8 Result(s)
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Chapter
The Story of Paolo and Francesca
Imagine reading the Inferno without any background information or historical commentary—without footnotes, glosses, or prior knowledge of the characters. In Canto V (translated in the Appendix), you would find Da...
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Chapter
Introduction
This is a book about ethics and stories. Ethics (or morality) encompasses what is right or good, what we ought to do, and how laws and institutions should be organized. I argue that a good way to make ethical ...
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Chapter
Poetry and the Emotions in Francesca’s Case
I have argued that Dante applied a moral theory to the story that he told in Canto V. Francesca’s case was a clear instance of adultery; and adultery was a voluntary act of immoral love. On this ground, Dante,...
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Chapter
Good and Bad Stories, and Francesca as a Reader
Assuming that we use stories for moral guidance, it can be difficult to decide which ones to heed. Boccaccio’s narrative emphasizes Francesca’s fraudulent marriage contract; Dante’s stresses the moment at whic...
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Chapter
Consequences
Modernism is a set of responses to a serious dilemma: the groundlessness of all artistic and intellectual traditions. Postmodernism is one of those responses. Nietzsche was already thoroughly postmodern in the...
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Chapter
Dante Philosophizes About Francesca’s Case
C.H. Grandgent claimed that Dante’s portrait of Francesca was marked by “compassion, tenderness, sympathetic curiosity, [and] anguish.”1 The idea that Dante pitied Francesca still seemed so obvious to Lionel Tril...
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Chapter
Criticizing Moral Theory
In the previous chapter, I argued that Dante’s suspicion of concrete, descriptive, narrative writing arose from specific philosophical doctrines. He distrusted emotions; he believed that tragedy was impossible...
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Chapter
Modern Versions
Distinguishing between ethical and immoral cases of passionate love is one our most serious responsibilities. Unfortunately, making such distinctions will not be easy if we refuse to apply general principles a...
