Owen Barfield’s Poetic Philosophy: Meaning and Imagination

Owen Barfield's Poetic Philosophy provides an overview of his philosophical thought, tracing his development from poetics to history, metaphysics, and ethics, and culminating in his poetic cosmology. Hipolito situates Barfield in relation to his contemporaries, highlighting his relevance to modern thinking. The book concludes with an analysis of the Burgeon trilogy, exemplifying his themes in fiction.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 18 April 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

T he first book to offer an overview,at once introductory and comprehensive,of the philosophical thought of Owen Barfield,sometimes known as the “first and last Inkling” and as the “British Heidegger.” Beginning by placing Barfields early poetics in the context of the critical hurly-burly of modernist London of the 1920s, Owen Barfields Poetic Philosophy: Meaning and Imagination shows how Barfields subsequent development of a philosophy of history,metaphysics,and ethics culminates in his development of a poetic cosmology. Hipolito situates Barfields poetic philosophy in relation to his significant contemporaries (and predecessors) including T.S. Eliot,D.H. Lawrence,I.A. Richards,Jean Paul Sartre,Martin Heidegger and Ernst Cassirer, bringing to light for the first time many important aspects of Barfields thought. The book concludes with an analysis of the Burgeon trilogy,in which Barfield recapitulates the themes and arguments of his poetic philosophy by exemplifying them in three genre-defying works of fiction.Structured chronologically and giving a systematic examination of Barfields thought, Owen Barfields Poetic Philosophy paints a much-needed picture of a major thinker and poet,who was entirely engaged with his times and who remains crucially relevant to our own.

Owen Barfield, a renowned philosopher and poet, is often referred to as the "first and last Inkling" and the "British Heidegger." His philosophical thought is explored in depth in Hipolito's book, "Owen Barfields Poetic Philosophy: Meaning and Imagination." The book begins by contextualizing Barfield's early poetics within the vibrant modernist landscape of 1920s London, providing a foundation for his subsequent philosophical development.

Through meticulous analysis, Hipolito demonstrates how Barfield's poetic philosophy evolves into a comprehensive philosophy of history, metaphysics, and ethics. This evolution culminates in his creation of a poetic cosmology, which offers a unique perspective on the world. Hipolito's book not only provides an overview of Barfield's thought but also situates him within the broader context of his contemporaries, including T.S. Eliot, D.H. Lawrence, I.A. Richards, Jean Paul Sartre, Martin Heidegger, and Ernst Cassirer.

By highlighting the connections and influences between Barfield and these influential thinkers, Hipolito sheds light on many important aspects of Barfield's philosophy that had previously been overlooked. The book concludes with an insightful analysis of Barfield's Burgeon trilogy, which exemplifies the themes and arguments of his poetic philosophy through three genre-defying works of fiction. Structured chronologically, the book offers a systematic examination of Barfield's thought, providing a valuable portrait of a major thinker and poet who was deeply engaged with his times and who continues to be relevant to our contemporary world.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350420281