Love's Knowledge: Essays on Philosophy and Literature

by Martha C. Nussbaum

This volume brings together Nussbaum's published papers on the relationship between literature and philosophy, especially moral philosophy. The papers, many of them previously inaccessible to non-specialist readers, deal with such fundamental issues as the relationship between style and content in the exploration of ethical issues; the nature of ethical attention and ethical knowledge and their relationship to written forms and styles; and the role of the emotions in deliberation and self-knowledge. Nussbaum investigates and defends a conception of ethical understanding which involves emotional as well as intellectual activity, and which gives a certain type of priority to the perception of particular people and situations rather than to abstract rules. She argues that this ethical conception cannot be completely and appropriately stated without turning to forms of writing usually considered literary rather than philosophical. It is consequently necessary to broaden our conception of moral philosophy in order to include these forms. Featuring two new essays and revised versions of several previously published essays, this collection attempts to articulate the relationship, within such a broader ethical inquiry, between literary and more abstractly theoretical elements.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Essays, Literature, Criticism, Academic, Literary Criticism

432 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 1990

About the author

Martha C. Nussbaum is Ernst Freund Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago, appointed in the Law School and the Philosophy Department. Among her many awards are the 2018 Berggruen Prize, the 2017 Don M. Randel Award for Humanistic Studies from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the 2016 Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy.

Reviews

[IsaVie]

Just purchased "Love's Knowledge: Essays on Philosophy and Literature" by Martha C. Nussbaum today.
A very good article from 'BrainPickings Weekly' entitled "How Do You Know That You Love Somebody? Philosopher Martha Nussbaum’s Incompleteness Theorem of the Heart’s Truth, from Plato to Proust" introduced me to this book.
I vividly recommend 'BrainPickings Weekly' newsletter as it is full of treasure. Maria Popova does an amazing job at presenting enticingly and in-depth off-the-beaten path books.

[Madeline]

Martha Nussbaum: probably the only person who can make me feel bad about not reading enough Henry James?

I liked these essays, although I wouldn't call them particularly approachable if you don't have some background in philosophy (... and I may have paid less attention to the parts that relied most heavily on, i.e. specific instances in The Golden Bowl). Nussbaum's contributions to the ancient quarrel - hint: she's trying to mediate! - are interesting and thoughtful, and as you might guess from the title she's intensely interested in emotions as a contributing factor in making ethical judgments and living a moral life. I'll confess to a more deep-seated skepticism of emotions and their role in decision-making than I think Nussbaum has, and I can't help but wonder how psychology intersects with philosophy and literature in this particular instance.

There's a shocking lack of Forster and existentialism. Kidding! But not really.

Also: was reminded of how much I love Aristotle. Fuck Yeah, Aristotle!

There's a lovely review essay where she says, "Reading novels, as David Copperfield learned, is a practice for falling in love." I think that's beautifully true, and not just for bookworms.

[Kalina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly not an easy read, it does not go very smooth, but I do encourage you to give it a chance. Once you go through it, there is a lot of reward.

[Sue Lyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Nussbaum. I had to re-read David Copperfield to fully appreciate the arguments about the concept of love in this book and re-visit Henry James. In a series of essays Nussbaum shows how the emotional and cognitive are entwined. She writes clearly and with passion and carefully constructed arguments. Philosophers should turn to literature to understand the emotions. A powerful book.

[Icey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is divided into three sections: "Philosophy and Literature," "Literature and Moral Development," and "Literature and Education."

In the first section, Nussbaum argues that literature is a valuable tool for understanding and grappling with complex philosophical concepts. She discusses the ways in which literature can help us understand human nature, ethical dilemmas, and the nature of justice.

In the second section, Nussbaum explores the ways in which literature can contribute to moral development. She argues that literature can help us develop empathy, compassion, and a sense of justice, and she provides examples of how various works of literature have contributed to her own moral development.

In the final section, Nussbaum discusses the role of literature in education, arguing that literature can help students develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of themselves and others. She advocates for a curriculum that includes works from a variety of cultures and time periods, and that encourages students to engage with literature in a personal and reflective way.

