The Fractured Self in Freud and German Philosophy

Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory has deeply affected how we think of ourselves, in emphasizing the limits of consciousness and the impact of irrational forces on our behavior. Philosophers have begun to appreciate the significance of Freud's work, but they have not yet established Freud's place in the history of philosophy. The Fractured Self in Freud and German Philosophy argues that Freud addresses pivotal questions concerning the nature of subjectivity that occupy philosophers such as Kant, Hegel, Marx, and Nietzsche. Altman and Coe examine Freud's transformation of German philosophical approaches to freedom, history, and self-knowledge; defend a theory of situated knowledge and agency; and consider the relevance of Freudian thought for contemporary issues in critical race theory, science studies, and cultural studies. Through this interdisciplinary analysis, the book illuminates the productive tensions between Freud and nineteenth-century thought in ways that are relevant to philosophy, psychology, and intellectual history.

Matthew C. Altman is an Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director of the William O. Douglas Honors College at Central Washington University, USA. He is the author of A Companion to Kant's 'Critique of Pure Reason' (2008) and Kant and Applied Ethics: The Uses and Limits of Kant's Practical Philosophy (2011).

Cynthia D. Coe is an Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Women's and Gender Studies Program at Central Washington University, USA. She has published numerous articles in the areas of contemporary Continental philosophy, philosophy of history, and feminist theory.

To come