Literary Theory and the Claims of History: Postmodernism, Objectivity, Multicultural Politics

Satya P. Mohanty

Published by Cornell University Press 1997

Literary Theory and the Claims of History

Postmodernism, Objectivity, Multicultural Politics

Satya P. Mohanty

https://doi.org/10.7591/9781501728938

Overview
Contents

About this book

At the core of postmodern thought, especially in literary theory, is the belief that such ideals as truth, reason, and objectivity are social constructs that have no universal or trans-historical validity. In exploring this constructivist view, Satya...

Author / Editor information

Satya P. Mohanty teaches in the Department of English at Cornell University.

Reviews

Elizabeth Minnich, author of Transforming Knowledge:

Working through major debates and quandries in contemporary literary criticism and philosophy, Satya Mohanty emerges with a brilliantly sensible proposal for a comprehensive philosphical realism.

John McGowan, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill:

I learned something on almost every page of this book. Mohanty is a shrewd reader of the times and his unexpected angle of attack consistently bears fruit in making us see things anew. A good example is his discussion of Derrida, which seems to me right on target, and yet offers a vision of Derrida's project that never occurred to me or to anyone else as far as my knowledge of the literature on Derrida goes.

Domna Stanton, Editor, PMLA:

A challenging and inspiring book that grapples with unacknowledged epistemological issues in the postmodern critique of universalism, objectivity, reason, and experience. Mohanty rejects relativism and particularism in the name of a commonality that grants rational agency to all human subjects, and redefines objectivity as fallible and situated in outlining the need for a postpositivist realism at the turn of the twenty-first century. Crucial reading for all who are concerned with the conjuncture of contemporary theory and left social critique.

Mohanty's theory is provocativeand the prose remains mercifully clear. The book deserves and rewards attention even from readers who may... begin it with skepticism and finish it unconverted.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
CONTENTS Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Acknowledgments Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
Preface Publicly Available Download PDF	xi
Introduction: Criticism as Politics Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Part One
1. Paul de Man, Language, and the Politics of Meaning Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	25
2. Reference and the Social Basis of Language Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	47
3. The Limits of Althusser's Poststructuralist Marxism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	73
4. Jameson's Marxist Hermeneutics and the Need for an Adequate Epistemology Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	93
Part Two
5. Political Criticism and the Challenge of Otherness Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	116
6. On Situating Objective Knowledge Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	149
7. Identity, Multiculturalism, Justice Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	198
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	255

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Cornell University Press
Audience: General/trade;
Pages
- Main content: 288
Keywords: Literary Studies; Cultural Studies

eBook

Published: July 5, 2018
ISBN: 9781501728938