The voice of conscience; Shakespeare, imagination and judgment
The idea that we may be beset by an inner voice of conscience has been negotiated in philosophy and literature over the centuries. This book project, which builds on articles and lectures written by myself during the last few years, offers a new perspective on this notion. The study observes the close relation between the experience of conscience and aesthetic expression, pointing to the role of imagination for the development of ethical and political judgment.
Observing the impact of theater and literature for the negotiation of ethical and political judgment in critical theory, the study looks at 20th century authoritarian times, postwar Europe, and the present. Shakespeare’s monologues offer a locus of multiple perspectives on the function of the inner voice.
Conscience is an ethical, political and religious notion, but it cannot be regarded merely in terms of empathy. There is, also, a radicalized conscience that obeys absolute laws and norms. Acts of radicalized violence, such as the burning of books, may express a form of conscience. I propose that conscience must not be seen as either instinct or law. It can be regarded as a complex elaboration of points of view, through an inner dialogue.
The study aims towards the completion of a book, and a large part of the material is collected. A final chapter which synthesizes the argument remains to be written. I seek twelve months of sabbatical leave, three of which will be spent at Freie Universität, Berlin.
Final report
Scientific activities:
The year of my Sabbatical has been spent doing research, in Stockholm and Berlin. Because of the pandemic I have started the Sabbatical somewhat later than expected, 1 October. In October 2020 I was able to spend some time in Berlin. October-December 2021 I was able lengthen my sabbatical with a couple of months, through my own university. September-November 2021 I was able to spend time in Berlin, and use the libraries. I have met with colleagues at the universities in Berlin, but the activities at the universities have mostly been going on online. I have, however, been able to prepare a workshop with colleagues at Freie Universität which took place in Match 2022 in physical form. The theme was ”Denial — approaching cultures of denialism” and I presented a paper on conscience, written during my Sabbatical.
Work achieved in comparison with application:
In my application for RJ Sabbatical, I submitted a draft of a monograph. The theme of my book is the concept of conscience as an ethical and political problem in the critical theory of the 20th century. It argues that institutions in the organization of an open and democratic society, such as the institutions of law, but also cultural institutions, play an important role for the way in which the subjective experience and reflective capacity of conscience may develop.
During the year of my RJ Sabbatical I have developed a monograph proposal for Edinburgh University Press, and the series of Incitements. The editors of the series are positive with regards to my proposal, and the chapter sample, and have invited me to submit a full manuscript when it is ready.
During my Sabbatical, I have completed two new chapters that have been added to the monograph. I have also revised, and added material to the old chapters.
With regards to the application that was placed with RJ, certain features have changed. The role of Shakespeare’s dramas has been diminished. Rather than thematizing the whole book, Shakespeare’s dramas are now used as a historical background, and as examples.
The manuscript is now complete, but needs further revision. I expect to submit it to Edinburgh University Press in the fall. It is organized as follows:
Manuscript completed during my Sabbatical: No Conscience in Our Time? Critical Theory, moral reflection and imagination
—The first chapter presents a lack of conscience as a problem defined in the period after the WWII, and actualized in the present. A discussion follows which highlights the way in which Shakespeare’s dramas have contributed to the formation of a modern concept of conscience, such it has been discussed in philosophy.
This chapter is an elaboration of material that already existed at the time of the application of the RJ Sabbatical
.
—The second chapter discusses conscience as an inner voice. Departing from texts by Martin Luther that depicted conscience as an inner voice, following up with a discussion of Sigmund Freud’s models of conscience, the chapter goes on to discuss the neuropsychological literature on the phenomenon of the inner voice..
This chapter is an elaboration of material that already existed at the time of the application of the RJ Sabbatical.
—The third chapter puts Hannah Arendt’s philosophical definition of conscience into focus, demonstrating Shakespeare’s impact on her thoughts. I argue for a relation between conscience and political imagination; the capacity to think from different perspectives, which is an important feature of Arendt’s thought.
This chapter is an elaboration of material that was completed at the time of the application of the RJ Sabbatical.
—The fourth chapter develops Arendt’s ideas of conscience further and places them against a contemporary horizon. The chapter illuminates and analyzes her texts on war crimes and the need for international courts against war crimes. Her ideas are considered through the use of contemporary examples from the arts, where Arendt’s ideas have been used: for example an installation by Serbian artist Vladimir Miladinovic, rendering the diary of Ratko Mladic, who has been convicted of war crimes in the international court ICTY.
This chapter was conceived and completed during my sabbatical.
—The fifth chapter is a discussion of Theodor Adorno’s philosophy of conscience. It demonstrates the pedagogical dimension in Adorno’s writings on conscience, through the way in which the subject learns to reflect. Art, literature and the theater all play a constructive role in this regard. The chapter also discusses what it means that conscience today has become a commodity, through phenomena such as ”art-washing.”
This chapter was conceived and completed during my sabbatical.
Presentations:
"Kristeva, le brutalisme et la rénovation du sujet", Paper presented at Colloque de C'erisy, June 2021. Material from chapter two.
