Hazlitt and the Reach of Sense: Criticism, Morals, and the Metaphysics of PowerThe "only pretension, of which I am tenacious," wrote Hazlitt, "is that of being a metaphysician"; but his metaphysics, and particularly what this book identifies as his power principle, has until now been neglected. This exciting book studies Hazlitt's development of the power principle as a counter to the pleasure principle of the Utilitarians, and examines the revelation of power in his philosophy of discourse, his account of imaginative structure, his theory of genius, and his moral theory. |
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abstract according action activity actually appears assertion associative becomes Burke cause character Coleridge common concept constitutes construct contains conversational criticism definition describes directed distinction doctrine effect English English Philosophy essay existence experience expression external fact faculty feeling forms genius gives ground Hazlitt's hence human ideal ideas identity imagination impression independent individual innate instance intellectual interest Kant Kant's knowledge language Lectures letter liberty limitation literary manifestation material meaning mechanical merely metaphysical mind moral motives nature necessary necessity notion objects observation original particular passion perceived philosophy Plain Speaker poetic poetry Poets political position present Press principle produced reading reality reason reference relation represents Romantic sense Sentimental Shakespeare single Spirit sympathy term theory things thought tion treating true truth understanding unity universal viii vision whole writes