Cormac McCarthy, Philosophy and the Physics of the Damned

Offers an explanation of how Cormac McCarthy blends the material and the metaphysical across his work McCarthy's entire literary output demonstrates his consistent philosophical preoccupations. The book explores McCarthy's novels, plays, screenplays, philosophical essays and unpublished archive material to uncover a distinct literary philosophy. More specifically, this study elucidates how McCarthy articulates a philosophical perspective which pivots on themes of mortality, the political, education, nihilism, materialism and language. Tracing these themes from the publication of his earliest novels to his most recent philosophical essays, the author argues that McCarthy offers a unique synthesis of spiritual, ethical and materialist concerns, the understanding of which is essential for coming to terms with his literature. Patrick O'Connor is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at Staffordshire University (School of Digital, Technologies and Arts)