Abstract
The notion of subject has recently gained increasing influence in discussions of literary criticism and theory, particularly among authors such as Luiz Costa Lima. Despite his concern to enunciate his assumptions, Costa Lima does not dwell on the philosophical discussion about the historical variation of the subject, which characterised the debates on the concept in the 20th century. This perspective allows us to problematize what are the different forms of the subject and, above all, by which processes these forms are produced. Thus, this article aims to outline the key points of the debate about the epochalization of the subject, identifying its problems and assumptions, which are the basis of Costa Lima's discussion. From a critical analysis of the perspectives of Heidegger, Foucault and Elias Palti, the paper seeks to shed light on the philosophical bases of the variability of forms of the subject, which, even if not stated, can be linked to recent debates in the theory of literature.
Keywords:
subject; literature; history; form; subjectivity