Literature as Moral Philosophy

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.