Lecture 4 - George Eliot: Heroes Without Faith

The fourth lecture in Professor Susan Neiman's Gifford Lectures

Event details

Date: Monday 9 May 2022, 5:30pm to 6:30pm

Venue: Lecture Theatre A, 40 George Square

Lecture abstract

George Eliot’s attempt to defend a strong notion of morality without the support of religion, and with full knowledge of the ways in which Darwin’s theories could be seen to undermine morality, is a deep and brilliant project with many lessons for our times.   Through analysis of many of her writings as well as discussion of her life I will argue that Eliot worked to understand what modern heroism might be – and how it may often be subverted, from within and without.

Lecture video

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