“The making visible of rights: Arendt on war crimes.” Paper presented at a conference in Fribourg in November 2021. Material from chapter four.
“Denial of conscience: the phenomenon of artwashing.” Paper presented at a workshop with Freie Universität Berlin in March in Stockholm 2022. Material from chapter five.
“Heroes of the negative. Blanchot and `humanity’”. Paper to be presented at conference in Berlin May 2022. Material from chapter one.
“The making visible of rights: Arendt on war crimes.” Keynote lecture to be presented at Northwestern University in May 2022. Material from chapter four.
The year of my Sabbatical has been spent doing research, in Stockholm and Berlin. Because of the pandemic I have started the Sabbatical somewhat later than expected, 1 October. In October 2020 I was able to spend some time in Berlin. October-December 2021 I was able lengthen my sabbatical with a couple of months, through my own university. September-November 2021 I was able to spend time in Berlin, and use the libraries. I have met with colleagues at the universities in Berlin, but the activities at the universities have mostly been going on online. I have, however, been able to prepare a workshop with colleagues at Freie Universität which took place in Match 2022 in physical form. The theme was ”Denial — approaching cultures of denialism” and I presented a paper on conscience, written during my Sabbatical.
Work achieved in comparison with application:
In my application for RJ Sabbatical, I submitted a draft of a monograph. The theme of my book is the concept of conscience as an ethical and political problem in the critical theory of the 20th century. It argues that institutions in the organization of an open and democratic society, such as the institutions of law, but also cultural institutions, play an important role for the way in which the subjective experience and reflective capacity of conscience may develop.
During the year of my RJ Sabbatical I have developed a monograph proposal for Edinburgh University Press, and the series of Incitements. The editors of the series are positive with regards to my proposal, and the chapter sample, and have invited me to submit a full manuscript when it is ready.
During my Sabbatical, I have completed two new chapters that have been added to the monograph. I have also revised, and added material to the old chapters.
With regards to the application that was placed with RJ, certain features have changed. The role of Shakespeare’s dramas has been diminished. Rather than thematizing the whole book, Shakespeare’s dramas are now used as a historical background, and as examples.
The manuscript is now complete, but needs further revision. I expect to submit it to Edinburgh University Press in the fall. It is organized as follows:
Manuscript completed during my Sabbatical: No Conscience in Our Time? Critical Theory, moral reflection and imagination
—The first chapter presents a lack of conscience as a problem defined in the period after the WWII, and actualized in the present. A discussion follows which highlights the way in which Shakespeare’s dramas have contributed to the formation of a modern concept of conscience, such it has been discussed in philosophy.
This chapter is an elaboration of material that already existed at the time of the application of the RJ Sabbatical
.
—The second chapter discusses conscience as an inner voice. Departing from texts by Martin Luther that depicted conscience as an inner voice, following up with a discussion of Sigmund Freud’s models of conscience, the chapter goes on to discuss the neuropsychological literature on the phenomenon of the inner voice..
This chapter is an elaboration of material that already existed at the time of the application of the RJ Sabbatical.
—The third chapter puts Hannah Arendt’s philosophical definition of conscience into focus, demonstrating Shakespeare’s impact on her thoughts. I argue for a relation between conscience and political imagination; the capacity to think from different perspectives, which is an important feature of Arendt’s thought.
This chapter is an elaboration of material that was completed at the time of the application of the RJ Sabbatical.
—The fourth chapter develops Arendt’s ideas of conscience further and places them against a contemporary horizon. The chapter illuminates and analyzes her texts on war crimes and the need for international courts against war crimes. Her ideas are considered through the use of contemporary examples from the arts, where Arendt’s ideas have been used: for example an installation by Serbian artist Vladimir Miladinovic, rendering the diary of Ratko Mladic, who has been convicted of war crimes in the international court ICTY.
This chapter was conceived and completed during my sabbatical.
—The fifth chapter is a discussion of Theodor Adorno’s philosophy of conscience. It demonstrates the pedagogical dimension in Adorno’s writings on conscience, through the way in which the subject learns to reflect. Art, literature and the theater all play a constructive role in this regard. The chapter also discusses what it means that conscience today has become a commodity, through phenomena such as ”art-washing.”
This chapter was conceived and completed during my sabbatical.
Presentations:
"Kristeva, le brutalisme et la rénovation du sujet", Paper presented at Colloque de C'erisy, June 2021. Material from chapter two.
“The making visible of rights: Arendt on war crimes.” Paper presented at a conference in Fribourg in November 2021. Material from chapter four.
“Denial of conscience: the phenomenon of artwashing.” Paper presented at a workshop with Freie Universität Berlin in March in Stockholm 2022. Material from chapter five.
“Heroes of the negative. Blanchot and `humanity’”. Paper to be presented at conference in Berlin May 2022. Material from chapter one.
“The making visible of rights: Arendt on war crimes.” Keynote lecture to be presented at Northwestern University in May 2022. Material from chapter four.