Frankenstein: Myths, Monsters, and Modern Science: Philosophy
Personal Identity
Victor and the Monster face similar challenges.
Both Dr. Frankenstein and the Monster struggle with their personal identity, and how others perceive them. For most of the book these characters try to convince others that they are not what they appear to be. The articles below focus on the philosophy of personal identity, and how it is portrayed in the novel.
- Monstrosity, Suffering, Subjectivity, and Sympathetic Community in "Frankenstein" and "The Structure of Torture."Explains how the suffering the characters experience helps to shape their personalities.
- Perchta the Belly-Slitter and Her Kin: A View of Some Traditional Threatening Figures, Threats and PunishmentsExplores how Perchta, a monster from Austrian folklore, shares similarities with the Creature.
- The Monstrous as the Paradigm of Modernity? Or Frankenstein, Myth of the Birth of the ContemporaryDiscusses the parallels between Frankenstein and the development of in vitro fertilization.
- How the Golem Came to Prague.Explores the Jewish legend of Golem, which shares similarities with the Creature.
Bioethics
Medical doctors were relatively new at the time Frankenstein was published, and there was litle discussion about the ethical implications of practicing medicine and other biological sciences. The following articles explore the role of the scientist and the responsibility to be an ethical practitioner.
- Metaphysical Intersections in "Frankenstein:" Mary Shelley's Theistic Investigation of Scientific Materialism and Transgressive Autonomy.Provides a philosophical position using a precise theological philosophy between God as the creator and as a human being.
- Does a Biologist Need a Soul?Considers whether developments in natural sciences like synthetic biology require scientists to be ethical in their practices.
- Biocentrism, Religion and Synthetic Biology.Examines biocentrism, the ethical concept concerning the value of non-human life in nature.
- From Homo Faber to Homo Creator? A Theological-Ethical Expedition into the Anthropological Depths of Synthetic Biology.An ethical examination of synthetic biology.
- Synthetic Biology and the Notion of "Producing Life" in Different Cultures.Looks at biotechnology from the perspective of different cultural backgrounds.
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