Literature as Moral Philosophy - by Grace Whistler (Hardcover)

About the Book

A collection of essays on the practice of reading literature for moral and philosophical content.

Book Synopsis

This collection of incisive essays is a nuanced interrogation of the suitability of literature as a vehicle for moral philosophy - a complex debate at the intersection of ethics and aesthetics.

What connects these different perspectives is a central question: is literature is an appropriate medium for approaching and unpicking moral, ethical and philosophical questions? And what insights does its form allow? Whilst some thinkers have charged literature as the source of feelings of resentment and alienation, others have argued that it is the most fertile ground for the development a moral imagination. Indeed, numerous philosophers have shown a great deal of interest in the possibility of reading literature as a philosophical exercise, with proponents such as Martha Nussbaum and Iris Murdoch leading the quest for a philosophical style which is more representative of human experience than abstract, analytic texts.

This volume brings together 12 exciting new contributions to this debate, contextualised by a comprehensive and in-depth editorial introduction that delves into its conceptual lineage. Grouped into three thematic sections, chapters explore literature's ability to be argumentative, its potential to bring about moral growth, and the rich diversity of philosophical thought across different literary genres.

Review Quotes

"This is an ambitious and thought-provoking collection of insights that explores the realm between literature and moral philosophy - one that is often neglected, contested or simply ignored. Literature as Moral Philosophy examines how literary works can enrich and even provoke ethical experience, challenge philosophical assumptions, and open new ways of reflecting crossroads between narrative imagination and moral understanding. The volume will be an invaluable resource for scholars and students interested in the ethical dimensions of reading, writing, and teaching literature today." --Maciej Kaluza, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Krakow University of Economics, Poland

"Imaginatively curated by Grace Whistler, these essays on literature as moral philosophy present an impressive diversity of topics, literary examples, points of view, and philosophical styles, affording refreshingly new perspectives beyond the well-trodden paths of more analytically oriented philosophical debates about ethics and literature. There is much here to ponder and learn from." --Peter Lamarque, Professor of Philosophy, University of York, UK

About the Author

Grace Whistler has held the positions of Associate Fellow at Le Collegium de Lyon, France, Guest Lecturer and Postdoctoral Researcher in French Literature and Culture at RMC Kingston Ontario, Canada, and has taught Philosophy at the University of York, UK.