Ensaio sobre a Cegueira, de José Saramago: A Literatura e o Mal¹¹

Abstract

The representation and problematization of evil are ever-present in Saramago’s entire literary work. Blindness (1995) is the novel in which evil, as the central moral category, is freer from theological implications. In this article, I propose a critical reading of this novel, first and foremost, in light of the philosophical concepts of radical evil (Kant) and the banality of evil (Hannah Arendt). Considering Arendt’s misinterpretation, in my opinion, of the concept of evil, I will compare both notions in order to highlight the importance of Kant’s concept. Not only does Blindness benefit greatly from a reading that takes into account these philosophical principles, but our knowledge, as well as a potential review or a better understanding, of them also benefit from trying to identify and comprehend them in Saramago’s fiction. However, the complexity of the theme of evil and the originality of this novel can only be satisfactorily explained by establishing a dialogue among literature, philosophy and natural science. In particular, a combination of ethology (the biology of behaviour) and, more specifically, human ethology with neuroscience play an essential part in understanding Blindness as an essay on evil.

Keywords:

• José Saramago
• Blindness
• evil
• Hannah Arendt
• Kant

Nota

Notes

1 Este trabalho é financiado por fundos nacionais através da Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), no âmbito do Centro de Estudos em Letras, com a referência UIDP/00707/2020, Portugal.