Title: Lying with Godwin and Kant: Truth and Duty in St. Leon
Abstract:This essay explores a curious philosophical parallel between William Godwin’s novel, St. Leon (1799), and Immanuel Kant’s brief essay “On a Supposed Right to Lie From Altruistic Motives” (1797). Drawi...This essay explores a curious philosophical parallel between William Godwin’s novel, St. Leon (1799), and Immanuel Kant’s brief essay “On a Supposed Right to Lie From Altruistic Motives” (1797). Drawing on the psychoanalytic philosophy of Alenka Zupančič, the essay argues that St. Leon is finally a philosophical fable on a person’s duty to speak the truth and, as such, exemplifies Godwin’s characteristic faith in honesty and sincerity as key components of political justice.Read More
Publication Year: 2014
Publication Date: 2014-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 1
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