Unlocking Cavell: Philosophy Through Film and Literature

On this episode of The Point podcast, Jon Baskin talks to a fellow long-suffering Cavellian: the writer and New Left Review editor Lola Seaton. Lola joins us to discuss her essay for issue 28 of The Point, “The Sound Makes All the Difference,” on her relationship to Stanley Cavell’s unmistakable and infectious—if sometimes infuriating—writing style.

Timestamps:

• Literature as an act of communication. (5:46)
• Cavell’s reading of King Lear and its deep insight about parental bribery (7:40)
• How Cavell found his vocation in philosophy (13:11)
• “Philosophy is a willingness to think undistractedly about the things people can’t help thinking about.” (18:00)
• The “essential optimism” of Cavell’s approach to ordinary language philosophy (20:12)
• The depth of convention (21:48)
• Is there a tension between Cavell’s democratic aspirations and his ornate writing style? (25:08)
• The anxiety of authenticity: “For philosophy to begin, you have to be perturbed by the question you’re taking up.” (34:17)
• Where to start if you’re new to reading Cavell (42:56)
• Cavell’s modernism (47:23)
• Autofiction and autophilosophy (54:03)
• Cavell and politics (1:03:17)

Relevant reading:

• “The Sound Makes All the Difference” by Lola Seaton (Issue 28 of The Point)