The Wounded Animal: J. M. Coetzee and the Difficulty of Reality in Literature and Philosophy

(Paperback)

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Examines JM Coetzee's writings about Elizabeth Costello, and the ways in which philosophers have responded to them. This book considers the relations among reason, language, and the imagination, as well as more specific ethical issues concerning the moral status of animals, the meaning of mortality, the nature of evil, and the demands of religion.

Reviews

One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2009 "This superb book by Mulhall, building on the work of Cora Diamond's The Realistic Spirit, contributes richly to the work of recovery in moral philosophy of a kind of literary, poetic, imaginative understanding usually occluded in favor of abstract argumentation that deflects attention from the concrete reality and lived experience of human and non-human animals... Mulhall provides brilliant descriptions of creative forms of thoughtful reflection on life's difficulties and contradictions, along with examples of poetic expressions of awe and reverence for the fullness of life of embodied beings--uses of language eschewed by modern moral philosophy."--S.A. Mason, Choice "The Wounded Animal is a book every serious student of Coetzee's work will want to read. It articulates a vision of his achievement as an artist and moral thinker that is nuanced, compelling, and important... The book is obviously essential reading, too, for scholars of animal studies and for those interested in the relationship between literature and philosophy... Mulhall has enormously enriched the philosophical response to Coetzee."--Elizabeth Hirsh, Contemporary Literature "The Wounded Animal is a remarkable book that succeeds in handling a remarkable author with admirable subtlety and rigour in equal measure. Mulhall has produced a characteristically provocative and challenging work that succeeds in arguing that Coetzee offers us much 'food for thought' in coming to terms with the difficulty of reality."--James Carter, Literature and Theology "Stephen Mulhall's work is always engaging, original, and fertile, and his latest book is no exception."--Rupert Read, Mind

Author Bio

Stephen Mulhall is fellow and tutor in philosophy at New College, University of Oxford. His books include "On Film, The Conversation of Humanity", and "Philosophical Myths of the Fall" (Princeton).