This course in philosophy explores fundamental questions about the relationship between literature and morality. We shall draw on literary examples as and when required to illustrate the relevant philosophical point.
The first question considered is the definitional question as to what we mean when we describe a text as ‘a work of literature’? We contrast essentialist and anti-essentialist accounts of fiction and apply the anti-essentialist approach, from the work of Stacie Friend (2012), to literature. We shall discuss what the standard features of literature are and any controversies surrounding the claims that literature is well-written, constituted by a thick narrative, thematically serious and the product of an author seeking to write literature.
In session 2, we question the link between literary art and morality. We shall begin with some case studies to frame the problem and pose two separate but related questions: can a play, novel or poem have moral value? And is moral value important in judging a work of literary art? We shall explore the second question in more detail in relation to the canonical arguments of three philosophical positions: autonomism (the view that moral value does not affect aesthetic value), ethicism (the view that moral value does affect aesthetic value) and contextualism (the view that moral value affects aesthetic value in different ways according to context).
In session 3 we shall explore the various standard arguments that have been advanced as to why reading literary fiction can be morally educative and I shall advance an alternative account in session 4 based on intellectual virtues developed from close reading (sometimes called practical criticism in an educational setting).
Session 5 explores one particular intellectual virtue, creativity, in more depth. We shall start with a definition of creativity then examine Margaret Boden’s account of creativity and her distinction between combinational, explorational and transformational creativity. We shall rehearse both positive and negative character traits associated with creativity and consider what is creative about creative writing.
The philosophy of literature: literary fiction and morality stands as an independent course but makes an excellent complement to Hd1 The philosophy of literature: literary fiction and understanding.
Learning outcomes
- To be able to give an account of the salient arguments in various issues in the philosophy of literature;
- To be able to advance and defend a given standpoint on these issues;
- To be confident to apply certain generic philosophical skills to subject matter beyond the remit of this course.
