Filling the Void. Minimal and Maximal Self in Philosophy and Literature

This talk will compare contemporary philosophical and literary attempts of redeeming aspects of selfhood after the alleged death of the subject. Where philosophy typically opts for a version of a minimal self, some prominent literary trends point, in contrast, toward the maximization of the self. Reflecting on the recent success of autofictional writing, I will argue that we might need both perspectives in order to make sense of the problem of filling the void left behind by the strong subject.

Respondent: Nacim Ghanbari (Siegen)