Portraits of American Continental Philosophers

Through engaging autobiographical essays and photographs, Portraits of American Continental Philosophers introduces twenty-two leading contemporary American philosophers whose work falls under the rubric "continental philosophy." The essays trace the personal philosophical journeys and orientations of a remarkable group of men and women and reveal a fascinating array of intellectual inspirations--spellbinding tales of saints and mystics, an undergraduate encounter with Hume or Locke, the shock of a racially segregated society, the experience of mirrors reflecting each other to infinity, Martin Heidegger's probing gaze, the explosion of student unrest in 1968, or a Holocaust survivor's search for explanations.

"Watson (Loyola Univ., New Orleans) features 22 scholars who teach philosophy in the US and write about, or have philosophical affinity with, such 19th- and 20th-century European philosophers as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre, Merleau-Ponty, Foucault, and Derrida. The philosophers include Debra Bergoffen, Robert Bernasconi, John D. Caputo, Edward S. Casey, Bernard Flynn, Thomas R. Flynn, Patrick A. Heelan, Douglas Kellner, Joseph J. Kockelmans, David Farrell Krell, David Michael Levin, Alphonso Lingis, Bernd Magnus, David M. Rasmussen, William J. Richardson, John Sallis, Calvin O. Schrag, Charles E. Scott, Hugh J. Silverman, Joan Stambaugh, Wilhelm S. Wurzer, and Edith Wyschogrod. Each philosopher is portrayed with a short (typically six pages) intellectual autobiographical sketch, a selected bibliography of essays and books, and a full-page photograph. Most sketches describe the author's philosophical education and research and writing programs. The sketch by Bernd Magnus is different: it is a riveting and horrifying account of his childhood experiences surviving the Holocaust. The philosophers featured represent a minority movement in American academic philosophy, and therefore may not ordinarily receive the same attention that is accorded their colleagues who follow the dominant approach (analysis). This will be a useful resource, especially at institutions whose philosophy departments emphasize the study of Continental philosophy." --H. Pospesel, University of Miami, Choice, June 2000 Indiana University Press

James R. Watson is Professor of Philosophy at Loyola University, New Orleans. He is coeditor (with Alan Rosenberg) of Contemporary Portrayals of Auschwitz and Genocide: Philosophical Challenges.

Preface

1. I Never Imagined Myself a Philosopher Debra Bergoffen

2. Expecting the Unexpected Robert Bernasconi

3. Of Mystics, Magi, and Deconstructionists John D. Caputo

4. From Imagination to Place: Memories of a Wayward Thinker Edward S. Casey

5. From Bad Infinities to Hyper-Reflections Bernard Flynn

6. Continental Philosophy on Another Continent Thomas R. Flynn

7. Hermeneutics and Natural Science Patrick A. Heelan

8. Adventures in Continental Philosophy Douglas Kellner

9. Science, Ontology, Pluralities Joseph J. Kockelmans

10. From the School of Suspicion to the Willing Suspension of Disbelief David Farrell Krell

11. Understanding: Learning to Stand on the Earth and Stand under the Sky David Michael Levin

12. The Unlived Life is Not Worth Examining Alphonso Lingis

13. Holocaust Child Bernd Magnus

14. Reflections David M. Rasmussen

15. An Unpurloined Autobiography William J. Richardson

16. Arch John Sallis

17. My Dialogue with Twentieth Century Continental Philosophy Calvin O. Schrag

18. Thought in the Transformation of 'Transcendence' Charles E. Scott

19. Continental Philosophy on the American Scene: An Autobiographical Statement Hugh J. Silverman

20. Andenken and Compassion Joan Stambaugh

21. From Seceda to Captiva and More... Wilhelm S. Wurzer

22. Between Phenomenology and the Negative's Power Edith Wyschogrod