Reading a story opens our eyes to the lives of others. It helps us understand that we’re not alone in the world and that other people have their own unique experiences and perspectives. The best stories don’t just entertain us; they help us develop empathy. They expand our imaginations, allowing us to step into the shoes of someone else and see the world through their eyes.
Literature isn’t just about pretty words. It’s about exploring what it means to be human. Stories teach us about right and wrong, about how our actions affect others, and about the importance of treating everyone with kindness and respect. Without stories, without exploring these important questions, we risk losing sight of what truly matters in life.
Reading as an Ethical Work
Martha Nussbaum argues that literature fosters what she calls “narrative imagination.” When we engage with a story, we become deeply involved with the characters, their hopes, fears, and struggles. We begin to see the world through their eyes, acknowledging their unique perspectives and the complexities of their lives. This process of empathetic engagement allows us to step outside of our own experiences and consider the moral implications of our choices.
Nussbaum emphasizes the importance of these “inter-human moments” within a story. These are the moments where we truly connect with the characters on an emotional level, recognizing their humanity and understanding their needs and desires. These connections, she argues, are crucial for fostering empathy and a sense of responsibility towards others.
Ultimately, the ability to see others as human beings, not merely as objects or obstacles, is fundamental to ethical living. Stories, through their power to enhance the narrative imagination, plays a vital role in cultivating this crucial human capacity.
Another Person is a Soul and not Merely an Instrument
Traditional Kantianism and Utilitarianism worldviews, offer valuable perspectives on moral decision-making. Kantianism emphasizes duty and universal moral laws: ‘What is my moral duty?’ Utilitarianism, on the other hand, focuses on maximizing overall happiness: ‘How shall I maximize utility?’ However, both these frameworks primarily focus on the actions themselves – what we should do – rather than the moral character of the agent performing those actions.
Martha Nussbaum, in contrast, emphasizes the importance of ‘narrative imagination’ in ethical development. This involves engaging with stories and understanding the perspectives of others, allowing us to develop empathy and compassion. By stepping into the shoes of fictional characters, we learn to see them as individuals with their own hopes, fears, and struggles. This ‘inter-human moment,’ as Nussbaum describes it, fosters a deeper understanding of human experience and encourages us to treat others with respect and dignity, recognizing their inherent value.
Martha Naussbaum’s Ethical Thought
Think about how we usually approach ethical questions. We might ask ourselves, ‘What’s the right thing to do?’ This is a bit like following rules, right? Kantianism is all about following rules – doing what we should do because it’s the right thing to do, no matter what. Utilitarianism, on the other hand, is more about figuring out what will make the most people happy.
But what about us? What kind of people do we want to be? That’s where Martha Nussbaum’s ideas come in. She talks about the importance of ‘narrative imagination.’ When we read stories, we step into the shoes of the characters, we feel their joys and sorrows. We start to see the world from their point of view. This helps us understand that everyone has their own story, their own struggles, and their own dreams. And when we truly understand that, we’re more likely to treat others with kindness and respect.
Limitation of Naussbaum’s Ethics
It feels a bit off when we read a story just to figure out the ‘moral of the story’, like we’re just looking for something to criticize or judge. But truly, the goal should be about using stories to make us better people.
Nussbaum talks about how focusing too much on a single ‘moral’ can actually diminish the importance of the other characters in the story. It’s like we’re not really seeing them as real people, but just as examples to prove a point.
The real power of stories lies in those moments of connection – those “inter-human moments” where we truly see another person, with all their hopes and fears, as a unique individual. We don’t need a specific situation of need to feel responsible for others. Just seeing another person’s face, recognizing their humanity, that’s enough. They’re already there, present in the world, and we have a responsibility to acknowledge their existence.