"The title is a thorough introduction to ethical literary criticism, a critical methodology designed to interpret literature from the perspective of ethics, including a whole set of concepts, theories and working mechanisms. Drawing on ideas from both Western ethical criticism and the Chinese tradition of moral criticism, ethical literary criticism contrasts with the former in its occasional lack of a theoretical foundation and applicable methodologies and the latter that tends to make subjective moral judgments. Its most groundbreaking argument is while natural selection answers how humans are different from animals physically, ethical selection endows human beings with reason and ethical consciousness. The ethical nature and edifying function of literature is therefore asserted, seeking to unfold in the literary text the ethical choices of human beings as a way to complete ethical selection in society within historical context. The arguments and theoretical toolbox inject a unique ethical dimension into literary criticism and help understand anew the ethical and social potency of literature. The theoretical elucidation, exemplary textual analyses and a supplement of key terminologies and ancillary materials make this book an essential guide for students and general readers interested in ethical literary criticism and scholars of literary criticism, ethical criticism and literary theory"--
This title is a thorough introduction to ethical literary criticism, defined as a critical methodology to interpret literature from the perspective of ethics, with the whole set of concepts and theories elucidated and textual analyses provided.
While building on ideas from both western ethical criticism and the Chinese tradition of moral criticism, ethical literary criticism acts as a counterpoint to the former's lack of theoretical foundations and applicable methodologies and the latter's tendency to make subjective moral judgments. Developed into a coherent theoretical framework, it asserts the ethical nature and edifying function of literature and thereby seeks to highlight in the literary text the ethical relationship and moral order among human beings and within society in the historical context. Though provocative to a degree, the arguments and methodological toolbox used inject a unique ethical dimension into literary criticism and will help readers understand anew the ethical and social potency of literature.
The book's theoretical elucidation, examples from practical criticism and introduction to key terminologies make this book an essential guide for students and general readers interested in ethical literary criticism and a valuable read for scholars of literary criticism, ethical criticism and literary theory.
This title is a thorough introduction to ethical literary criticism, defined as a critical methodology to interpret literature from the perspective of ethics, with the whole set of concepts and theories elucidated and textual analyses provided.