These challenging essays defend Romanticism against its critics. They argue that Romantic thought, interpreted as the pursuit of freedom in concrete contexts, remains a central and exemplary form of both artistic work and philosophical understanding. Richard Eldridge traces the central features of Romantic thinking and shows that Romanticism is neither emptily literary and escapist nor dogmatically optimistic and sentimental. The first serious philosophical defense of the ethical ideals of Romanticism, this volume will appeal particularly to all professionals and students in philosophy, literature and aesthetics.
Reviews
"What is impressive about Eldrige's work is that he is able to keep an eye on the important literary legacy of Romanticism without failing to provide sharp analysis of the central philosophical commitments that shaped early German Romantic philosophy, for example, anti-foundationalism and mediality." Philosophy Today, Elizabeth MilliAn-Zaibert
