Moral Formalism vs. New Formalism

Attribute	Moral Formalism	New Formalism
Focus	Emphasizes moral rules and principles	Emphasizes form, structure, and craftsmanship
Origin	Rooted in deontological ethics	Emerged as a response to New Criticism
Interpretation	Interprets literature based on moral values	Interprets literature based on formal elements
Value	Values moral lessons and ethical implications	Values aesthetic beauty and technical skill

Moral Formalism

Moral formalism is a philosophical theory that emphasizes the importance of following moral rules and principles in making ethical decisions. According to moral formalism, the rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by whether it conforms to a set of universal moral laws or principles. These principles are often seen as objective and binding on all rational beings, regardless of their personal desires or circumstances.

One of the key attributes of moral formalism is its emphasis on duty and obligation. Moral formalists believe that individuals have a moral duty to act in accordance with universal moral principles, even if doing so goes against their own self-interest or desires. This emphasis on duty is often associated with the philosopher Immanuel Kant, who argued that moral actions must be performed out of a sense of duty rather than for the sake of achieving some desired outcome.

Another important aspect of moral formalism is its focus on the intention behind an action. According to moral formalists, the moral worth of an action is determined by the agent's intention in performing it. This means that two actions that have the same outcome may be judged differently if one was performed with a good intention and the other with a bad intention.

Overall, moral formalism places a strong emphasis on the importance of following moral rules and principles, acting out of a sense of duty, and considering the intention behind one's actions in making ethical decisions.

New Formalism

New formalism is a literary theory that emerged in the late 20th century as a reaction against the dominance of postmodernism in literary studies. New formalists argue for a return to a focus on form, structure, and craft in literary analysis, emphasizing the importance of close reading and attention to the formal elements of a text. Unlike moral formalism, which is concerned with ethical principles, new formalism is concerned with aesthetic principles and the formal qualities of literary works.

One of the key attributes of new formalism is its emphasis on the autonomy of the literary text. New formalists argue that a literary work should be analyzed on its own terms, without reference to external factors such as the author's biography or historical context. This focus on the text itself allows for a deeper appreciation of its formal qualities and aesthetic value.

Another important aspect of new formalism is its rejection of the idea that meaning is purely subjective and that texts can be endlessly interpreted in different ways. New formalists argue that there are objective qualities in a text that can be analyzed and appreciated, and that these qualities contribute to the overall meaning and impact of the work.

Overall, new formalism advocates for a return to a focus on form, structure, and craft in literary analysis, emphasizing the autonomy of the text and the importance of close reading and attention to formal elements in understanding and appreciating literary works.

Comparison

• Moral formalism emphasizes the importance of following moral rules and principles, while new formalism focuses on the formal qualities and aesthetic principles of literary works.
• Moral formalism is concerned with ethical principles and the rightness or wrongness of actions, while new formalism is concerned with aesthetic principles and the formal qualities of texts.
• Moral formalism places a strong emphasis on duty, obligation, and intention in making ethical decisions, while new formalism emphasizes the autonomy of the text and the importance of close reading and attention to form in literary analysis.
• Both moral formalism and new formalism advocate for a systematic approach to analyzing and understanding their respective subjects, whether it be ethical decisions or literary works.
• While moral formalism focuses on universal moral principles and the intention behind actions, new formalism focuses on the formal qualities of texts and the autonomy of the literary work.