Othello: An Empiricist
ABSTRACT:
Shakespeare, the king of English literature, reached the summit of his power over English. In the art of characterization, Shakespeare has no rival. The beauty of the art lies in its characters. We come across many characters that portray nobility, ire, jealousy, conspiracy, etc. in his plays. One of the fascinating characters is Othello- the portrayal of jealousy and suspicion, an icon of empiricism who digs his own grave. This paper focuses on Othello’s philosophical position on gaining concepts of knowledge, and throws light on Othello’s language which at some point discloses his position as an empiricist, not as a rationalist.
I believe in evidence. I believe in observation, measurement, and reasoning, confirmed by independent observers. I'll believe anything, no matter how wild and ridiculous, if there is evidence for it. The wilder and more ridiculous something is, however, the firmer and more solid the evidence will have to be. …show more content…
Philosophy is a seed which is slowly but steadily has grown up into a tree. It has many branches like empiricism, rationalism existentialism, pragmatism, etc. to name a few. John Locke, the founder of empiricism, states that the only source of knowledge comes through our senses. But this may not be applicable at all stages. This paper thus is an attempt to disprove the fact that ‘seeing is believing’ all the time with respect to the Shakespearean tragic hero, Othello, the African moor.
Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army, marries Desdemona the most beautiful flower in the garden of Shakespeare. Iago, the villainous villain hates Othello for two solid reasons, that is Cassio has been promoted ahead of him and also he suspects that Othello has an affair with his wife Emilia. This is evident in the speech of Iago, who soliloquies:
IAGO:
I hate the
ABSTRACT:
Shakespeare, the king of English literature, reached the summit of his power over English. In the art of characterization, Shakespeare has no rival. The beauty of the art lies in its characters. We come across many characters that portray nobility, ire, jealousy, conspiracy, etc. in his plays. One of the fascinating characters is Othello- the portrayal of jealousy and suspicion, an icon of empiricism who digs his own grave. This paper focuses on Othello’s philosophical position on gaining concepts of knowledge, and throws light on Othello’s language which at some point discloses his position as an empiricist, not as a rationalist.
I believe in evidence. I believe in observation, measurement, and reasoning, confirmed by independent observers. I'll believe anything, no matter how wild and ridiculous, if there is evidence for it. The wilder and more ridiculous something is, however, the firmer and more solid the evidence will have to be. …show more content…
Philosophy is a seed which is slowly but steadily has grown up into a tree. It has many branches like empiricism, rationalism existentialism, pragmatism, etc. to name a few. John Locke, the founder of empiricism, states that the only source of knowledge comes through our senses. But this may not be applicable at all stages. This paper thus is an attempt to disprove the fact that ‘seeing is believing’ all the time with respect to the Shakespearean tragic hero, Othello, the African moor.
Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army, marries Desdemona the most beautiful flower in the garden of Shakespeare. Iago, the villainous villain hates Othello for two solid reasons, that is Cassio has been promoted ahead of him and also he suspects that Othello has an affair with his wife Emilia. This is evident in the speech of Iago, who soliloquies:
IAGO:
I hate the