Philosophy For Our Times

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The philosophy of literature SPECIAL | George Orwell, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Aldous Huxley, and more

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Jul 25, 2025

Guest

Emrah Atasoy

Emrah Atasoy, a lecturer at the University of Warwick, dives into the philosophical depths of classic literature. He unpacks the tension between utopia and dystopia as seen in Orwell's '1984' and Huxley's 'Brave New World,' urging critical thinking in today's world. Atasoy contrasts Dostoevsky's religious fervor with Tolstoy's practical morality, exploring their implications on faith. He also examines Nabokov's 'Lolita,' revealing moral complexities and the conflicts between autonomy and societal norms, while touching on Lispector's transformative views on identity.

44:01

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Episode notes

insights

INSIGHT

Contrasting Dystopian Controls

Orwell's 1984 uses fear, surveillance, and censorship to maintain absolute power through repression.
Huxley's Brave New World uses pleasure, conditioning, and consumerism to suppress individuality and enforce conformity.

insights

INSIGHT

Dystopias Reflect Today’s World

Orwellian and Huxleyan dystopias both warn us about oppressive systems threatening freedom.
Today's world mixes both fear-based control and consumerist distraction, blurring utopian and dystopian boundaries.

insights

INSIGHT

Faith Beyond Language Limits

Dostoevsky's faith in Christ embraces mystery and ineffability, accepting that God transcends language.
Faith involves retaining the possibility of altering meaning to avoid limiting the divine.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Utopia vs Dystopia: A Modern Exploration

02:04 • 8min

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Faith and Literature: Dostoevsky vs. Tolstoy

10:14 • 13min

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Nabokov's Moral Complexities

23:14 • 13min

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Exploring the Philosophy of Clarice Lispector

36:08 • 7min

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Transgressing Knowledge: Integrating Life and Understanding

42:40 • 2min

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#8655

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

The Image of Christ in Russian Literature

Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Bulgakov, Pasternak

John Givens

#54167

Vladimir Nabokov and the Art of Moral Acts

Dana Dragunoiu

#24084

An Apprenticeship or The Book of Pleasures

Clarice Lispector

#54410

The Passion According to G.H.

Clarice Lispector

'The Passion According to G.H. ' is a novel that delves into themes of identity, existence, and the human condition through the eyes of its protagonist, G.H. The story follows G.H. 's transformative experience after she destroys a cockroach in her maid's room, leading to a profound existential crisis. Lispector explores the boundaries of language and meaning as G.H. confronts the absurdity and alienation of modern life. The novel challenges readers to question their perceptions of reality and to confront the complexities of self-discovery. Through its experimental narrative and philosophical depth, 'The Passion According to G.H. ' offers a unique and thought-provoking exploration of human consciousness.

#35900

Near to the Wild Heart

• Mentioned in 11 episodes

The Gospels

Accounts of the Life of Jesus Christ

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John provide a comprehensive portrait of Jesus Christ. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the Synoptic Gospels due to their similar narrative order and shared content. John's Gospel is distinct and includes much unparalleled information. Each Gospel was written for different audiences and emphasizes different aspects of Jesus' mission and teachings.

#194

• Mentioned in 70 episodes

Paradise Lost

John Milton

Published in 1667, 'Paradise Lost' is an epic poem in blank verse that follows the biblical story of the Fall of Man. The poem begins in medias res, detailing the descent of Satan and his followers into Hell after their rebellion against God. It explores two main narrative arcs: one focusing on Satan's actions and the other on Adam and Eve's story in the Garden of Eden. The poem delves into themes such as free will, obedience, revenge, and pride, and it portrays the complex characters of Satan, Adam, and Eve. Milton's work is known for its rich language, classical structure, and profound theological and philosophical insights.

#63

• Mentioned in 143 episodes

Brave New World

Aldous Huxley

Written in 1931 and published in 1932, 'Brave New World' is a dystopian novel set in a futuristic World State where humans are bred in vitro and predestined into a rigid social hierarchy. The novel explores themes of technological advancement, social conditioning, and the loss of individuality and freedom. The story revolves around characters such as Bernard Marx, an Alpha who questions the society, Mustapha Mond, the World Controller, and John, a 'Savage' from a reservation who introduces elements of emotion and individuality into the highly controlled World State. The novel critiques the optimism of technological progress and its potential to create a society that values stability and happiness over humanity and freedom.

#94

• Mentioned in 116 episodes

The Brothers Karamazov

Larissa Volokhonsky

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Richard Pevear

Set in 19th-century Russia, 'The Brothers Karamazov' is a novel that delves into the lives of the Karamazov family, focusing on the three brothers—Dmitri, Ivan, and Alyosha—and their complex relationships with their father, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov. The novel is a murder mystery, a courtroom drama, and an exploration of erotic rivalry, faith, doubt, and reason. It examines the human psyche, moral dilemmas, and the search for meaning in a world fraught with suffering and uncertainty. The story revolves around the murder of Fyodor Pavlovich and the subsequent trial of Dmitri, accused of the crime, while exploring deeper themes of Russian life, social and spiritual striving, and the clash between faith and reason.

#550

• Mentioned in 34 episodes

Lolita

Vladimir Nabokov

The novel, presented as the posthumously published memoirs of Humbert Humbert, explores themes of obsession, pedophilia, and the manipulation of reality. Humbert, a European intellectual and pedophile, becomes infatuated with Dolores Haze, whom he kidnaps and sexually abuses after marrying her mother. The narrative delves into the complex and disturbing relationship between Humbert and Lolita, highlighting issues of morality, solipsism, and the erasure of Lolita's independent identity. The book is known for its eloquent but deceptive narrator and its exploration of delusion, coercion, and cruelty.

• Mentioned in 953 episodes

1984

George Orwell

Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.

How literature helps us to understand morality, totalitarian politics, and the life of Jesus Christ.

Join the team at the IAI for four articles about great, classic literature, covering world-renowned authors such as George Orwell, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Clarice Lispector, to name but a few.

These articles were written by Michael Marder, Emrah Atasoy, John Givens, and Dana Dragunoiu.

Michael Marder is Ikerbasque Research Professor of Philosophy at the University of the Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz. Emrah Atasoy is a professor in the Department of English and Comparative Literary Studies at the University of Warwick. John Givens is a professor of Russian at the University of Rochester and the author of 'The Image of Christ in Russian Literature: Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Bulgakov, Pasternak'. Dana Dragunoiu the author of 'Vladimir Nabokov and the Art of Moral Acts' and 'Simply Nabokov'.

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