Ethics, Evil, and Fiction

By Colin McGinn

Book Overview

McGinn's latest brings together moral philosophy and literary analysis in a way that illuminates both. Setting out to enrich the domain of moral reflection by showing the value of literary texts as sources of moral illumination, McGinn starts by setting out an uncompromisingly realist ethical theory, arguing that morality is an area of objective truth and genuine knowledge. He goes on to address such subjects as the nature of goodness, evil character, and the meaning of monstrosity in the context of an aesthetic theory of virtue, which maintains that goodness of character is the same thing as beauty of soul. Looking at such literary works as Billy Budd, Lolita, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Frankenstein, as well as examples from film and painting, Ethics, Evil, and Fiction is an original and compelling book by a leading philosopher who is also a critic and novelist.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0198238770
• ISBN13: 9780198238775
• Release Date: August 1999
• Publisher: OUP Oxford
• Length: 196 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Insightful work by a great modern philosopher

Prior to reading this work I had only read works by C. McGinn on the philosophy of mind. McGinn is a first rate philosopher and his foray into ethics is further proof of his talent. His method of analysis in this volume is quite interesting and contemporary. It should be a useful addition to the bookshelves of anyone seriously interested in ethical thinking.