Liberal Humanism
Liberal humanism is a literary theory and approach that emphasizes the individual's experience and celebrates the human capacity for reason, creativity, and empathy. The approach is often contrasted with other theories such as Marxism, feminism, and postcolonialism, which focus on the social, political, and cultural contexts of literary works.
As a literary theory, liberal humanism places great emphasis on close reading and analysis of literary texts. The focus of analysis is on the work itself and the individual experience of the readers while reading it. Liberal humanist criticism emphasizes the text's form, including language, structure, and narrative, as well as the writer’s use of literary devices like symbolism, metaphor, and imagery.
Liberal humanism sees literature as a communication between the author and the reader, and through the study of literature, individuals can gain insight into their own experiences and the experiences of others. The approach values literature for its intrinsic worth, and upholds the idea that it can help people develop morally, ethically, and intellectually.
The approach is also sometimes considered to be an ethical literary theory, aligning the act of reading with ethical values such as empathy, compassion, and critical thinking. Along with aesthetic values, Ethical humanism emphasizes the moral messages and significance embodied in a literary work, believing that through the study of literature, readers can develop their moral and ethical values.
Terry Eagleton is a literary critic and theorist who has written extensively about liberal humanism. In his work, Eagleton argues that liberal humanism is a deeply flawed approach to literature and that it must be revised or abandoned altogether in favor of more nuanced critical frameworks.
Eagleton's criticism of liberal humanism centers on several main arguments. First, he contends that the approach is overly focused on the individual human experience, and that this perspective neglects important considerations of social, historical, and ideological factors that shape literature and human consciousness. Moreover, Eagleton sees this approach as reinforcing oppressive power structures within society.
Second, Eagleton argues that the liberal humanist approach is limited by its inherent Eurocentrism, which tends to prioritize certain cultural and historical contexts over others, often leading to the exclusion of underrepresented or marginalized perspectives.
Finally, Eagleton criticizes liberal humanism's emphasis on literacy and aesthetic appreciation, which he sees as elitist and exclusionary, shutting out those who are not literate or who do not have access to literary resources.
Liberal humanism does not have an exhaustive list of tenets, but here are some key principles that are often associated with the approach:
1. Emphasis on the individual: Liberal humanism emphasizes the importance of the individual and values traits such as creativity, curiosity, and empathy.
2. Reason and critical thinking: Liberal humanism emphasizes the importance of reason and critical thinking in understanding and appreciating literature.
3. Objective analysis: Liberal humanists believe that literature can be objectively analyzed and evaluated, so close reading and critical analysis of the text are important.
4. Literary canon: Liberal humanists believe in the existence of a literary canon, containing works of literature that are considered to have enduring value and worth studying.
5. Culture is a product of human experience: Liberal humanism believes that culture is a product of human experience and that literature, in particular, helps people understand themselves and the world around them.
6. The importance of moral values: Liberal humanism believes in the importance of moral values like empathy, kindness, and compassion, which are often reflected or addressed in literary works.
7. Tolerance and open-mindedness: Liberal humanism values tolerance and open-mindedness and seeks to understand and appreciate different perspectives.
8. Education: Liberal humanism values education and the role of the teacher in imparting knowledge and understanding to students.
9. The role of language: Liberal humanism recognizes the power of language to shape meaning and reality and values the ability to use language to express ideas and emotions.
10. Appreciation of literature: Liberal humanism appreciates literature for its own sake, for its beauty and complexity and its unique ability to convey human experience and emotions.
These tenets are not exhaustive or universally agreed upon among scholars or critics, but they offer some insight into the principles that are associated with liberal humanism.
Overall, liberal humanism is a literary theory that celebrates the human experience, values individualism and reason, sees literature as valuable for its own sake and believes it's a tool for individuals to better understand themselves and others around them.
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