Carnal Hermeneutics - (Perspectives in Continental Philosophy) by Richard Kearney & Brian Treanor (Hardcover)

About the Book

Carnal hermeneutics offers a philosophical approach to the body as interpretation. It engages our finite, spatio-temporal being-in-the-world through an account of meanings involving corporeal sensation, orientation, and linguistic articulation, and transcends the traditional dualism of rational understanding and embodied sensibility, arguing that our most carnal sensations are already interpretations.

Book Synopsis

Building on a hermeneutic tradition in which accounts of carnal embodiment are overlooked, misunderstood, or underdeveloped, this work initiates a new field of study and concern.

Carnal Hermeneutics provides a philosophical approach to the body as interpretation. Transcending the traditional dualism of rational understanding and embodied sensibility, the volume argues that our most carnal sensations are already interpretations. Because interpretation truly goes "all the way down," carnal hermeneutics rejects the opposition of language to sensibility, word to flesh, text to body.

In this volume, an impressive array of today's preeminent philosophers seek to interpret the surplus of meaning that arises from our carnal embodiment, its role in our experience and understanding, and its engagement with the wider world.

Review Quotes

"In response to the apparent 'non-relevance' of traditional phenomenological hermeneutics, must those scholars who continue to cling to a more 'conservative' perspective capitulate to the various nihilisms, to the critiques of correlationalism, or to the solid reductionism of speculative realism? Richard Kearney and Brian Treanor answer with an insistent 'No!' Indeed, they seek to infuse the debate with a dialogical energy that will keep the process moving and flesh renewed. That would not be a bad embodiment of a carnal hermeneutics."--B. Keith Putt, Samford University

"Carnal Hermeneutics brings together essays from some of the most prominent philosophers writing today. These excellent essays challenge us to think through the body in every sense. This collection makes an important contribution to philosophy of embodiment. The very idea of carnal hermeneutics is breath-taking."--Kelly Oliver, Vanderbilt University

"Certain dualities, spirit vs. body, idea vs. sensation, self vs. the world, etc., have long dominated, often injuriously, much Western thinking. In this remarkable volume, the editors, along with some of the most important voices in the Continental tradition, allow hermeneutics to go 'all the way down' and in so doing move beyond these dualities by taking more seriously the 'surplus of meaning arising from our carnal embodiment.' What emerges is a reenergized and radically embodied or 'incarnational' hermeneutics that opens new vistas for religious, environmental, and artistic thinking. This is an important and consequential collection."--Jason M. Wirth, Seattle University

"Richard Kearney and Brian Treanor have assembled a remarkable collection of essays by important recent philosophers devoted to the surprising intersection of 'carnal' and 'hermeneutics'--the body as interpreter as well as interpreted. The British, French and American authors explore the existential, environmental and religious implications of a philosophy of the body."--David Carr, Emory University

"This book is not only an invaluable resource for scholars interested in new developments in hermeneutics, and, more generally, in continental European philosophy. It is also likely to become an important touchstone of future debate."--Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

About the Author

RICHARD KEARNEY is Charles B. Seelig Professor of Philosophy at Boston College.

Brian Treanor is Professor of Philosophy and Director of Environmental Studies at Loyola Marymount University.