Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1995 The ethics of criticism: J. Hillis Miller and the metaphysics of reading Russell DuBeau Lynde Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the English Language and Literature Commons Recommended Citation Lynde, Russell DuBeau, "The thice s of criticism: J. Hillis Miller and the metaphysics of reading" (1995). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 16256. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/16256 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. The ethics of criticism: J. Hillis Miller and the metaphysics of reading by Russell DuBeau Lynde A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS Department: English Major: English (Literature) Approved: In Charge of Major Work For the Major Department For the Graduate College Iowa State University Ames/Iowa 1995 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION TO MILLER'S CAREER 1 THEORETICAL DEVELOPMENT 14 THE "ETHICS PROJECT" 32 THE READING OF CRITICISM 53 CONCLUSION 72 BIBLIOGRAPHY 74 1 INTRODUCTION TO MILLER'S CAREER J. Hillis Miller's contribution to the field of literary studies is considerable. He received his undergraduate degree from Oberlin College, earned. his Ph.D. from Harvard, served as English Department chair at Yale and Johns Hopkins Universities, acted as president of the Modem Language Association, and is currently the Distinguished Critic of Comparative Literature at University of California at Berkeley.