Single Idea 22688

[catalogued under 21. Aesthetics / C. Artistic Issues / 7. Art and Morality]

Full Idea

To show forth the Aristotelian claim that 'the decision rests with perception', we need - either side by side with a philosophical outline or inside it - literary texts which display the complexity, indeterminacy, and sheer difficulty of moral choice.

Gist of Idea

The Aristotelian idea that choices can be perceived needs literary texts to expound it

Source

Martha Nussbaum (The Golden Bowl, and Lit as Moral Philosophy [1983], II)

Book Reference

Nussbaum,Martha C.: 'Love's Knowledge' [OUP 1992], p.141


A Reaction

Berys Gaut observes that this depends on a particularist view of moral choice (usually seen as Aristotelian), with little interest in principles.