Mr Scrooge, the Grinch, and the conscience of the anti-Christmas characters

Mr Scrooge and the Grinch are the most popular personifications of a pervasive trope in narratives around Christmas: the grumpy old man starts off despising everything and everyone that reminds him of Christmas and, through a change of heart triggered by some external event, by the end of the story fully embraces the spirit of Christmas. This narrative expresses, more or less intentionally, the same Christian meaning of Christmas as redemption through the birth of Jesus. In the anti-Christmas characters, redemption happens through some form of introspection, which radically changes their perspective - itself a symbolic new birth. For in reality, the external events only prompt them to examine what is already part of themselves, which is one of the core functions traditionally attributed to conscience. In this Bitesize event we will use these anti-Christmas characters as a starting point for a brief discussion of how the message of Christmas illuminates different aspects of conscience that have been at the centre of its philosophical analysis throughout history.

11th December 12:35-13:20, online via zoom

This Bitesize Ethics Christmas special will be led by series regular Alberto Giubilini. 

Registration is free and no prior experience or study is necessary. The 45-minute class will take place online via Zoom and participation in the informal Q&A and discussion session following the class is warmly encouraged.

Please register here. If you have any questions about the event please email.