A01=Anthony Cunningham
Author_Anthony Cunningham
beloved
Category=QDH
Category=QDTQ
contemporary literature
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_nobargain
ethical problems
ethics
film
forgiveness
history
kant
kantian ethics
kazuo ishiguro
literary criticism
literature
moral blindness
moral decision making
moral education
moral philosophy
passion
philosophy
psychology
seraph on the suwanee
social sciences
sorrow
suffering
the remains of the day
their eyes were watching god
toni morrison
virtue
zora neale hurston
Product details
- ISBN 9780520226623
- Weight: 408g
- Dimensions: 152 x 229mm
- Publication Date: 11 Sep 2001
- Publisher: University of California Press
- Publication City/Country: US
- Product Form: Paperback
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"The Heart of What Matters" shows that literature has a powerful and unique role to play in understanding life's deepest ethical problems. Anthony Cunningham provides a rigorous critique of Kantian ethics, which has enjoyed a preeminent place in moral philosophy in the United States, arguing that it does not do justice to the reality of our lives. He demonstrates how fine literature can play an important role in honing our capacity to see clearly and choose wisely as he develops a moral philosophy that engages with our intimate emotional concerns. Written in an accessible style and drawing from a provocative body of contemporary literature, this book shows how moral philosophy can reach a far wider audience than it has. In part one of this book, Cunningham sketches out the theoretical basis for a redefined conception of moral philosophy. In part two, he engages in extended analyses of novels that address significant life and character issues, specifically Kazuo Ishiguro's "The Remains of the Day", Toni Morrison's "Beloved", and Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God" and "Seraph on the Suwanee". Cunningham shows exactly how works like these can inform moral philosophy.
Drawing from film, history, psychology and other social sciences in addition to literature, this book adds to the growing number of works that use literature for ethical analysis and to the growing controversy over Kantian ethics.
Anthony Cunningham is Professor of Philosophy at St. John's University.
