Psychoeducation and Philosophy in a Literature Class – the Case of "Five Hours with Mario" by Miguel Delibes

Towards a More Open and Less Polarized Society

Authors

  • Ewelina Topolska Silesian University of Technology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12797/Politeja.16.2019.60.04

Keywords:

Miguel Delibes, liberals, conservatives, psychology, Jonathan Haidt, Karl Popper

Abstract

The paper presents a novel approach towards the analysis of a classic Spanish 20th century novel, Five Hours with Mario by Miguel Delibes. The author of the paper proposes two interpretative frameworks, of which The Moral Foundations Theory developed recently by Jonathan Haidt is the main one, and Karl Popper’s concept of the open and closed society, a complementary one. The interdisciplinary reading of Delibes’ masterpiece should help students and scholars revive and update their relationship to this worthwhile piece of fiction, as well as provide them with theoretical tools for an in-depth understanding of the differences between the moral outlook of liberals and conservatives, tools applicable both on the level of fiction, as well as in reality.

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Author Biography

Ewelina Topolska, Silesian University of Technology

holds a PhD degree in Theory of Literature and Comparative Literature, awarded to her in 2014 by the Autonomous University of Barcelona. In recent years she has been expanding her knowledge in psychology, obtaining a postgraduate diploma in Bibliotherapy and studying to become a certified counsellor in Positive Psychotherapy. Her research combines humanities with social sciences, with a special focus on the cultural production by Spanish authors and artists. Currently she holds the position of Coordinator of Spanish Studies at the Silesian University of Technology’s Research Institute for Education and Communication.

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Published

2019-07-30

How to Cite

Topolska, Ewelina. 2019. “Psychoeducation and Philosophy in a Literature Class – the Case of ‘Five Hours With Mario’ by Miguel Delibes: Towards a More Open and Less Polarized Society”. Politeja 16 (3(60):51-65. https://doi.org/10.12797/Politeja.16.2019.60.04.