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This book explores a neglected feature of intellectual history and
literature in the early modern period: the ways in which the body
was theorized and represented as an intelligent cognitive agent,
with desires, appetites, and understandings independent of the
mind. It considers the works of early modern physicians, thinkers,
and literary writers who explored the phenomenon of the independent
and intelligent body. Charalampous rethinks the origin of dualism
that is commonly associated with Descartes, uncovering hitherto
unknown lines of reception regarding a form of dualism that
understands the body as capable of performing complicated forms of
cognition independently of the mind. The study examines the
consequences of this way of thinking about the body for
contemporary philosophy, theology, and medicine, opening up new
vistas of thought against which to reassess perceptions of what
literature can be thought and felt to do. Sifting and assessing
this evidence sheds new light on a range of historical and literary
issues relating to the treatment, perception, and representation of
the human body. This book examines the notion of the thinking body
across a wide range of genres, topics, and authors, including
Montaigne's Essays, Spenser's allegorical poetry, Donne's
metaphysical poetry, tragic dramaturgy, Shakespeare, and Milton's
epic poetry and shorter poems. It will be essential for those
studying early modern literature, cognition, and the body.
This book explores a neglected feature of intellectual history and
literature in the early modern period: the ways in which the body
was theorized and represented as an intelligent cognitive agent,
with desires, appetites, and understandings independent of the
mind. It considers the works of early modern physicians, thinkers,
and literary writers who explored the phenomenon of the independent
and intelligent body. Charalampous rethinks the origin of dualism
that is commonly associated with Descartes, uncovering hitherto
unknown lines of reception regarding a form of dualism that
understands the body as capable of performing complicated forms of
cognition independently of the mind. The study examines the
consequences of this way of thinking about the body for
contemporary philosophy, theology, and medicine, opening up new
vistas of thought against which to reassess perceptions of what
literature can be thought and felt to do. Sifting and assessing
this evidence sheds new light on a range of historical and literary
issues relating to the treatment, perception, and representation of
the human body. This book examines the notion of the thinking body
across a wide range of genres, topics, and authors, including
Montaigne's Essays, Spenser's allegorical poetry, Donne's
metaphysical poetry, tragic dramaturgy, Shakespeare, and Milton's
epic poetry and shorter poems. It will be essential for those
studying early modern literature, cognition, and the body.
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