Just Literature
Philosophical Criticism and Justice
New Literary Theory Series

In Just Literature, Tzachi Zamir introduces the idea of 'philosophical criticism' as an innovative approach to interpreting literary texts.

Throughout the book, Zamir uses the theme of justice as a case study for this new critical approach. By using ?philosophical criticism?, Zamir posits that a stronger grasp of the idea of justice can increase one?s understanding of literature, and thus its value. He offers philosophical readings of works by Dante, Shakespeare, Toni Morrison, J. M. Coetzee and Philip Roth to explore the relationship between aesthetic and epistemic value. Zamir argues that, while literature and philosophy remain separate entities, examining the two in tandem may help inform the study of both.

Offering an inventive twist on an established dynamic, this book is essential reading for any student or scholar of literature or philosophy.

Introduction Part 1 1. The Point of Reading 2. Justice and Literature Part 2 3. Bonds of Justice 4. Pity and the Moral Role of Sadness 5. Fallen Angels Coda Appendix: Compassion and Pity

Tzachi Zamir is Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.