Coping with Frontier Society instead of Building the City Upon a Hill : A Novel Philosophy of Justice and Its Interest in Literature

Item Type Book Section
Abstract Based on an investigation of recent developments in justice theory-a sub-discipline of philosophy-the chapter delineates a new perspective for exchange between literature, mostly realist fiction, and philosophy. Against the backdrop of the still dominating account in justice theory-here called ‘City-upon-a-Hill-Conception'-which has, since its initiation, been eager to shut out literature the essay sketches the outline of a novel account in justice theory-called the ‘Frontier-Society-Conception'-which is not only open to stimulation from literature but even in need of literature. The latter account needs literature because literature can be of help in identifying normative shortcomings of society which, in turn, serve as the starting points for normative inquiries. Furthermore, literature is of value to the frontier-society-conception of justice theory when it provides thick descriptions of individual suffering from concrete injustices which are, in turn, crucial for eliciting in individuals the altruistic sentiments necessary for comprehending and appreciating normative progress. Last but not least, it is expounded why literature permeates the new account in justice theory all the way down to its conceptual work in general.
Authors Festl, Michael
Editors Askin, Ridvan & Schweighauser, Philipp
Language English
Keywords Experimentalism, justice, Frontier, society
Subjects cultural studies
HSG Classification contribution to scientific community
Refereed No
Date 2015
Publisher Narr Francke Attempto
Place of Publication Tübingen
Series Name Swiss Papers in English Language and Literature (SPELL)
Number Vol. 32
Page Range 101-117
Number of Pages 17
Title of Book Literature, Ethics, Morality: American Studies Perspectives
ISBN 978-3-8233-6967-7
Depositing User Prof. Dr. Michael Geronimo Festl
Date Deposited 15 Nov 2015 11:05
Last Modified 20 Jul 2022 17:26
URI: https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/publications/245395

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Festl, Michael: Coping with Frontier Society instead of Building the City Upon a Hill : A Novel Philosophy of Justice and Its Interest in Literature. In Askin, Ridvan & Schweighauser, Philipp (ed.): Literature, Ethics, Morality: American Studies Perspectives. Tübingen : Narr Francke Attempto, 2015, S. 101-117.

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https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/id/eprint/245395
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