功利论与道义论:《传染病屋》的生存伦理观

An Ethical Reading of Utility and Morality in The Pesthouse

功利论和道义论是两种对立的伦理观,体现了两种不同的人生态度。英国作家吉姆·克雷斯的小说《传染病屋》则通过描述功利者和道义者的不同归宿,显示出了独特的生存伦理观:功利者为己之私不顾及他人,必然导致毁灭和悲剧;道义者心存善念,助人即为助己,在给他人开创生存机会和空间的同时,也为自己开创了生存的机会和空间,从而为整个人类带来生机和存在的理由。

Utilitarianism and deontology are two opposing ethical choices that illustrate two contrasting philosophies of life. Designing drastically different endings for utilitarian and moral-bound characters, British writer Jim Crace propounds an existential ethic in his novel The Pesthouse. His utilitarian characters disregard the needs of others but their selfishness eventually leads to destruction, whereas his morally conscientious characters help themselves by helping others. According to the novel, the moral ones create existential space for themselves by making room for the others, thereby giving all human beings the reason and chance to exist.