This is one of the most important books in philosophy in the 21st century. McCumber (German, UCLA) develops a new vocabulary and a new way of thinking outside the box concerning seven traditional ontologies, beginning with Plato. He rejects both what he calls the "fantasy island" of analytic philosophy carried on in the timeless present and the "endless struggle" of postmodern Continental philosophies, in order to advocate a philosophy that is both "postanalytic" and "metacontinental"--and relevant! He is not alone. McCumber says that "a whole posse of contemporary American philosophers is now riding to philosophy's rescue," so he joins them and articulates his thinking in terms of logic, ontology, and ethics. This is not his first book to address the situation of American philosophy. There was Metaphysics and Oppression: Heidegger's Challenge to Western Philosophy (CH, Apr'00, 37-4434, Outstanding Academic Title), Philosophy and Freedom: Derrida, Rorty, Habermas, Foucault (2000), and then Time in the Ditch: American Philosophy and the McCarthy Era (CH, Oct'01, 39-0867), each getting more confident and daring. Now, in the final chapter of this lively, original, and provocative book, McCumber attains a new level of ethics and politics, and addresses the current world situation. Summing Up: Essential. Upper-level undergraduates and above. Upper-division Undergraduates; Graduate Students; Researchers/Faculty; Professionals/Practitioners. Reviewed by R. E. Palmer.
This is one of the most important books in philosophy in the 21st century. McCumber (German, UCLA) develops a new vocabulary and a new way of thinking outside the box concerning seven traditional ontologies, beginning with Plato. He rejects both what he calls the "fantasy island" of analytic philosophy carried on in the timeless present and the "endless struggle" of postmodern Continental philosophies, in order to advocate a philosophy that is both "postanalytic" and "metacontinental"--and relevant! He is not alone. McCumber says that "a whole posse of contemporary American philosophers is now riding to philosophy's rescue," so he joins them and articulates his thinking in terms of logic, ontology, and ethics. This is not his first book to address the situation of American philosophy. There was Metaphysics and Oppression: Heidegger's Challenge to Western Philosophy (CH, Apr'00, 37-4434, Outstanding Academic Title), Philosophy and Freedom: Derrida, Rorty, Habermas, Foucault (2000), and then Time in the Ditch: American Philosophy and the McCarthy Era (CH, Oct'01, 39-0867), each getting more confident and daring. Now, in the final chapter of this lively, original, and provocative book, McCumber attains a new level of ethics and politics, and addresses the current world situation. Summing Up: Essential. Upper-level undergraduates and above. Upper-division Undergraduates; Graduate Students; Researchers/Faculty; Professionals/Practitioners. Reviewed by R. E. Palmer.