New Realism and Contemporary Philosophy

Contemporary continental ontology is re-interpreting key concepts of modern philosophy, challenging the postmodernist orientation that emerged from Kantian "correlationism." This volume brings together authors working on ontology and historians of ideas to explore the debate over a new kind of realism, highlighting the rediscovering of modern philosophy's past in original ways.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 24 March 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

This open-access book contributes to the ongoing discussion in continental realism. In the realm of contemporary continental ontology, Speculative Realist thinkers are engaging in a critical exploration of the historical roots of their ideas within the broader context of modern philosophy. The Speculative Realism movement sparked a lively debate, challenging the prevailing postmodernist orientation, which traced its origins back to Kantian "correlationism." This perspective posited that the mind and the external world can only ever be understood as interconnected, effectively ending the era of early modern naive realist metaphysics. The debate surrounding a new form of realism has garnered significant support and criticism. To refocus its interpretation of modern philosophy in general and the Kantian gesture in particular, this volume brings together prominent authors working on contemporary ontology and historians of ideas. It highlights and illustrates the fact that contemporary continental philosophy is engaging in a creative re-discovery of its past by engaging in productive reinterpretations of key concepts from modern philosophy. The perspectives and accounts of these key concepts presented by individual contributors vary widely, sometimes exhibiting radical differences. However, the ongoing discussion between contemporary realists and their critics reveals that the true battleground for new ideas lies not in developing the philosophical motifs of the late 20th century but rather in re-examining the defining milestones of modern philosophy.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350336278