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Beyond Words

Philosophy, Fiction, and the Unsayable

Timothy Cleveland

It is commonplace to regard many great works of literature—poems, dramas, works of fiction—as in some sense philosophical. Yet ever since Plato, there has been a tension between the kind of abstract theorizing that goes on in philosophy and the focus on concrete particulars that occurs in poetry and fiction. Beyond Words: Philosophy, Fiction, and the Unsayable elaborates on and addresses this Platonic tension, asking in what sense, if any, literature in the form of poetry, drama, short stories, and novels can contribute significantly to our philosophical understanding. Timothy Cleveland suggests there is something in certain poems, novels, and stories that makes them especially suited to expanding our awareness and understanding into the nature of things otherwise unsayable and unconceived. Such literary works show us something that a theoretical—scientific or philosophical—discourse cannot literally say.

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  • Details
  • Author
  • Author
  • TOC
  • TOC
  • Reviews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Features
Lexington Books
Pages: 140 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼
978-1-7936-1484-1 • Hardback • August 2022 • $105.00 • (£81.00)
978-1-7936-1486-5 • Paperback • February 2024 • $39.99 • (£30.00)
978-1-7936-1485-8 • eBook • August 2022 • $37.50 • (£30.00)
Subjects: Philosophy / Aesthetics, Philosophy / Language, Literary Criticism / Semiotics & Theory

Timothy Cleveland is professor of philosophy at New Mexico State University.

Preface

Introduction: Encountering the Ineffable

Chapter 1: The Platonic Paradigm

Chapter 2: The Experience of the Unsayable

Chapter 3: The In Principle Ineffable and the Trivially Ineffable

Chapter 4: Showing What Can Be Said

Chapter 5: Showing What Cannot Be Said

Conclusion: How Plato Could Have Settled the Ancient Quarrel

Bibliography

About the Author

In a wide-ranging discussion that focuses on the relationship between philosophy and literature, Cleveland argues that some works of fiction can point readers toward what is unsayable. Against Plato, the author claims there is a sense in which literature can be philosophical by providing an enhanced awareness of the world, but trying to put this into words risks losing it. Among other reflections, Cleveland offers an extended account of T. S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land” to show how the poem works as a kind of performance that provides a strong sense of the self’s fragmentation in the modern world. It may seem paradoxical to say that one can talk about the unsayable, but poetry, novels, negative theology, and Zen Buddhist koans can get beneath the surface level of meaning to transform one from within. Cleveland describes his work as “a philosophical prolegomena to fiction and the unsayable” (p. 4). He does not get bogged down in theory but offers insights and a thoughtful discussion concerning philosophical aspects of literature “that cannot be articulated, only shown” (p. 22). Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty.


— Choice Reviews


I recommend the book to everyone interested in questions regarding literature and philosophy that issue from the ancient quarrel. Cleveland writes clearly and pushes his arguments forward through a maze of different philosophical disciplines. As he himself states, this book was written primarily in order to honor two of his great loves, literature and philosophy, and the result is a book that invites a similar degree of enthusiasm and dedication. Concerned with the unsayable, the book, almost paradoxically, manages to say (and show!) how inspiring philosophy can be, when it is done from the heart. Most importantly perhaps, in the age when literacy is rapidly declining and fewer and fewer people read, with the STEM-areas trumping the humanities all around the world, Cleveland’s book is a much-needed reminder that certain things just are beyond theoretical grasp: they can only be shown to us by art. One can only hope that its messages will resonate with those who fail to acknowledge the social, cultural, and educational values of the arts and philosophy.


— Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews


What can be shown but not said? Where and how can something of surpassing interest or importance be shown but not said? A picture, for example, can be worth a thousand words. These questions arise when we ponder what can be shown and not said. In this book, Timothy Cleveland, a philosopher who can see deeply and broadly, shows himself able to not only see but also say much of great interest about such questions.


— Ernest Sosa, Rutgers University


12/7/22, KTAL 101.5 FM: Timothy Cleveland talked about his book in this segment.

Link: https://www.lccommunityradio.org/archives/speak-up-las-cruces-tim-cleveland-professor-and-author



2/10/23, New Books Network: Timothy Cleveland was interviewed about the book.

