Hegel and the foundations of literary theory Hegel and the Foundations of Literary Theory: Do the various forms of literary theory deconstruction Marxism new historicism feminism post colonialism and cultural digital studies have anything in common If so what are the fundamental principles of theory What is its ideological orientation Can it still be of use to us in understanding basic intellectual and ethical dilemmas of our time These questions continue to perplex both students and teachers of literary theory. Habib finds the answers in theorys largely unacknowledged roots in the thought of German philosopher Hegel. Hegels insights continue to frame the very terms of theory to this day. Habib explains Hegels complex ideas and how they have percolated through the intellectual history of the last century. This book will interest teachers and students of literature literary theory and the history of ideas illuminating how our modern world came into being and how we can better understand the salient issues of our own time The Hegelian dialectic Historical backgrounds Hegel philosopher of capitalism Hegel on identity and difference Hegelian identity and economics Hegel and deconstruction Hegel on language Hegel language and literary theory: Saussure Barthes Derrida Deleuze Language and the unconscious Kristeva The master slave dialectic The master slave dialectic in literary theory: Deleuze Derrida Hegel and Marx Hegel and Marxist literary theory (I): Horkheimer and Adorno; Benjamin Hegel and Marxist literary theory (II) Hegel on gender: Antigone Feminists on Hegel and Antigone: Irigaray Butler (Derrida) Historical contexts of Hegels views on women Epilogue: the futures of theory: toward a dialectical humanism