On Paradox: The Claims of Theory

Elizabeth S. Anker argues that paradox has been a cornerstone of left intellectualism since the second half of the twentieth century, appealing as an incisive tool for exposing and dismantling hierarchies. However, it can generate exclusions and create a disempowering haze of indecision, leading to a startling homogeneity of thought and undercutting the commitment to social justice. Anker argues for an expanded, diversified theory toolkit to help theorists escape the seductions and traps of paradox.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 376 pages
Publication date: 09 December 2022
Publisher: Duke University Press

Since the second half of the 20th century, Elizabeth S. Anker, a literary and legal scholar, has argued that faith in paradoxical logic has been the cornerstone of left intellectualism. She attributes the prevalence of paradox in the humanities to its appeal as an incisive tool for exposing and dismantling hierarchies. Anker traces the rise of paradox in theories of modernity, rights discourse, literary criticism, the linguistic turn, and the transformation of the liberal arts in higher education. She suggests that paradox not only generates the very exclusions it critiques but also creates a disempowering haze of indecision. Anker argues that reasoning through paradox has become deeply problematic, engraving a startling homogeneity of thought while undercutting the commitment to social justice that remains a guiding imperative of theory. Instead of calling for a wholesale abandonment of such reasoning, Anker advocates for an expanded, diversified theory toolkit that can help theorists escape the seductions and traps of paradox.

Since the second half of the 20th century, Elizabeth S. Anker, a literary and legal scholar, has argued that faith in paradoxical logic has been the cornerstone of left intellectualism. She attributes the prevalence of paradox in the humanities to its appeal as an incisive tool for exposing and dismantling hierarchies. Anker traces the rise of paradox in theories of modernity, rights discourse, literary criticism, the linguistic turn, and the transformation of the liberal arts in higher education. She suggests that paradox not only generates the very exclusions it critiques but also creates a disempowering haze of indecision. Anker argues that reasoning through paradox has become deeply problematic, engraving a startling homogeneity of thought while undercutting the commitment to social justice that remains a guiding imperative of theory. Instead of calling for a wholesale abandonment of such reasoning, Anker advocates for an expanded, diversified theory toolkit that can help theorists escape the seductions and traps of paradox.

Weight: 546g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478018971