LN254 Literature and Aspects of Ethics

Introduction

These literature courses available for LSE undergraduates as outside options focus on twentieth and twenty first century literature in the context of social and political change in the period. They will give you the opportunity to consider texts (prose fiction, poetry and drama) often in the light of your major subject at LSE. We look at literature as an index of social change. In addition to study of texts in class we also arrange frequent trips to related plays and exhibitions over the course of the year, while also using video and other media in teaching. Assessment for all courses LN250, LN251, LN252, LN253 and LN254 is by examination (75%) and extended coursework essay (25%).

If you have a keen interest in Literature and wish to study how it fits into the framework of the Social Sciences, you should consider this undergraduate degree option taught by Dr Angus Wrenn.

Overview

Literary treatment/projection of the aspects of ethics, focusing on the classical ideas of Aristotle and Kant, Schopenhauer, and Nietzsche, developed in modern times by Sartre, Adorno and Foucault. The course will draw on a range of themes arising from the interface between literary and philosophical studies and will explore such issues as the objectivity of moral reasoning (the question whether the practices that are traditionally and factually legitimated by religion, law or politics are indeed worthy of recognition); the spiritual crisis of the modern world (desire, guilt and innocence); technological omnipotence versus determinism; and the illusion of liberty in a tolerant democracy based on consensus. It will also be concerned with such questions as whether philosophy and literature, when combined, can achieve more than the sum of the two parts.

Register early for via LSE for You for this option to avoid disappointment!

Indicative content

• The course is based on a carefully chosen range of short stories from world literature (including such authors as Tolstoy, Kafka, Salinger, Borges, Isabel Allende) where there is either a direct allusion to or a strong parallel with the key ethical issues
• Related trips to galleries and theatre productions during the year;  archive recordings of authors, and video
• Extensive use of archive recordings of authors, and video, students encouraged to draw upon background in their main discipline
• LN254 Literature and Aspects of Ethics