Carnal Hermeneutics

by Richard Kearney (Editor), Brian Treanor (Editor)

Overview

Building on a hermeneutic tradition in which accounts of carnal embodiment are overlooked, misunderstood, or underdeveloped, this work initiates a new field of study and concern.

Carnal Hermeneutics provides a philosophical approach to the body as interpretation. Transcending the traditional dualism of rational understanding and embodied sensibility, the volume argues that our most carnal sensations are already interpretations. Because interpretation truly goes "all the way down," carnal hermeneutics rejects the opposition of language to sensibility, word to flesh, text to body.

In this volume, an impressive array of today's preeminent philosophers seek to interpret the surplus of meaning that arises from our carnal embodiment, its role in our experience and understanding, and its engagement with the wider world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823265893
Publisher:	Fordham University Press
Publication date:	09/01/2015
Series:	Perspectives in Continental Philosophy
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	408
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

RICHARD KEARNEY is Charles B. Seelig Professor of Philosophy at Boston College.

Brian Treanor is Professor of Philosophy and Director of Environmental Studies at Loyola Marymount University.

Table of Contents

Contents
Acknowledgments

Introduction: From Head to Foot
Richard Kearney and Brian Treanor

Why Carnal Hermeneutics?
What Is Carnal Hermeneutics?
Richard Kearney
Mind the Gap: The Challenge of Matter
Brian Treanor

Rethinking the Flesh
Rethinking Corpus
Jean-Luc Nancy
From the Limbs of the Heart to the Soul's Organs
Jean-Louis Chrétien
A Tragedy and a Dream: Disability Revisited
Julia Kristeva
Incarnation and the Problem of Touch
Michel Henry
On the Phenomenon of Suffering
Jean-Luc Marion
Memory, History, Oblivion
Paul Ricoeur

Matters of Touch
Skin Deep: Bodies Edging into Place
Ed Casey
Touched by Touching
David Wood
Umbilicus: Toward a Hermeneutics of Generational Difference
Anne O'Byrne
Getting in Touch: Aristotelian Diagnostics
Emmanuel Alloa
Between Vision and Touch: From Husserl to Merleau-Ponty
Dermot Moran
Biodiversity and the Diacritics of Life
Ted Toadvine

Divine Bodies
The Passion According to Teresa of Avila
Julia Kristeva

Editorial Reviews

"In response to the apparent 'non-relevance' of traditional phenomenological hermeneutics, must those scholars who continue to cling to a more 'conservative' perspective capitulate to the various nihilisms, to the critiques of correlationalism, or to the solid reductionism of speculative realism? Richard Kearney and Brian Treanor answer with an insistent 'No!' Indeed, they seek to infuse the debate with a dialogical energy that will keep the process moving and flesh renewed. That would not be a bad embodiment of a carnal hermeneutics."—B. Keith Putt, Samford University

"Carnal Hermeneutics brings together essays from some of the most prominent philosophers writing today. These excellent essays challenge us to think through the body in every sense. This collection makes an important contribution to philosophy of embodiment. The very idea of carnal hermeneutics is breath-taking."—Kelly Oliver, Vanderbilt University

"Certain dualities, spirit vs. body, idea vs. sensation, self vs. the world, etc., have long dominated, often injuriously, much Western thinking. In this remarkable volume, the editors, along with some of the most important voices in the Continental tradition, allow hermeneutics to go 'all the way down' and in so doing move beyond these dualities by taking more seriously the 'surplus of meaning arising from our carnal embodiment.' What emerges is a reenergized and radically embodied or 'incarnational' hermeneutics that opens new vistas for religious, environmental, and artistic thinking. This is an important and consequential collection."—Jason M. Wirth, Seattle University

"Richard Kearney and Brian Treanor have assembled a remarkable collection of essays by important recent philosophers devoted to the surprising intersection of 'carnal' and 'hermeneutics'—the body as interpreter as well as interpreted. The British, French and American authors explore the existential, environmental and religious implications of a philosophy of the body."—David Carr, Emory University

"This book is not only an invaluable resource for scholars interested in new developments in hermeneutics, and, more generally, in continental European philosophy. It is also likely to become an important touchstone of future debate."—Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

From the Publisher

This book is not only an invaluable resource for scholars interested in new developments in hermeneutics, and, more generally, in continental European philosophy. It is also likely to become an important touchstone of future debate.

Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

In response to the apparent 'non-relevance' of traditional phenomenological hermeneutics, must those scholars who continue to cling to a more 'conservative' perspective capitulate to the various nihilisms, to the critiques of correlationalism, or to the solid reductionism of speculative realism? Richard Kearney and Brian Treanor answer with an insistent 'No!' Indeed, they seek to infuse the debate with a dialogical energy that will keep the process moving and flesh renewed. That would not be a bad embodiment of a carnal hermeneutics.

Samford University - B. Keith Putt

Certain dualities, spirit vs. body, idea vs. sensation, self vs. the world, etc., have long dominated, often injuriously, much Western thinking. In this remarkable volume, the editors, along with some of the most important voices in the Continental tradition, allow hermeneutics to go 'all the way down' and in so doing move beyond these dualities by taking more seriously the 'surplus of meaning arising from our carnal embodiment.' What emerges is a reenergized and radically embodied or 'incarnational' hermeneutics that opens new vistas for religious, environmental, and artistic thinking. This is an important and consequential collection.

Seattle University - Jason M. Wirth

Richard Kearney and Brian Treanor have assembled a remarkable collection of essays by important recent philosophers devoted to the surprising intersection of 'carnal' and 'hermeneutics' –the body as interpreter as well as interpreted. The British, French and American authors explore the existential, environmental and religious implications of a philosophy of the body.

Emory University - David Carr

Carnal Hermeneutics brings together essays from some of the most prominent philosophers writing today. These excellent essays challenge us to think through the body in every sense. This collection makes an important contribution to philosophy of embodiment. The very idea of carnal hermeneutics is breath-taking.

Vanderbilt University - Kelly Oliver

In response to the apparent 'non-relevance' of traditional phenomenological hermeneutics, must those scholars who continue to cling to a more 'conservative' perspective capitulate to the various nihilisms, to the critiques of correlationalism, or to the solid reductionism of speculative realism? Richard Kearney and Brian Treanor answer with an insistent 'No!' Indeed, they seek to infuse the debate with a dialogical energy that will keep the process moving and flesh renewed. That would not be a bad embodiment of a carnal hermeneutics.

Samford University

Richard Kearney and Brian Treanor have assembled a remarkable collection of essays by important recent philosophers devoted to the surprising intersection of 'carnal' and 'hermeneutics' –the body as interpreter as well as interpreted. The British, French and American authors explore the existential, environmental and religious implications of a philosophy of the body.

Emory University

Carnal Hermeneutics brings together essays from some of the most prominent philosophers writing today. These excellent essays challenge us to think through the body in every sense. This collection makes an important contribution to philosophy of embodiment. The very idea of carnal hermeneutics is breath-taking.

Vanderbilt University

Certain dualities, spirit vs. body, idea vs. sensation, self vs. the world, etc., have long dominated, often injuriously, much Western thinking. In this remarkable volume, the editors, along with some of the most important voices in the Continental tradition, allow hermeneutics to go 'all the way down' and in so doing move beyond these dualities by taking more seriously the 'surplus of meaning arising from our carnal embodiment.' What emerges is a reenergized and radically embodied or 'incarnational' hermeneutics that opens new vistas for religious, environmental, and artistic thinking. This is an important and consequential collection.

Seattle University