Things as They Are; Or, the Spirits of the Age In brief Date - 19 March 2025Venue - Room G.06, 50 George SquareSpeaker - Professor Margaret Russett (University of Southern California)Title - Things as They Are; Or, the Spirits of the Age About the eventThis talk contends that what William Hazlitt called “the spirit of the age” and William Blake called “mind-forg’d manacles” were two sides of the same coin, now conveniently known as “ideology.”The late-eighteenth century’s most prescient theorist of ideology was William Godwin, who—in his philosophical treatise 'Political Justice' and his novel 'Caleb Williams'—argued that ideology originates in the impact of social forces (individuals, institutions, ideas) on the mind, whose apparent autonomy is no more real than that of a billiard ball struck by the cue.Through close engagement with these two texts, this talk aims to show that Godwin’s materialist theory of mental action generates a concept of “spirit” with which Percy Shelley later contended in his great work of ideology-critique, 'Prometheus Unbound'.About the speakerProfessor Margaret Russett teaches at the University of Southern California. She is the author of 'De Quincey’s Romanticism: Canonical Minority and the Forms of Transmission' and 'Fictions and Fakes: Forging Romantic Authenticity, 1760-1845', both published by Cambridge University Press.Her recent work has focused on intersections among poetics, media studies, and ideology-critique, in particular the concept of “defamiliarisation.”How to attendThis event is open to all, and free to attend. No registration is necessary, simply turn up on the day.Are you interested in studying English Literature at LLC?Based in the first UNESCO City of Literature, we are home to the oldest department of English Literature in the UK, one of the longest established in the world. Study with us and you'll explore the varying and vital roles that literary writing plays in our lives and societies.We offer a range of single and joint honours undergraduate degrees, taught postgraduate degrees, and research-led pathways, including MSc by Research degrees and PhDs. Find out more about English Literature at Edinburgh Mar 19 2025 16.00 - 17.30 Things as They Are; Or, the Spirits of the Age An in-person talk by Professor Margaret Russett (University of Southern California) on the concept of 'ideology', and how William Godwin's leading theories on ideology led to the creation of an idea of 'spirit'. Room G.06 50 George Square University of Edinburgh EH8 9LH Find the venue: 50 George Square
Things as They Are; Or, the Spirits of the Age In brief Date - 19 March 2025Venue - Room G.06, 50 George SquareSpeaker - Professor Margaret Russett (University of Southern California)Title - Things as They Are; Or, the Spirits of the Age About the eventThis talk contends that what William Hazlitt called “the spirit of the age” and William Blake called “mind-forg’d manacles” were two sides of the same coin, now conveniently known as “ideology.”The late-eighteenth century’s most prescient theorist of ideology was William Godwin, who—in his philosophical treatise 'Political Justice' and his novel 'Caleb Williams'—argued that ideology originates in the impact of social forces (individuals, institutions, ideas) on the mind, whose apparent autonomy is no more real than that of a billiard ball struck by the cue.Through close engagement with these two texts, this talk aims to show that Godwin’s materialist theory of mental action generates a concept of “spirit” with which Percy Shelley later contended in his great work of ideology-critique, 'Prometheus Unbound'.About the speakerProfessor Margaret Russett teaches at the University of Southern California. She is the author of 'De Quincey’s Romanticism: Canonical Minority and the Forms of Transmission' and 'Fictions and Fakes: Forging Romantic Authenticity, 1760-1845', both published by Cambridge University Press.Her recent work has focused on intersections among poetics, media studies, and ideology-critique, in particular the concept of “defamiliarisation.”How to attendThis event is open to all, and free to attend. No registration is necessary, simply turn up on the day.Are you interested in studying English Literature at LLC?Based in the first UNESCO City of Literature, we are home to the oldest department of English Literature in the UK, one of the longest established in the world. Study with us and you'll explore the varying and vital roles that literary writing plays in our lives and societies.We offer a range of single and joint honours undergraduate degrees, taught postgraduate degrees, and research-led pathways, including MSc by Research degrees and PhDs. Find out more about English Literature at Edinburgh Mar 19 2025 16.00 - 17.30 Things as They Are; Or, the Spirits of the Age An in-person talk by Professor Margaret Russett (University of Southern California) on the concept of 'ideology', and how William Godwin's leading theories on ideology led to the creation of an idea of 'spirit'. Room G.06 50 George Square University of Edinburgh EH8 9LH Find the venue: 50 George Square
Mar 19 2025 16.00 - 17.30 Things as They Are; Or, the Spirits of the Age An in-person talk by Professor Margaret Russett (University of Southern California) on the concept of 'ideology', and how William Godwin's leading theories on ideology led to the creation of an idea of 'spirit'.
