Science & Technology in Literature, Literary Criticism - General & Miscellaneous, English Poetry - 17th Century - Literary Criticism, Techniques & Strategies in Environmental Conservation & Protection, Ecology - General & Miscellaneous, Humanity - Relatio

Milton and Ecology

Name: Milton and Ecology
Author: Ken Hiltner
ISBN: 9780521123747

by Ken Hiltner

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Overview

In Milton and Ecology, Ken Hiltner engages with literary, theoretical, and historic approaches to explore the ideological underpinnings of our current environmental crisis. Focusing on Milton's rejection of dualistic theology, metaphysical philosophy, and early modern subjectivism, Hiltner agues that Milton anticipates certain essential modern ecological arguments. Even more remarkable is that Milton was able to integrate these arguments with biblical sources so seamlessly that his interpretative "Green" reading of scripture has for over three centuries been entirely plausible. This study considers how Milton, from the earliest edition of the Poems, not only sought to tell the story of how through humanity's folly Paradise on earth was lost, but also sought to tell how it might be regained. This intriguing study will be of interest to eco-critics and Milton specialists alike.

Synopsis

Ken Hiltner explores the ideological basis of our current environmental crisis by engaging literary, theoretical, and historic approaches. Focusing on Milton's rejection of dualistic theology, metaphysical philosophy, and early-modern subjectivism, Hiltner argues that he anticipated certain essential modern ecological arguments. This study considers how Milton not only sought to tell the story of how Paradise on earth was lost through Humanity's folly, but also how it might be regained.