Olaf Stapledon's Ethical Theory and its Application in his Early Novels

Bc. Ondřej Liška

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Stapledona, která je popsána v jeho filosofickém dílě A Modern Theory of Ethics. Stapledon je znám především jako autor sci-fi autor a ne jako filosof, a proto je obvykle v rámci analýzy dána přednost jeho fikci; předměty výzkumu ale obvykle nejsou spjaty se Stapledonovou etickou teorií, která předcházela veškerou fikci kterou Stapledon napsal. Tato práce si dává za cíl překlenout tuto mezeru a ustanovit základní principy Stapledonovy etické teorie a prozkoumat jakým způsobem se tato teorie projevuje v prvních čtyřech Stapledonových novelách, Last and First Men, Last Men in London, Odd John, a Star Maker, s tvrzením, že tyto novely oslovují konkrétní principy Stapledonovy etické teorie, každá z jíné perspektivy a s jiným zaměřením. První kapitola uvádí Stapledonovu etickou teorii do kontextu jeho života, zejména jeho rodiny a vzdělání. Druhá kapitola ustanovuje základní principy Stapledonovy etické teorie a komentuje na její ovlivnění autory jako Friedrich Nietzsche a G. W. F. Hegel. Třetí kapitola zkoumá způsobjakým je Stapledonova etická teorie užita v jeho prvním románu Last and First Men, zatímco čtvrtá kapitola se zaměřuje na zbylé tři romány, Last Men in London, Odd John, and Star Maker

Abstract:

The focus of the present thesis is a socialist ethical theory of a less-known writer of science-fiction, Olaf Stapledon, described in his philosophical work named A Modern Theory of Ethics. Stapledon is predominantly known as a writer of science-fiction and not as a philosopher and, therefore, his novels are usually given preference in terms of analysis. However, the issues the scholars focus on are not usually related to Stapledon’s ethical theory, which preceded all of Stapledon’s fiction. This thesis aims to bridge the gap and establish the basic tenets of Stapledon’s ethical theory and explore the way the ethical theory is utilized within the first four of Stapledon’s novels, Last and First Men, Last Men in London, Odd John, and Star Maker, claiming that the novels address particular tenets of Stapledon’s ethical theory, each from a different perspective and focus. The first chapter contextualizes Stapledon’s ethical theory mainly in terms of the influences of his family and education. The second chapter establishes the basic tenets of Stapledon’s ethical theory and comments on the influences of thinkers such as Friedrich Nietzsche and G. W. F. Hegel. The third chapter explores the way Stapledon’s ethical theory is utilized in Stapledon’s first novel Last and First Men, with the fourth chapter focusing on the later three novels, Last Men in London, Odd John, and Star Maker.

Keywords

Stapledon, The Fabian Society, Socialismus, science-fiction, etika, progress

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 2. 1. 2014

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 28. 1. 2014
• Supervisor: Ph.D. Stephen Paul Hardy
• Reader: doc. PhDr. Tomáš Pospíšil, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Arts

Master programme / field:
Teacher Training for Secondary Schools / Upper Secondary School Teacher Training in English Language and Literature