Universität zu Köln

Brynhildsvoll, Knut (2017). Self-referential Aspects of Ethical Literary Criticism. Interdiscip. Stud. Lit., 1 (1). S. 17 - 27. HONG KONG: KNOWLEDGE HUB PUBL CO LTD. ISSN 2520-4920

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Abstract

In the discussions about the role of ethics in literary texts one has frequently focused on the content of the texts and the attitudes of the involved figures. In my paper I intend to turn my attention to the self-referential components of literary representation and consider their role as constitutive factors in establishing a good work of art. Hereby I take my point of departure in the contradiction good/bad, which are terms adopted from moral philosophy and used as criteria in the evaluation process. It is my intention to show that when ethical categories like good or bad are applied to artistic writing they turn into aesthetical designations which function according to changing taste systems. Furthermore my paper discusses the role of self-referential judgements in the establishing and maintenance of canonical formation. With reference to Immanuel Kant's and David Hume's conceptions I finally conclude with statements, due to which the evaluation of art works is reductive if one limits the judgement to the self-referential aspects and neglects that works of art are interacting with a variety of other functions such as contextual, designative and cognitive.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Brynhildsvoll, Knut UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-237026
Journal or Publication Title:	Interdiscip. Stud. Lit.
Volume:	1
Number:	1
Page Range:	S. 17 - 27
Date:	2017
Publisher:	KNOWLEDGE HUB PUBL CO LTD
Place of Publication:	HONG KONG
ISSN:	2520-4920
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language Literature Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/23702