Evolutionary Aesthetics of Human Ethics in Hardy’s Tragic Narratives

1. Auflage 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4438-2897-0
Verlag: Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Buch, Englisch, 160 Seiten

Treatment of Hardy’s tragic narratives under the objective lens of evolutionary literary theory has led to three basic findings: First, within the scope of the analysis of the five major tragic narratives, representation of Hardy’s evolutionary aesthetics of human ethics, in terms of altruistic sympathy and compassion, shows that adapted parental investment in children indicates the reason why women submit to pain and suffering more than the men do. The costly investment of women in maternal behaviour leads to submission in many cases, but in return they gain better fitness for survival and reproduction than men. This is implicitly highlighted as a force of superiority in the tragedies studied, as the male characters often invest in heroic deeds over their children. Second, that which has for many years been identified as pessimism in Hardy’s tragic narratives is in fact a surface cognitive layer, under which is an implicit teaching of evolutionary aesthetics of human ethics, which guides to a true fitness of human life. Third, sympathy and particularly compassion are not only human emotions but also adapted cognitive virtues that centre on ethical teaching.

Thus, an integrated model of science and humanities for art and literary analysis is required to address not only those of English language and literature departments, but also those aligned to the idea of integrating the two methods. A scientific and objective view of human life is in opposition to postmodern and structuralist approaches, which have generally been considered as the centre of interest during the latter half of the 20th century.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Öztürk, Riza

Über Autor(innen)

Öztürk, Riza
Dr Riza Öztürk completed his MA and PhD under the supervision and guidance of Professor Dr Christine Kuruç at Hacettepe University, Faculty of Letters, Department of English Language and Literature in Turkey in 1996. His academic studies have focussed on an interest in Thomas Hardy, (English) Trench Poetry and Post Second World War Drama by writers such as Beckett, Pinter and Stoppard. Over the course of the last decade, evolutionary literary theory has moved to the centre of his studies. He is currently lecturing on English Language and Literature at Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi.

Dr Riza Öztürk completed his MA and PhD under the supervision and guidance of Professor Dr Christine Kuruç at Hacettepe University, Faculty of Letters, Department of English Language and Literature in Turkey in 1996. His academic studies have focussed on an interest in Thomas Hardy, (English) Trench Poetry and Post Second World War Drama by writers such as Beckett, Pinter and Stoppard. Over the course of the last decade, evolutionary literary theory has moved to the centre of his studies. He is currently lecturing on English Language and Literature at Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi.