In A Philosophy of the Unsayable, William Franke argues that the come across with what exceeds speech has turn into the the most important philosophical factor of our time. He proposes an unique philosophy pivoting on research of the bounds of language. The booklet additionally bargains readings of literary texts as poetically acting the philosophical ideas it expounds. Franke engages with philosophical theologies and philosophies of faith within the debate over unfavorable theology and exhibits how apophaticism infiltrates the pondering even of these who try and deny or delimit it.

In six cohesive essays, Franke explores basic features of unsayability. within the first and 3rd essays, his philosophical argument is carried via with acute consciousness to modes of unsayability which are published most sensible via literary works, quite via negativities of poetic language within the oeuvres of Paul Celan and Edmond Jabès. Franke engages in serious dialogue of apophatic currents of philosophy either historic and smooth, targeting Hegel and French post-Hegelianism in his moment essay and on Neoplatonism in his fourth essay. He treats Neoplatonic apophatics in particular as present in Damascius and as illuminated by way of postmodern suggestion, rather Jean-Luc Nancy’s deconstruction of Christianity. within the final essays, Franke treats the stress among modern ways to philosophy of religion—Radical Orthodoxy and notably secular or Death-of-God theologies. A Philosophy of the Unsayable will curiosity students and scholars of philosophy, literature, faith, and the arts. This e-book develops Franke's particular thought of unsayability, that is trained by way of his long-standing engagement with significant representatives of apophatic notion within the Western tradition.

"William Franke is an articulate spokesman for what can't be acknowledged not just on the subject of glossy eu poetry but additionally with admire to modern theology. A Philosophy of the Unsayable is crucial interpreting for everybody operating in faith and literature and in glossy theology."
—Kevin Hart, Edwin B. Kyle Professor of Christian reports, collage of Virginia

"By now, it will look that there should be not more to claim approximately not-saying. Apophatic language and unfavorable theology were accused of meaninglessness, nihilism, or even ill-concealed ontologies. during this stunning and fantastic booklet, William Franke not just deftly undoes those criticisms yet indicates that apophasis underlies and surprisingly grounds all language and proposal, even of these very discourses that almost all vigorously reject it. A Philosophy of the Unsayable demonstrates with beauty that there's certainly extra to claim, and extra that's either significant and important." —Karmen MacKendrick, Le Moyne College
 
"William Franke is an eminent pupil in comparative literature, who's schooled in philosophy and faith. he's well-known as some of the most artistic modern thinkers operating on the double intersection of philosophy and literature and philosophy and theology. A Philosophy of the Unsayable exhibits an highbrow take hold of of a dizzying array of discourses and sheds genuine mild on all thinkers who're discussed." —Cyril O'Regan, Huisking Professor of Theology, college of Notre Dame