Independent Study: Art is For Seeing Evil by Agnes Callard (Essay)

The Road is set in a world that has been devastated by an unspecified cataclysmic event, resulting in the extinction of nearly all life on Earth. The story follows an unnamed father and his young son as they travel south along the road, carrying their meager possessions and a pistol with only two bullets. The father, suffering from a worsening respiratory condition, is determined to protect his son from the dangers of their new world, including cannibalistic marauders. Along their journey, they encounter various survivors, some of whom are cruel and others who show kindness. The novel explores themes of love, survival, and the preservation of humanity in a world devoid of hope. Ultimately, the father's health fails, and he dies, but not before ensuring his son's safety with a new family who may offer a chance for a better future.

The Death of Ivan Ilyich is a novella by Leo Tolstoy, first published in Russian in 1886, and is considered a masterpiece of psychological realism. It follows Ivan Ilyich Golovin, a respected official whose terminal illness forces him to confront the emptiness of his outwardly successful life and the reality of death.

The play revolves around Prince Hamlet's journey to avenge his father's murder, which was committed by his uncle Claudius. Hamlet's father's ghost appears and reveals that he was poisoned by Claudius, who then married Hamlet's mother, Gertrude. Hamlet feigns madness while he investigates and plots his revenge. The play explores themes of betrayal, mortality, and the human condition, culminating in a tragic finale where nearly all main characters die, including Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, and several others.

Plato's Republic is one of his most famous works, a philosophical dialogue exploring justice, ideal societies, and the nature of reality. It features the allegory of the cave, a powerful metaphor for the limitations of human perception and the pursuit of knowledge. The dialogue delves into various forms of government, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses, ultimately advocating for a philosopher-king to rule the ideal state. The Republic also examines the tripartite soul, proposing that reason, spirit, and appetite must be harmonized for individual and societal well-being. Its enduring influence on political philosophy and ethics makes it a cornerstone of Western thought.

In 'What Is Art?', Tolstoy argues that art is a means of communicating feelings to others, with the ultimate goal of uniting people in shared emotions. He rejects the traditional aesthetic view that art is based on beauty, instead emphasizing that true art must serve the progress and improvement of humanity. Tolstoy believes that art should be accessible to all people, not just the privileged, and that it should foster empathy and understanding. He criticizes art that is partisan or serves the interests of the ruling class, advocating for art that promotes universal values and social justice.

In 'Poetics,' Aristotle discusses the different kinds and forms of poetry, including epic, tragedy, comedy, and dithyrambic poetry. He defines poetry as a form of imitation that seeks to represent life through character, emotion, or action. The work is primarily focused on tragedy, where Aristotle analyzes the elements of plot, character, thought, diction, song, and spectacle. He also introduces key concepts such as 'mimêsis' (imitation) and 'katharsis' (the purging of emotions), and defends the art of poetry as a natural human instinct that provides pleasure and understanding through artistic representation.

Lanark is a complex and imaginative novel that explores themes of identity, love, and societal critique through its non-linear narrative. It combines elements of science fiction, fantasy, and realism, reflecting Gray's unique style and vision. The book is structured into four non-consecutive books, offering a profound commentary on human nature and societal issues.

In this novel, José Saramago narrates the story of an unexplained mass epidemic of 'white blindness' that suddenly and inexplicably afflicts nearly everyone in an unnamed city. The government responds by quarantining the blind in an abandoned mental asylum, where social order quickly deteriorates. The narrative follows a small group of characters, including the 'doctor's wife,' who is the only person to retain her sight. She guides her group through the harrowing conditions within the asylum and later in the city, as they struggle to survive and maintain some semblance of humanity. The novel explores themes of social decay, morality, and the resilience of human spirit in the face of catastrophic adversity.

Published in 1878, 'Anna Karenina' is a novel by Leo Tolstoy that delves into the complexities of Russian society in the late 19th century. The story centers around the extramarital affair between Anna Karenina, a married socialite, and Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky, which scandalizes the social circles of Saint Petersburg. The novel also follows the parallel story of Konstantin Levin, a wealthy landowner, and his struggles with marriage, faith, and managing his estate. Tolstoy explores a wide range of themes including love, loyalty, betrayal, hypocrisy, and the differences between rural and urban life. The novel is known for its detailed character development and its profound commentary on the human condition.

Plato's "Euthyphro" is a short but significant dialogue that explores the nature of piety and the relationship between morality and divine will. The dialogue centers on a conversation between Socrates and Euthyphro, who is prosecuting his own father for murder. Socrates challenges Euthyphro's definition of piety, leading to a series of attempts to define the concept that ultimately fail. The dialogue raises the famous Euthyphro dilemma: is something pious because the gods love it, or do the gods love it because it is pious? This dilemma highlights the tension between divine command theory and the existence of objective moral truths. "Euthyphro" is a classic example of Socratic questioning and its enduring relevance lies in its exploration of fundamental questions about morality and the nature of the divine.

Written in the 5th century BCE, 'Antigone' by Sophocles is a tragedy set in the ancient Greek city of Thebes. The play revolves around Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta, who defies King Creon's law by burying her brother Polyneices, who was declared a traitor. This act of civil disobedience sparks a profound exploration of themes such as the tension between personal morality and state law, the nature of justice, the role of fate, and the dangers of excessive pride. The play highlights Antigone's unwavering commitment to her familial duty and the gods, contrasting with Creon's rigid adherence to the law. The tragic consequences of their inflexible moral standpoints lead to a devastating outcome, questioning the absolute authority of human law versus divine law.