A Short History of My Philosophy

(Hardback)

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A Short History of My Philosophy is an autobiographic account of Agnes Heller's intellectual and academic career. While the narration mainly traces the development of ideas, we also learn how they occurred in the context of challenging life circumstances. Agnes Heller presents the life of her ideas is four stages: the first, "years of apprenticeship," details both the pre- and post-Hungarian revolution period during which she studied under Gyrgy Lukcs; the second, "years of dialogue," describes the relationships of the "Budapest school" in terms of their shared work and contributions; the third, "years of building and intervention," gives insight into important works written while living in Australia, along with Agnes Heller's political engagements during this period; and finally, the fourth, "years of wandering," describes the various projects Agnes Heller has undertaken as a world-traveler at conferences since the departure of her late husband, Ferenc Fehr.

Reviews

Agnes Heller's new book expands brilliantly on her intellectual autobiography as presented in a wealth of interviews, maps out the intertwinings of her philosophy with other strands of history she has lived through, and underscores the puzzles that have been at the center of her thinking throughout. -- Preben Kaarsholm, Roskilde University
This philosophical autobiography of one of the most remarkable thinkers of our time transcends the genre. An honest and engaging story of Agnes Heller's thinking and life, it is yet another chapter of her philosophy of personality. It demonstrates, by means of both the argument and personal example, that the only life worth living is a work of one's own that recognizes no other authority except for the authority of self-examined thought. -- Dmitri Nikulin, Professor of Philosophy, New School for Social Research
Only rarely have significant philosophers taken the time to review their life's work in any detail. This is obviously less likely when the oeuvre includes more than 40 books and hundreds of published journal articles and book chapters, across multiple disciplines and epochs, over a period of sixty years. We can thank the enormous vitality of Agnes Heller that she has managed this task in 130 pages and still offers a self-commentary that is both very informative about the gestation of key ideas and perspectives and revealing of a truly unique and still impressive philosophical personality. -- John Grumley, University of Sydney

Author Bio

Agnes Heller is Hannah Arendt Professor of Philosophy at the New School for Social Research and a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.