Mortal Thought

Hölderlin and Philosophy

Mortal Thought seeks to illustrate the artistic and philosophical contexts for Hölderlin's poetic thought and to trace his profound impact upon subsequent philosophy, most notably Nietzsche, the Frankfurt School, Heidegger and Post-structuralism. Beginning with the point of departure of Hölderlin in Kant and Fichte, Mortal Thought outlines the novel philosophical innovations of Hölderlin, and their influence upon philosophy from the 19th century to the present day. A renewed appreciation of Hölderlin will allow us to retrieve an authentic philosophy for our own era. Mortal Thought lays out a concise, clear and comprehensive account of the emergence of Hölderlin as philosopher and poet, of his influence upon the four dominant strands of Continental philosophy - Nietzsche, Heidegger, Critical Theory and Poet-structuralism - and of his relevance for us in our own era.