Foundations of a Philosophical Theory of Exceptions: A Historical Perspective

Abstract

The article presents the largely neglected ‘alternative’ history of the philosophical notion of exception, from Ancient Rome till the late 19th century, illustrated by Cicero, Leibniz, Kant, Hegel, Kierkegaard and Nietzsche. While arguing against the common narrow view on exceptions as a political concept (following Carl Schmitt and others), the analysis lays out the much-needed historical foundation for a potential broad theory of exception, still notoriously absent in modern practical philosophy. The main goal is to demonstrate that in the history of philosophy the discussion concerning exceptions was not limited to philosophy of law, encompassing many other fields like epistemology, ethics, anthropology, social and political philosophy