The eagle tries his wings : a study of philosophical aspects of Melville's Mardi

Abstract

Melville's "Mardi" contains a largely unexplicated body of philosophical discussions and discourses which depict his extensive intellectual development during the two years in which the book was written (Spring 1847 to Spring 1849). This study is an explication of the bulk of the book's philosophy. The materials are classified into three major categories of philosophical investigation: metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. The approach is objective, since my purpose is to discover the position projected by Melville on philosophical issues, not to prove that he represents a particular position. The method is inductive, as I consider those passages which relate to each of the major areas and then draw conclusions. The study reveals the broad range of Melville's philosophical concerns. In metaphysics, he deals with various issues related to the supernatural, natural, and human aspects of reality. In epistemology, his concerns include the sources, nature, and limits of human knowledge. In ethics, he advocated the ethical principle of love for God and man, and applies the principle to a variety of moral problems. In his treatment of these matter, Melville demonstrates his familiarity with a large number of philosophers and philosophies ranging historically from the ancient Greeks to his contemporaries. Nowhere in the book does Melville advocate adherence to a particular comprehensive philosophical system. However, his emphases on the supernatural as a vital part of reality and on innate ideas as well as inspiration, revelation, and intuition as important sources of knowledge indicate an idealistic tendency in his philosophical though. But there is also a strong emphasis on man's inability to comprehend completely either the metaphysical universe in which he finds himself or his own knowledge-gathering process. The abundance of materials dealing with moral problems and the intensely sympathetic attitude toward suffering man indicate that encouraging moral reform is one of Melville's major concerns in "Mardi." Thus although Melville advocates no philosophical system, he does assert a position in all three of these areas...