The Paradoxes of Posterity

The motivation behind literary creation is to transcend human mortality through a work addressed to future generations, seeking symbolic immortality through the memory of those not yet born. Benjamin Hoffmann argues that the time has come to find a new answer to the perennial question: Why do people write? He explores the paradoxes inherent in the search for symbolic immortality, focusing on key works by Denis Diderot, Étienne-Maurice Falconet, Giacomo Casanova, François-René de Chateaubriand, and Jean-Paul Sartre. Hoffmann reveals the three great paradoxes in the quest for symbolic immortality: the paradoxes of belief, identity, and mediation. This book contends that there is only one truly serious literary problem: the transmission of texts to posterity and will appeal to specialists in literature, philosophy, and book history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 184 pages
Publication date: 17 May 2022
Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press

The quest for literary creation has often been seen as an attempt to transcend the limitations of human mortality through a work that speaks to future generations. While achieving literal immortality may be elusive, literary creators seek a symbolic form of perpetuity that grants the intellectual side of their person a lasting presence in the memories of those yet to be born. In his book, Benjamin Hoffmann delves into the complexities of seeking symbolic immortality, challenging the traditional understanding of why people write.

Through the lens of digital humanities and book history, Hoffmann explores the concept of posterity as a network of interconnected memories that continuously evolves by accommodating the contributions of past works and authors. He argues that the preservation of texts is entrusted to a collective that exists only in the future, characterized by impermanence and instability. By examining key works by renowned authors such as Denis Diderot, Étienne-Maurice Falconet, Giacomo Casanova, François-René de Chateaubriand, and Jean-Paul Sartre, Hoffmann examines the representations of posterity, the representation of authors by posterity, and the challenges of registering and preserving works within this evolving network of memories.

Through his analysis, Hoffmann identifies three fundamental paradoxes that arise in the pursuit of symbolic immortality: the paradoxes of belief, identity, and mediation. He argues that these paradoxes shape the way authors perceive their legacy and the way they engage with the future. Hoffmann's book is a rigorous and compelling exploration of the literary world, offering valuable insights into the complex relationship between authors, their works, and the enduring power of memory.

This book appeals to scholars and enthusiasts of literature, particularly those interested in the intersections of digital humanities, book history, and the philosophical implications of artistic expression. It challenges readers to reconsider the motivations behind writing and offers a fresh perspective on the enduring value of literary works in shaping our collective memory and understanding of the world.

Weight: 313g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780271087047