Drama of History: Ibsen, Hegel, Nietzsche - Hardcover
by Kristin Gjesdal (Author)
Henrik Ibsen's plays have long beguiled philosophically-oriented readers. From Nietzsche to Adorno to Cavell, philosophers have drawn inspiration from Ibsen. But what of Ibsen's own philosophical orientation? As part of larger European movements to reinvent drama, Ibsen and fellow playwrights grappled with contemporary philosophy. Philosophy of drama found a central place with figures such as Gotthold Ephraim Lessing and Johann Gottfried Herder, but reached its mature form, in Ibsen's time, in the works of G.W.F. Hegel and Friedrich Nietzsche.
Kristin Gjesdal reveals the centrality of philosophy of theater in nineteenth-century philosophy and shows how drama, as an art form, offers insight into human historicity and the conditions of modern life. The Drama of History deepens and actualizes the relationship between philosophy and drama--not by suggesting that either philosophy or drama should have the upper hand, but rather by indicating how a sustained dialogue between them brings out the meaning and intellectual power of each. Her study reveals underappreciated aspects of Hegel's and Nietzsche's works through their reception in European art and investigates the philosophical dimensions of Ibsen's drama. At the heart of this interrelation between philosophy and drama is a shared interest in exploring the existential condition of human life as lived and experienced in history.
Kristin Gjesdal is Professor of Philosophy at Temple University. Her areas of specialization include Nineteenth-Century philosophy, aesthetics, and hermeneutics. She is the author of Gadamer and the Legacy of German Idealism (Cambridge University Press, 2009/2011) and Herder's Hermeneutics: History, Poetry, Enlightenment (Cambridge University Press, 2017/2019) and the editor and co-editor of seven volumes, including Ibsen's Hedda Gabler: Philosophical Perspectives (Oxford University Press, 2018). She is a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
Made with care and unconditionally loved by our customers, this signature bestseller exceeds all expectations.
Made with care and unconditionally loved by our customers, this signature bestseller exceeds all expectations.
At the heart of every product lies a unique story, driven by our passion for quality and innovation. Each item enhances your everyday life and sparks joy.