The philosophical significance of Thomas Hardy's the dynasts

Abstract EN

Thomas Hardy's advantage lies chiefly in ''non-rationalistic'' subjects, since nonrationality seems, for Hardy, the dominant principle of the Universe.

By non-rationality, Hardy does not mean foolishness, but rather a principle lying at the indifference point between rationality and emotionality.

The present paper explores Hardy's doctrine of nonrationality in The Dynasts, an epic-drama on the Napoleonic Wars, his magnum opus.

The paper also illuminates Hardy's idea of the growing consciousness of the Will, which comes very close to Spinoza's philosophical concept.

Hardy makes use of the Platonic philosophy in elaborating his own philosophical doctrine.