The Vegetative Soul

Elaine P. Miller

Description

The Vegetative Soul demonstrates that one significant resource for the postmodern critique of subjectivity can be found in German Idealism and Romanticism, specifically in the philosophy of nature. Miller demonstrates that the perception of German Idealism and Romanticism as the culmination of the philosophy of the subject overlooks the nineteenth-century critique of subjectivity with reference to the natural world. This book's contribution is its articulation of a plant-like subjectivity. The vision of the human being as plant combats the now familiar conception of the modern subject as atomistic, autonomous, and characterized primarily by its separability and freedom from nature. Reading Kant, Goethe, Hölderlin, Hegel, and Nietzsche, Miller juxtaposes two strands of nineteenth-century German thought, comparing the more familiar "animal" understanding of individuation and subjectivity to an alternative "plantlike" one that emphasizes interdependence, vulnerability, and metamorphosis.

While providing the necessary historical context, the book also addresses a question that has been very important for recent feminist theory, especially French feminism, namely, the question of the possible configuration of a feminine subject. The idea of the "vegetative" subject takes the traditional alignment of the feminine with nature and the earth and subverts and transforms it into a positive possibility. Although the roots of this alternative conception of subjectivity can be found in Kant's third Critique and its legacy in nineteenth-century Naturphilosophie, the work of Luce Irigaray brings it to fruition.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABBREVIATIONS
INTRODUCTION

1. KANT
The English Garden

2. GOETHE
The Metamorphosis of Plants

3. HÖLDERLIN
Gleaning

4. FIGURES OF PLANT VULNERABILITY
Empedocles and the Tragic Christ

5. HEGEL
The Self-Sacrifice of the Innocent Plant

6. NIETZSCHE
The Ivy and the Vine

CONCLUSION: DISSEMINATION, RHIZOMES, EFFLORESCENCE
The Legacy of the Vegetative Soul in Twentieth-Century Thought

NOTES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX

Sujets

• Philosophy

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 01 février 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791488522
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE VEGETATIVE SOUL

SUNY series in Contemporary Continental Philosophy Dennis J. Schmidt, series editor

THE VEGETATIVE SOUL

From Philosophy of Nature to Subjectivity in the Feminine

Elaine P. Miller

STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2002 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, address State University of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207

Production by Kelli Williams Marketing by Michael Campochiaro

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Miller, Elaine, 1962– The vegetative soul : from philosophy of nature to subjectivity in the feminine / Elaine Miller. p. cm. — (SUNY series in contemporary continental philosophy) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-5391-X (alk. paper) — ISBN 0-7914-5392-8 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Philosophy of nature—Germany—History—18th century. 2. Botany—Germany—History—18th century. 3. Philosophy of nature—Germany—History—19th century. 4. Botany—Germany—History—19th century. 5. Feminist theory. 6. Subjectivity. I. Title. II. Series.

B2748.N35 M55 2002 113'.0943'09034—dc21

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2002075918

A CKNOWLEDGMENTS A BBREVIATIONS I NTRODUCTION

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CONTENTS

KANT The English Gardent

GOETHE The Metamorphosis of Plants

HÖLDERLIN Gleaning

FIGURES OF PLANT VULNERABILITY Empedocles and the Tragic Christ

HEGEL The Self-Sacrifice of the Innocent Plant

NIETZSCHE The Ivy and the Vine

DISSEMINATION, RHIZOMES, EFFLORESCENCE The Legacy of the Vegetative Soul in Twentieth-Century Thought

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In a preface, written, naturally, when the rest of the work has already been done, one is often at pains to bring together the way in which the work was initially projected with its present form, as if one had known from the outset in what particular ways it would unfold. Somehow one must show the coherence of the various parts, the way in which each of them “naturally” develops out of the other. While one has certainly believed this to be the case, one is always aware there is no way that one can present this study after the fact as a straightforwardly sustained “argument.” As one proceeds, things get out of one’s “own” control and change, without giving any explicit direction for them to do so. And yet, this is precisely the way in which all writing progresses. It is also the way in which a plant grows. When a seed first opens and allows the signs of root and stem to emerge, one cannot tell what kind of plant it will become. Indeed, to the untrained eye, the leaves of the plant give no indication of its eventual flower, nor does the flower somehow imply the particular form of its fruit. I initially became inter- ested in plant anatomy and growth through descriptions in philosophi- cal texts from the late eighteenth and the nineteenth centuries. What is intriguing about plants, and certainly what thinkers from Goethe to the German Idealists and Romantics and Friedrich Nietzsche found fasci- nating about them, is the lack of immediately comprehensible or recog- nizable signs of the direction in which they will grow, the way in which, as a plant develops, one of its parts will completely metamorphose into another, leaving little or no trace of its earlier form, and the astonishing adaptability of plants to the vicissitudes of their environments. The seeds and growth of a book necessarily reflect interactions with others who inspire, read, discuss, and criticize it or its ideas. I would like to thank the DePaul University philosophy community, and especially: Michael Naas, whose language and philosophical stance were

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always something to which to aspire; Peg Birmingham, who could be counted on to come up with bright guiding ideas at a moment’s notice; and David Farrell Krell who gave inspiration, motivation, and direction from beginning to end. Daniel Selcer and Anna Vaughn read my work from its inception and helped prune its growth, while Daniel Price spent many much appreciated hours carefully commenting upon and dis- cussing ideas. A summer research grant and an assigned research leave at Miami University gave me the time to complete this book in its cur- rent form. Emily Zakin provided many valuable insights into its contin- ued development and revision. Celeste Friend gave generously of her time and ideas. My family gave me support in many ways that allowed me to continue and thrive. Mark Bryant generously gave me the com- puter on which it was originally written. I would like especially to thank my mother, Susan Miller, for proofreading, childcare, and belief in me even when she didn’t understand. Sheila Croucher’s encouragement and creative input helped me overcome more than one mental impasse at the last minute and were immensely appreciated. Jane Bunker and Kelli Williams of SUNY Press were the most helpful of editors. Finally and most importantly, I could not have written this book without Ferit Güven’s intellectual and emotional support. He was there when I chose to follow philosophy and showed me a way beyond the conventional path; this book would never have been written had I not met him. As critic and friend, he, more than anyone, witnessed and fostered its expansive and contractive metamorphoses. I dedicate it to Sofi Nur, who was born just as I was finishing the final manuscript, and who convinced me of what I have formally argued, that the most beautiful creations transcend any calculation.

ABBREVIATIONS

All abbreviated references refer first (and sometimes only) to original language editions, except in the case of Schopenhauer. When two page numbers are given, separated by a slash, the first number refers to the original language edition and the second number refers to the English translation (e.g., GE 575/54). Two abbreviations separated by a slash indicates that the title is significantly different in English; in this case the second abbreviation refers to the English title. Numbers given after the abbreviation but before the comma refer to volume numbers (e.g., J III, 25). Unless otherwise noted, all references to Kant will be to Ak. (the “Academy Edition”). There will be no refer- ence to the English pagination when the English translators include pagination from the original language edition in their translations (e.g., KU, KrV). All English translations may have been modified. All references will be to page numbers unless otherwise noted (e.g., § = section number).

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1. Works by Kant

Kants gesammelte Schriften. Berlin: Königlich Preußische Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1902). Berlin: Georg Reimer, 1913.

Kritik der Reinen Vernunft(Ak. III).Critique of Pure Reason. Translated by Lewis White Beck. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1965.

Kritik der Urteilskraft(Ak. V).Critique of Judgment.Trans- lated by Werner S. Pluhar. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1987.

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