Literature and Moral Philosophy
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC 137B
Start Date
17-5-2012
End Date
17-5-2012
Abstract
Morality plays a massive role in the lives of nearly everyone in one form or another. But can we use literature as a tool for moral philosophy? Plato began the practice of casting the poet out of the good city, and this tradition has informed most philosophy ever since. If philosophy is to lead us to truths about our world, how could fiction, lies, help us toward the ends of truth? This research explores the connections and boundaries between philosophy and literature and how, in the act of moral reasoning, we can utilize both methods. In detecting old biases in philosophy, as well as defining literature as valuable for moral development, the division between the philosophers of the good city and the lying poets is illuminated and undermined, ultimately in a bid to understand literature as valuable to moral thought.
Recommended Citation
Baker, Taylor, "Literature and Moral Philosophy" (2012). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 119.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2012/oralpresentations/119
Additional Mentoring Department
Philosophy and Religious Studies
Literature and Moral Philosophy
SURC 137B
Morality plays a massive role in the lives of nearly everyone in one form or another. But can we use literature as a tool for moral philosophy? Plato began the practice of casting the poet out of the good city, and this tradition has informed most philosophy ever since. If philosophy is to lead us to truths about our world, how could fiction, lies, help us toward the ends of truth? This research explores the connections and boundaries between philosophy and literature and how, in the act of moral reasoning, we can utilize both methods. In detecting old biases in philosophy, as well as defining literature as valuable for moral development, the division between the philosophers of the good city and the lying poets is illuminated and undermined, ultimately in a bid to understand literature as valuable to moral thought.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Matthew Altman