Reason and Imagination in the Thought of Max Deutscher
This collection features essays spanning four decades by a prominent Australian philosopher, showcasing the significant influence of Continental philosophy on the intellectual landscape in Australia. The curated selection highlights key themes and ideas, illustrating how these philosophical traditions have shaped contemporary thought in the region.
The book delves into the Mabo High Court case in Australia, using it as a springboard to examine broader themes of morality, legality, and ethics in the context of significant twentieth-century judicial debates. Max Deutscher investigates the relationship between reason and the foundations of judgment, critiquing the inclination towards absolutism that undermines nuanced decision-making. Through this exploration, he aims to illuminate the complexities involved in determining what is considered good, right, and legal in society.
Judgment After Arendt is both the first full-length study of Hannah Arendt's The Life of the Mind and, at the same time, a philosophical work on the core concepts of thinking, willing and judging. In analysing Arendt's work Deutscher develops this theme of judgment and shows how, by drawing upon literature, history, myth and idiom, Arendt contributes significantly to contemporary philosophy.