The Critical Double

The Critical Double by Paul Gordon is a bold and intellectually provocative exploration of figurative meaning in aesthetic discourse. Framed by a compelling foreword from J. Hillis Miller, this collection of eight essays--some previously published, others newly written--examines the concept of "double meaning" through rhetorical, psychoanalytic, tragic, and deconstructive lenses. Drawing on thinkers like Heidegger, Derrida, de Man, and Gadamer, Gordon argues that Protagoras' ancient notion of dissoi logoi--the rhetorical double--is central to understanding how literature constructs and deconstructs meaning. This is the first work to use "the double" as a comprehensive model for interpreting poetic and rhetorical texts. Rich in philosophical insight and literary critique, The Critical Double challenges readers to embrace ambiguity and complexity in aesthetic thought. Essential for scholars of literary theory, rhetoric, and philosophy, this book redefines how we engage with figurative language and the layered nature of interpretation.