Sea as Mirror - Essayings in and against Philosophy as History

The Sea as Mirror explores the material and symbolic presence of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean from Plato to Heidegger, using the maritime as a lens to understand the drive of philosophy as a response to and moment within Western colonization. Yi examines how philosophy has constructed itself as a genre in opposition to the movement of deterritorialization and fluidity of mimesis, juxtaposing different representations of and responses to the maritime through the reading of philosophical and literary texts.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 18 May 2021
Publisher: Diaphanes AG

The Sea as Mirror delves into the profound and multifaceted material and symbolic presence of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, spanning from the time of Plato to Heidegger. Wu Yi employs the maritime as a lens to explore the driving force of philosophy as both a response to and a moment within the momentum of Western colonization. Yi's examination revolves around how philosophy has consistently constructed itself as a genre in opposition to the movement of deterritorialization and fluidity of mimesis. To accomplish this, Yi employs a method (meta, meaning "after" and hodos, meaning "way, journey") through a series of essayings that traverse a geopolitical topography of discourses.

These discourses encompass a constellation of philosophical texts drawn from various historical topoi at pivotal moments of their encounter with the maritime. These include the works of Plato and Euripedes from fifth-century Athens, the writings of Augustus and Plautus from republican and early imperial Rome, the creations of Shakespeare from Elizabethan England, the texts of Kant and Rousseau from enlightenment continental Europe, and the philosophical thought of Husserl and Heidegger from interwar Germany in the twentieth century.

For each historical topos, Yi juxtaposes different representations of and responses to the maritime through the reading of a philosophical text alongside the reading of a literary text. By doing so, Yi uncovers the profound political and moral ambiguity attributed to the ocean in Western philosophical and literary imaginaries.

Through this exploration, The Sea as Mirror offers a rich and nuanced perspective on the enduring significance of the sea in shaping human thought and culture. It sheds light on the complex interplay between philosophy, literature, and the geopolitical context, highlighting the ways in which the ocean has been both celebrated and condemned throughout history. This book is a valuable contribution to the field of maritime studies and philosophy, providing a fresh and thought-provoking approach to understanding the multifaceted nature of the sea and its enduring impact on our world.

Weight: 360g
Dimension: 136 x 210 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783035803686