Reforming the Humanities : Literature and Ethics From Dante Through Modern Times

This book combines contemporary ethical theory, literary interpretation, and historical narrative to defend a view of the humanities as a source of moral guidance. Peter Levine argues that moral philosophers should interpret narratives and literary critics should adopt moral positions. His new analysis of Dante’s story of Paolo and Francesca sheds new light on the moral advantages and pitfalls of narratives versus ethical theories and principles. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Introduction......Page 10 One: The Story of Paolo and Francesca......Page 22 Two: Dante Philosophizes About Francesca’s Case......Page 32 Three: Poetry and the Emotions in Francesca’s Case......Page 56 Four: Criticizing Moral Theory......Page 80 Five: Good and Bad Stories, and Francesca as a Reader......Page 114 Six: Modern Versions......Page 136 Seven: Consequences......Page 178 Appendix: The Text of Inferno, Canto V......Page 216 Notes......Page 220 B......Page 240 F......Page 241 K......Page 242 N......Page 243 S......Page 244 Z......Page 245 "This book combines contemporary ethical theory, literary interpretation, and historical narrative to defend a view of the humanities as a source of moral guidance. Peter Levine argues that moral philosophers should interpret narratives and literary critics should adopt moral positions. His analysis of Dante's story of Paolo and Francesca sheds new light on the moral advantages and pitfalls of narratives versus ethical theories and principles."--Jacket Through an analysis of Dante's story of Paolo and Francesco, this book combines contemporary ethical theory, literary interpretation, and historical narrative to defend the humanities as a source of moral guidance.