Jane Austen and the Virtues: An Introduction to Moral Philosophy - Summer

The beginning of all philosophical inquiry is the search for the answer to the question, “What is the good life?” Jane Austen seeks in each of her novels to answer this question, and does so in the tradition of framing her search in terms of the classical and religious virtues. In his book “After Virtue”, the ethical philosopher Alisdair MacIntyre calls Jane Austen “the last great effective imaginative voice of the tradition of thought about, and practice of, the virtues”. In this class, we will explore Austen’s search and the answers she presents to us for consideration as we read three of her novels along with selections from the great philosophers on the virtues and the vices, including Aristotle, Aquinas, Dante, Plato, Montesquieu, and Lewis, as well as others.

Course Objectives

1. To gain an understanding of the classical view of the virtues, both Roman and Christian, and their corresponding vices
2. To become familiar with the way Jane Austen incorporates these ideas into her novels and brings them to life in the behavior and decisions of her characters
3. To become equipped to consider our own lives in the light of these ideas
4. To demonstrate an integrated comprehension of the virtues, Jane Austen’s use of them, and the student’s personal application of them in three essays (one on each book)

Note: For the summer short course, we will only study one novel (Emma) along with relevant philosophical readings provided by the instructor.