633724