Creation of Chaos

William James and the Stylistic Making of a Disorderly World

AvFrederick J. Ruf

Häftad, Engelska, 1991

Del i serien SUNY series in Rhetoric and Theology

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Beskrivning

This is the first book-length study of William James' style, arguing that the manner in which James writes The Principles of Psychology and The Varieties of Religious Experience serves to construct a chaotic world for his readers. The book examines the uses of chaos in western literature and philosophy and reaches two conclusions: that chaos may be "utter confusion and disorder," but, paradoxically, that disorder is communicated through some particular order - in Joyce's term, all chaos is "chaosmos." Secondly, what is essential about chaos is what it does: nothing is inherently chaotic, rather chaos is used to contrast with or challenge something that is more structured or formed. Finally, the author presents an examination of the religious function of James' chaotic worldview as a disorientation which orients.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:1991-10-11
Mått:153 x 229 x 10 mm
Vikt:272 g
Format:Häftad
Språk:Engelska
Serie:SUNY series in Rhetoric and Theology
Antal sidor:185
Förlag:State University of New York Press
ISBN:9780791407028

Utforska kategorier

Filosofiska discipliner inom Filosofi och religion

Mer om författaren

Frederick J. Ruf is Assistant Professor in the Theology Department at Georgetown University.

Recensioner i media

"This book manages to be original in two ways at once: it is both a rhetorical reading of James (much needed and well done) and a reflection on chaos as a religious symbol. The latter aspect draws from a variety of sources which makes for fascinating reading. This double focus allows the author to discuss James' style from a specific perspective, namely chaos, which gives the book unity and enables much insight. This double perspective also allows for a double reading of the two texts which this book examines, The Principles and The Varieties. In sum, James is located not in any specific tradition (say, American pragmatism) but rather is put into conversation with a whole range of people who wrote about chaos." — Stephen Webb, Wabash College

Innehållsförteckning

Abbreviations Acknowledgments Introduction William James, Stylist 1."The Malestrom": The Chaotic in The Principles of Psychology, Part 1 IntroductionJames and Chaos: The Critical ViewThe Chaotic: "Chaosmos"The Tempestuous World: Roots of the Chaotic in James's Crisis Years, 1867-18722. "A Mind So Purely Fluid": The Chaotic in The Principles of Psychology, Part 2 External Chaos: The PlenumA Circumscription of the ChaoticInternal Chaos: The StreamContinuityChangePersonalityInterestObjectsThe Relationship of Inner to Outer ChaosThe Neural StreamThe Function of Chaos: "Old Fogeyism"3. "The Floods and Waterspouts of God": The Chaotic in The Varieties of Religious Experience IntroductionBiographical ContextThe Chaotic in the Varieties of Religious ExperienceReligion and the Chaotic4. "Meanderings, Zigzags, and Circles":Creating Chaos in The Principles of Psychology IntroductionThe Constructive Role of FormGenre RealismThe Constructivist View of NarrativeThe Form of the Principles of PsychologyJames's "Rhetoric"Formal EclecticismInteractions of Forms in the PrinciplesMultiple VoicesDomesticated Chaos: Image StreamsReorientationChaos Out of Cosmos5. "Instruction from the Living Voice":Creating Chaos in The Varieties of Religious Experience IntroductionGenetic MultiplicityMultiplicity of VoicesDisruptive Disorientation6. Conclusion, "Fronting Life": The Chaotic and Religious Orientation Orientation: Scope, Authority, and BenefitChaotic OrientationThe Chaotic and Disorientation"Ordinariness": The Rhetoric of Religious SymbolsNotes Select Bibliography Index