Overall, "Love's Knowledge" is a thoughtful and engaging exploration of the relationship between philosophy and literature, and the ways in which literature can contribute to our understanding of the human experience. The essays are accessible to a wide range of readers and offer valuable insights for anyone interested in the intersection of these two fields.

[Cate Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love in a time of resentment and aggression is difficult. To have unconditionalmlove is thwarted by so many obstacles and feeling of brick walls through social interactions that lack care, depth and the ability to support difficult conversations. Martha Nussbaum's essays are relevant for counselling students, education professionals and those who dare to love! This book is a companion for so many of later books.

[Theo]

DNF, read thru the 10th essay. it’s actually very good and Nussbaum’s insights are thorough and wide-reaching, often she pulls on great personal anecdotes which i loved. i just got really bored of reading about henry james, an author i have no love for

[Ingeborg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful account of the relationship between fiction and philosophy.

[Joan Lieberman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martha's intellect is astounding and her productivity close to excessive. Whenever I read one of her books, I feel as if I have dropped into a mysterious post-doctoral world. Caffine is essential.

[Kimberley Parzuchowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This philosophy text engages in a close and deep exploration of the relationship between literature and philosophy for moral life. Nussbaum looks at what philosophers call discursive thought (reflective, analytical, dialogical, perhaps speculative) and literary narrative as a source of moral and philosophical insight. The writing is dense, but sheds light on the way that the two forms of writing and thinking can be brought together for the reader to allow for a richer understanding of the intricate complexities human condition and how to navigate life and relationships with a more aptly responsive moral perception and practice.

Nussbaum's choice of literary texts are not sufficiently broad, in my view, to invite more readers to engage in this practice of literary philosophizing. She is right that Henry James is perceptive in his attention to the often subtle moments of moral living, but some of his novels, The Golden Bowl in particular, are not a particularly inviting or engaging narratives. Better choices are her references to Dickens. I think that Nussbaum ought to reconsider George Eliot, as well, despite James' critique of her omniscient narrator. Dostoevsky & Tolstoy would also be wonderful sources of moral & philosophical reflection. I hope that more theorists will follow her example!

[Random Anonymous Pseudonym* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wide-ranging in its scope, sophisticated in its intellectual rigour and persuasive in its philosophical ambition, Martha Nussbaum's outstanding collection of essays 'Love's Knowledge' provides a significant number of accomplished, deep and illuminating reflections on the value of literature, the meaning of human life, the power of the emotions, the role of human vulnerability, and the relevance of the Aristotelian ethical tradition. Sustained by Nussbaum's signature prose, this inspiring, pellucid and hard-thinking book as a whole is a rich invitation to make us read, feel and live our lives differently. In my opinion, this is one of Nussbaum's most important contributions to literary criticism, hermeneutics, and philosophy all in one!

Grade: 4.6 / 5

[globulon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just read the introduction to this but I liked that very much. I wrote an essay in college discussing a paper by another philosopher on the importance of literature to philosophy and have continued to think about the topic since then. Reading her substantial overview of her position that is the intro I found a lot of points of agreement and feeling that she had stated there things I had thought about better than I could have. I also found her to articulate further directions for thought as well. I very much look forward to reading the papers she collects here, but would like to wait till I've had a chance to read some of the key novels she discusses.

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read a few essays from this books, but I really liked what I read so far. It deals with moral fiction, philosophy and literature, etc. especially since Nussbaum's ideas are rooted in Aristotelian philosophy.

[Ken Hada · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a profound, valiant work that makes philosophical exploration immediately available to us all in a variety of ways and seminal texts. “How should one live” is an enduring question we must not overlook.

[Kate]

This was on Shirley Mullen's recommended reading list under the category of "philosophy."

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sincere and compassionate explorations of love and ethics but I lost my way and never finished it. did others read it all?

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ensayo imprescindible para todos aquellos que amen la literatura y el análisis de su relación con la verdad como interpretación de la realidad.
Muy recomendable.