Repetition and Identity: The Literary Agenda by Pickstock, Catherine (2013) Paperback

The Literary Agenda

by Catherine Pickstock

Excellent Book

Genres: Philosophy, Theology, Academic, Literary Criticism

Paperback Bunko

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Ben Smitthimedhin]

Rainbows can glide from red to yellow to blue, but an infinite distance seems to exist between each color... when does red become orange? An infinite distance also exists between the first and second shade of red before it can become orange.

Houses consist of multiple rooms, but a house can also contain just one room... but doesn't that mean it's just a room rather than a house? How do we distinguish a house from a room? By whether or not it has a roof? But surely, something with multiple rooms without a roof could still be a house....

With examples like these, Pickstock argues that for a thing to "be," it must first be something else that's repeated differently. A room can only be a living room if the concept of "room" already exists. And thus, for Pickstock reology precedes ontology: "To be is to be repeated." But how can you repeat something differently if repetition implies sameness? So reology doesn't precede ontology after all?

Pickstock argues that for a thing to "emerge" as something different entirely, it must already exist in some metaphysical form (a la Plato), but due to this thing's (potentially) infinite variety, the only explanation for this possibility must be attributed to an infinite God.

At least it's what I drew from the book. It's one of the densest books I've read, right up there with Milbank's Theology and Social Theory which I couldn't finish. Although Pickstock is much more literary and playful, familiarity with continental philosophy, Platonic metaphysics, and Heideggerian phenomenology is a requirement. I almost gave up, and most of it went over my head.

[David Mosley]

In this book, Pickstock sets out to form a reology alongside of, perhaps even preceding, an ontology. Using literature, Kierkegaard's understanding of non-identical repetition, the Church Fathers, and postmodern philosophers, she builds up her study by defining things and symbols. From there she focuses on repetition working her way to God himself. There are a few aspects of this text with which I don't fully agree, specifically her use of Originian universalism and the preexistence of souls. Nevertheless, this is an essential text to anyone interested in metaphysics, Radical Orthodoxy, Christianity, literature, Kierkegaard, etc. I cannot recommend this book enough.

[David Beadle]

This essay reveals the brilliance of Catherine Pickstock and the reach of the implications of Radical Orthodoxy. In this book, Pickstock weaves together Aquinas, Kierkegaard, Plato, Irenaeus, and Origen, to unfold a compelling way of understanding the relationship between eternity and temporality which comprises created experience and, paradoxically, the Divine life. It is as creative as it is grounded in tradition, and as brilliant as it is provocative. A must-read for those interested in philosophical theology.