The Persistence of Romanticism: Essays in Philosophy and Literature

by Richard T. Eldridge

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.

264 pages, Paperback

First published February 5, 2001

About the author

Richard Eldridge (born September 14, 1953) is an American philosopher and the Charles and Harriett Cox McDowell Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Swarthmore College. He is known for his works on philosophy of art.