Morality without Faith? Gilbert Ryle on Austen, Religion and Secular Humanism

Hello and welcome back to Lady Disdain Reads! Today I bring to you a video on philosopher Gilbert Ryle's take on Austen as a secular ethicist. Enjoy!
VIDEOS MENTIONED:
Jane Austen and Ethics Playlist:
• Jane Austen and Ethics
C. S. Lewis on Jane Austen:
• Till this moment I nev...
Biography of Austen by Irene Collins:
• Who WAS Jane Austen? A...
Gilbert Ryle: ‘Jane Austen and the Moralists’ (1966).
Irene Collins: Jane Austen and the Clergy (1994), Jane Austen: The Parson’s Daughter (1998).
Calvinism: branch of Protestantism that broke off from the Catholic Church in the 16th century and follows the beliefs and practice of theologian John Calvin. This theological system emphasises the depravity and fallenness of mankind.
Aristotelianism: philosophical tradition derived from the works of Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC), in particular Aristotle’s works on virtue ethics.
Quotations from Gilbert Ryle:
‘theoretical problems about human nature’
‘Jane Austen… pin-points the exact quality of character in which she is interested, and the exact degree of that quality, by matching it against the same quality in different degrees, against simulations of that quality, against deficiencies of it and against qualities which, though different, are brothers or cousins of that selected quality.’
‘A moralist of the Calvinist type thinks… of human beings as either Saved or Damned, either Elect or Reject, either children of Virtue or children of Vice, either heading for Heaven or heading for Hell, either White or Black, either Innocent or Guilty, either Saints or Sinners.’
‘the Aristotelian pattern of ethical ideas represents people as differing from one another in degree and not in kind'
‘hardly a whisper of piety enters into even the most serious and most anguished meditations of her heroines. They never pray and they never give thanks on their knees.’
‘Her heroines face their moral difficulties and solve their moral problems without recourse to religious faith or theological doctrines’
From Sense and Sensibility:
‘Had I died, it would have been self-destruction.’
‘to have time for atonement to my God and to you all’
From Pride and Prejudice:
‘vanity, not love, has been my folly’

[@maryhamric]

Such an excellent video!!!! I agree with your take on this. I have actually taken great comfort spiritually in Austen's heroines and her novels in general. The entire culture was steeped in Christian thought, regardless of personal piety. It's assumed among moral people that they took their morality and conduct from Christianity. As you said, Austen was a minister's daughter and was personally pious. She actually expresses her disdain for "evangelicals" in her letters so she was definitely aware and invested in theological & doctrinal issues. Thank you for the suggestion about Irene Collins. I will definitely check out her books. On to the CS Lewis video next! 😊😊

[@beatrixscudeler]

I'm so glad you enjoyed this video! Content about Austen's faith doesn't get thousands of views, but it's my passion project!! Yes do take a look at Collins' books - they are the best researched resources that I have found in years about Austen's religious background and practice. I think we often take it for granted that she wasn't 'interested' in her characters' Christian faith because she doesn't constantly openly discuss in the novels. As Collins suggests this is us applying our contemporary sensibilities onto Austen. We know she disliked certain aspects of Evangelical worship (from her letters, as you say) so she was never going to be one of those authors like the evangelical novelist Hannah More, who had a very explicit didactic message to convey in their works. Austen was writing for readers who most likely took it for granted that her characters would be Anglicans, and adhere to Anglican worship. In fact, a character's faith/personal piety is most often brought up in Austen when it is lacking (think the Crawfords). This suggests that a character being a practising Anglican is not worthy of note, but the failure to be devout is, because it would have been unusual. Sorry I'm just rambling now, it's just such an interesting topic! So glad you're enjoying my videos!

[@timstevens8851]

Great video and content, but needs more volume. Thank you!

[@Abel-ec6ch]

Excellent.

[@doctorjenny]

She loved her female characters to marry clergyman as an honorable ..eg Edward Ferrars

[@tymanung6382]

Church of England clergy. But Dissenting Protestant,or Catholic factions---? Other religions----- Judaism ?