Joseph Conrad and aspects of scientific thought, 1897-1911
This thesis is divided into six chapters with a synopsis, an introduction and a conclusion. It deals with Conrad's reaction during 1897-1911 to theories of evolution and what they suggested about the nature of human ethics. This approach provides new and revealing readings of Conrad. The Introduction defines the term 'scientific' in relation to the extremely varied material Conrad is utilizing. Chapter One this takes Conrad's familiarity with the work of A.R. Wallace and his conception of a mechanistic universe and suggests how this gave an evolutionist's bias to his exploration of the wellsprings of conduct. Chapter Two deals, first, with echoes found in Heart of Darkness of T.H. Huxley and Rider Haggard, and what Conrad adds to these authors. The second section pursues this argument with Lord Jim and its references to Darwin, and examines the key concept of altruistic 'sympathy'. Section three deals with the topic of inheritance. The novel of inheritance had been seriously altered after Darwin. I place Conrad in this tradition. This leads to a discussion of the nature of heroism. Chapter Three in five sections, puts Conrad's views in the context of three major arguments on altruism and heroism current at
Hunter, Allan G.
Philosophy
Joseph Conrad and aspects of scientific thought, 1897-1911. This thesis is divided into six chapters with a synopsis, an introduction and a conclusion. It deals with Conrad's reaction during 1897-1911 to theories of evolution and what they suggested about the nature of human ethics. This approach provides new and revealing readings of Conrad. The Introduction defines the term 'scientific' in relation to the extremely varied material Conrad is utilizing. Chapter One this takes Conrad's familiarity with the work of A.R. Wallace and his conception of a mechanistic universe and suggests how this gave an evolutionist's bias to his exploration of the wellsprings of conduct. Chapter Two deals, first, with echoes found in Heart of Darkness of T.H. Huxley and Rider Haggard, and what Conrad adds to these authors. The second section pursues this argument with Lord Jim and its references to Darwin, and examines the key concept of altruistic 'sympathy'. Section three deals with the topic of inheritance. The novel of inheritance had been seriously altered after Darwin. I place Conrad in this tradition. This leads to a discussion of the nature of heroism. Chapter Three in five sections, puts Conrad's views in the context of three major arguments on altruism and heroism current at
conrad aspect scientific thought divide_six synopsis introduction_conclusion deal conrad reaction theory evolution suggest nature human ethic provide_new reveal reading conrad introduction defines term scientific relation extremely varied material conrad utilizing take conrad familiarity work conception mechanistic universe suggests give bias exploration conduct two_deal first echo find heart rider conrad add author second_section pursues argument lord reference examine key_concept altruistic sympathy section_three deal topic inheritance novel inheritance seriously alter place conrad tradition lead discussion nature heroism section put conrad view context three_major argument heroism current