Abstract

This independent study is divided into seven sections. The introduction of the project is made in the first two sections, titled “Philosophy and Literature” and “Utopia: A Fickle Existence”. The first section discusses a method used by D.D Raphael to describe the different ways that literature and philosophy can influence one another, and how these are explored within the project itself. The second section, “Utopia: A Fickle Existence” offers insight into the focus of the paper, which is utopian and critical utopian fiction of 20th century America.

The next three sections of this project (The Dispossessed: Admirable Foundation, Failure in Stagnancy, What Lies Underneath: Green Sky and Omelas, and The Dream of Walden Two) offer summary of the utopian and critical utopian literature that I have read and analyzed, with philosophical analysis embedded throughout.

The sixth section of this study, “Redefining Happiness: My Own Time and Space” delves into my own attempt to have my philosophy feed into literature, culminating into a short story. A short introduction and description of the process of the story is offered, before going into the work itself.

The seventh and final section of this paper, “Utopia: Where it Begins and Ends” will evaluate all of the pieces of literature that I have studied in brief conversation with each other, and in conversation with my own piece of philosophy-fed literature. This section also includes closing remarks.

Advisor

Eager, Claire

Second Advisor

Rudisill, John

Department

English; Philosophy

Disciplines

Ethics and Political Philosophy | Fiction | Literature in English, North America

Keywords

English, Philosophy, Utopia, Dystopia, Critical Utopia, Ethics, Short Story

Publication Date

2023

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2023 Ashini Patel