Link: https://newbooksnetwork.com/beyond-words



Beyond Words

Philosophy, Fiction, and the Unsayable

Cover Image
Hardback
Paperback
eBook
Summary
Summary
  • It is commonplace to regard many great works of literature—poems, dramas, works of fiction—as in some sense philosophical. Yet ever since Plato, there has been a tension between the kind of abstract theorizing that goes on in philosophy and the focus on concrete particulars that occurs in poetry and fiction. Beyond Words: Philosophy, Fiction, and the Unsayable elaborates on and addresses this Platonic tension, asking in what sense, if any, literature in the form of poetry, drama, short stories, and novels can contribute significantly to our philosophical understanding. Timothy Cleveland suggests there is something in certain poems, novels, and stories that makes them especially suited to expanding our awareness and understanding into the nature of things otherwise unsayable and unconceived. Such literary works show us something that a theoretical—scientific or philosophical—discourse cannot literally say.

Details
Details
  • Lexington Books
    Pages: 140 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼
    978-1-7936-1484-1 • Hardback • August 2022 • $105.00 • (£81.00)
    978-1-7936-1486-5 • Paperback • February 2024 • $39.99 • (£30.00)
    978-1-7936-1485-8 • eBook • August 2022 • $37.50 • (£30.00)
    Subjects: Philosophy / Aesthetics, Philosophy / Language, Literary Criticism / Semiotics & Theory
Author
Author
  • Timothy Cleveland is professor of philosophy at New Mexico State University.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • Preface

    Introduction: Encountering the Ineffable

    Chapter 1: The Platonic Paradigm

    Chapter 2: The Experience of the Unsayable

    Chapter 3: The In Principle Ineffable and the Trivially Ineffable

    Chapter 4: Showing What Can Be Said

    Chapter 5: Showing What Cannot Be Said

    Conclusion: How Plato Could Have Settled the Ancient Quarrel

    Bibliography

    About the Author

Reviews
Reviews
  • In a wide-ranging discussion that focuses on the relationship between philosophy and literature, Cleveland argues that some works of fiction can point readers toward what is unsayable. Against Plato, the author claims there is a sense in which literature can be philosophical by providing an enhanced awareness of the world, but trying to put this into words risks losing it. Among other reflections, Cleveland offers an extended account of T. S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land” to show how the poem works as a kind of performance that provides a strong sense of the self’s fragmentation in the modern world. It may seem paradoxical to say that one can talk about the unsayable, but poetry, novels, negative theology, and Zen Buddhist koans can get beneath the surface level of meaning to transform one from within. Cleveland describes his work as “a philosophical prolegomena to fiction and the unsayable” (p. 4). He does not get bogged down in theory but offers insights and a thoughtful discussion concerning philosophical aspects of literature “that cannot be articulated, only shown” (p. 22). Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty.


    — Choice Reviews


    I recommend the book to everyone interested in questions regarding literature and philosophy that issue from the ancient quarrel. Cleveland writes clearly and pushes his arguments forward through a maze of different philosophical disciplines. As he himself states, this book was written primarily in order to honor two of his great loves, literature and philosophy, and the result is a book that invites a similar degree of enthusiasm and dedication. Concerned with the unsayable, the book, almost paradoxically, manages to say (and show!) how inspiring philosophy can be, when it is done from the heart. Most importantly perhaps, in the age when literacy is rapidly declining and fewer and fewer people read, with the STEM-areas trumping the humanities all around the world, Cleveland’s book is a much-needed reminder that certain things just are beyond theoretical grasp: they can only be shown to us by art. One can only hope that its messages will resonate with those who fail to acknowledge the social, cultural, and educational values of the arts and philosophy.


    — Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews


    What can be shown but not said? Where and how can something of surpassing interest or importance be shown but not said? A picture, for example, can be worth a thousand words. These questions arise when we ponder what can be shown and not said. In this book, Timothy Cleveland, a philosopher who can see deeply and broadly, shows himself able to not only see but also say much of great interest about such questions.


    — Ernest Sosa, Rutgers University


Features
Features
  • 12/7/22, KTAL 101.5 FM: Timothy Cleveland talked about his book in this segment.

    Link: https://www.lccommunityradio.org/archives/speak-up-las-cruces-tim-cleveland-professor-and-author



    2/10/23, New Books Network: Timothy Cleveland was interviewed about the book.

    Link: https://newbooksnetwork.com/beyond-words



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