Jane Austen and altruism / Magdalen Ki.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ki, Magdalen, author.

Series:

Routledge studies in nineteenth-century literature ; 58.

Routledge studies in nineteenth-century literature ; 58

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Austen, Jane, 1775-1817--Ethics.

Austen, Jane.

Austen, Jane, 1775-1817.

Altruism in literature.

Self-sacrifice in literature.

Ethics.

Physical Description:

viii, 296 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Routledge, 2020.

Summary:

"Jane Austen and Altruism identifies a compelling theme, namely, the view that Jane Austen propounds a rigorous, boundary-sensitive model of altruism that counters the human propensity to selfishness and promotes the culture of cooperation. In her days, altruism was commonly known as "benevolence", "charity," or "philanthropy", and these concepts overlap with Auguste Comte's later definition of altruism as "otherism". This volume argues that Austen's thinking co-opts the evolutionary idea that altruism is seldom truly pure, egoism cannot be eradicated, and boundless group altruism is not sustainable. However, given that she comes from a naval and clergy family, she witnesses the power of wartime patriotism, the Evangelical revival, the Regency culture of politeness, and the sentimental novels. In her novels, she locates human relationships along an altruism continuum that ranges from enlightened selfishness to pathological altruism. Unconditional love is hard to find, but empathy, kin altruism, reciprocal exchange, and group altruism are key to the formation of self-identity, family, community and the nation state"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

The Austen family and the altruism problem

Psychopathy and sympathy in Northanger Abbey

Costly signaling and the handicap principle in Sense and sensibility

Kin and kith altruism in Pride and prejudice

Survival of the nicest in Mansfield Park

Pathological altruism in Emma

Punishment in persuasion

Afterword: The choice of altruism.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Jane Austen and altruism

ISBN:

9780367342999

0367342995

OCLC:

1130323241