Anselm Haverkamp Book order

Productive Digression is a translation of the ancient term poetics: as a practice of theory . The products produced in the mode of poiesis are ‘digressive’ in that they operate off track; they resist the main stream of every day prose. They do so for various reasons and in various respects. Mostly, they are explained historically, relative to historical contexts and, that is, contrary to what they are meant to resist. Instead, this book investigates the modes of resistance, their epistemology of production, in short, the logic of digression. The method addresses the singular exemplarity of art and literature; it elucidates the impact of poiesis as an epistemological challenge and redefines the analysis of literature and art as branches of an Historical Epistemology. Proceeding from the state of affairs in 20 th century criticism and aesthetics (Benjamin, Adorno, Blumenberg, Merleau-Ponty), the epistemology of representation (Whitehead, Canguilhem, Bachelard, Rheinberger) is revised in, and with respect to critical consequences (Derrida, Marin, de Man, Agamben). From literary criticism and critical legal studies to the scenario of the life sciences, the essays collected here redirect the logic of research towards the epistemological grounds of an aesthetics underneath the hermeneutics of every day life.

Exploring the intersection of politics and law, this work presents a fresh lens on normativity through the lens of Shakespeare's stage. It delves into how Shakespearean narratives reveal the complexities of power dynamics, offering insights into the societal structures of his time and their relevance today. The book invites readers to reconsider the implications of authority and governance as depicted in Shakespeare's works, highlighting the enduring influence of his themes on contemporary discussions of power.

The book delves into the allegorical elements present in Hölderlin's later works, analyzing themes of mourning through the lenses of Freud and Derrida. It provides fresh interpretations of significant pieces like "Impossible Ode," "Mnemosyne," and "The Churchyard." Originally published in German in 1991, it offers a scholarly exploration of how these allegories reflect deeper philosophical inquiries and emotional landscapes.