Emilia, I am so happy to have found your Substack. You beautifully articulate things that are very important to me but that I have never puzzled out in words. Yes, reading enhances life. Because I read I live more fully. I’m always a little regretful when people who are dear to me don’t share in this beautiful multiplier. I would love to share my own substack, on Christian film, with you. https://davidtheis385723.substack.com/p/thank-god-im-an-atheist?r=18lea&utm_medium=ios
The conclusion that you drew reminded me a lot of what Lewis writes in "An Experiment in Criticism", describing good reading as a kind of "enlargement of our being", something that takes us out of ourselves and lets us see things we would not see otherwise.
On another note, I couldn't help but wonder if Shelley's opinion about the imagination being man's moral organ was somehow influenced by the moral sense school of philosophy, which had a great impact on the literature and culture of the 18th and early 19th centuries. Adam Smith, for example, argued that morality comes from a faculty called sympathy (a concept that is somewhat different from how we use the word today), which works through the imagination: imagining what we would feel in the other person's shoes. Of course, I'm simplifying his argument a lot, but it really seems similar to what Shelley said.
Thanks for this comment, Borbála! I’m not super familiar with Adam Smith, but that definitely sounds related. Shelley’s basic argument in “A Defense of Poetry” is that poetry preserves morality (specifically empathy, the basis of morality) because of its engagement of the imagination. He takes it a little further than I would, but he has some good points!
Sorry if my question with Smith felt strange! I had to read him as philosophical context for sentimental literature, which I was interested in at uni, but I admit, that's something of a niche interest. 😅
Reading and its impact on life and my living, well, i read the Bible, so there is for that wonder. And then there are the patristics and theologians, and that hasn't got into other works of philosophy and artistry, such marvelous beauty. While i'd say some times reading is just reading, other times reading can cause trouble or ruin, overall, yes, i do agree and believe reading is a work and action that, like all that we do in this little time we have, ought to be in good service of life and living.
I always say that reading - temporarily - lifts me up and out of reality, but then plants me down squarely back within it, often illuminating something within my life. Love this essay!
Emilia, your writing is beautiful as always. The whole time I was reading it, I was thinking of a quote by Flannery O'Connor: "I'm always irritated by people who imply that writing fiction is an escape from reality. It is a plunge into reality and it's very shocking to the system." I feel it's a wonderful shock to the system, and by being electrified, the colors of reality grow more vibrant.
I especially loved your point about treating reading as a retreat and an end in itself, and how it inevitably leads to nihilism. That was certainly my experience years ago, and since climbing out of that, I'm much more on your side; attuned to the rebirth and newness reading gifts us. Thank you for such a wonderful read!
Beautifully written and expressed. I will be thinking about this essay for a long time! I love how you quote The Weight of Glory - it’s one of my favorite of C.S. Lewis’s writings. 💛
What a wonderful article on reading. Besides escapism, I too have found that reading developed my empathy and helped me understand another point of view. Reading does open up you eyes and imagination and you can never "see" the same way again -- it is constantly refining our world view. I absolutely loved your article 🥰🙏
Emilia, I am so happy to have found your Substack. You beautifully articulate things that are very important to me but that I have never puzzled out in words. Yes, reading enhances life. Because I read I live more fully. I’m always a little regretful when people who are dear to me don’t share in this beautiful multiplier. I would love to share my own substack, on Christian film, with you. https://davidtheis385723.substack.com/p/thank-god-im-an-atheist?r=18lea&utm_medium=ios
Thank you so much! I will check it out.
The conclusion that you drew reminded me a lot of what Lewis writes in "An Experiment in Criticism", describing good reading as a kind of "enlargement of our being", something that takes us out of ourselves and lets us see things we would not see otherwise.
On another note, I couldn't help but wonder if Shelley's opinion about the imagination being man's moral organ was somehow influenced by the moral sense school of philosophy, which had a great impact on the literature and culture of the 18th and early 19th centuries. Adam Smith, for example, argued that morality comes from a faculty called sympathy (a concept that is somewhat different from how we use the word today), which works through the imagination: imagining what we would feel in the other person's shoes. Of course, I'm simplifying his argument a lot, but it really seems similar to what Shelley said.
Thanks for this comment, Borbála! I’m not super familiar with Adam Smith, but that definitely sounds related. Shelley’s basic argument in “A Defense of Poetry” is that poetry preserves morality (specifically empathy, the basis of morality) because of its engagement of the imagination. He takes it a little further than I would, but he has some good points!
I'll give it a read, you've made me curious!
Sorry if my question with Smith felt strange! I had to read him as philosophical context for sentimental literature, which I was interested in at uni, but I admit, that's something of a niche interest. 😅
No no, not strange at all!! I love this topic and I will now be looking into Smith!
I'm gald! The work I was referencing from Smith is "The Theory of Moral Sentiments", though he is much better know for his "Wealth of Nations".
Splendid.
Wonderful article, thank you!
Reading and its impact on life and my living, well, i read the Bible, so there is for that wonder. And then there are the patristics and theologians, and that hasn't got into other works of philosophy and artistry, such marvelous beauty. While i'd say some times reading is just reading, other times reading can cause trouble or ruin, overall, yes, i do agree and believe reading is a work and action that, like all that we do in this little time we have, ought to be in good service of life and living.
Oh yes, reading the Bible is completely in its own category!
It truly is!
what a wonderful defense of the great value of imagination. Thank you for writing this!
I always say that reading - temporarily - lifts me up and out of reality, but then plants me down squarely back within it, often illuminating something within my life. Love this essay!
Yes exactly!
I love Coleridge's phrase, the “film of familiarity”--thank you for alerting me to it!
One of my favorites of his!
You have a very good way in explaining on imagination. As I read, I let the imagination picture the scene.
Thank you so much!
Emilia, your writing is beautiful as always. The whole time I was reading it, I was thinking of a quote by Flannery O'Connor: "I'm always irritated by people who imply that writing fiction is an escape from reality. It is a plunge into reality and it's very shocking to the system." I feel it's a wonderful shock to the system, and by being electrified, the colors of reality grow more vibrant.
I especially loved your point about treating reading as a retreat and an end in itself, and how it inevitably leads to nihilism. That was certainly my experience years ago, and since climbing out of that, I'm much more on your side; attuned to the rebirth and newness reading gifts us. Thank you for such a wonderful read!
Thank you, Justin! That means a lot to me.
I can’t believe I’ve never come across that O’Connor quote—so thanks for sharing it!
Beautifully written and expressed. I will be thinking about this essay for a long time! I love how you quote The Weight of Glory - it’s one of my favorite of C.S. Lewis’s writings. 💛
Thank you, Alyssa! And yes—The Weight of Glory is probably one of the greatest essays ever written (in my opinion).
What a wonderful article on reading. Besides escapism, I too have found that reading developed my empathy and helped me understand another point of view. Reading does open up you eyes and imagination and you can never "see" the same way again -- it is constantly refining our world view. I absolutely loved your article 🥰🙏
Thank you so much!