Tragedy, the Greeks, and Us

Critchely (philosophy, New Sch. for Social Research, NY), a specialist in continental philosophy and author of works spanning ethics, Martin Heidegger, and suicide, to David Bowie and soccer, has long studied Greek tragedy and its relationship to philosophy and literature, an obsession coming to a head in a seminar conducted at the New School with philosopher Judith Butler. Here, playing on ideas from thinkers such as Friedrich Nietzsche, Bernard Williams, Peter Szondi, Barbara Cassin, among others, Critchley argues that Greek tragedy represents a philosophical discourse that stimulates thought by embracing ambiguity and resisting the claims of universality or certainty. As such, it is contrary to the rationalist aspirations of Plato and those philosophers who followed. In this, Critchley offers important insights into the sophists, especially Gorgias, as well as a reading of Plato's Republic as a drama antithetical to tragedy. He also presents rich readings on Aristotle, specifically about catharsis, action, and the meaning of comedy.