Zaker Hussain
The article provides a critique of Dan Brown's novel "Origin" from the perspective of Fearism, a philosophical framework developed by Nepali thinker and writer Desh Subba. The article examines the novel's themes, characters, and the interplay between religion and science, offering an alternative perspective rooted in Fearism. Let's critically analyze the article:
Overview of the Novel: The article offers a concise summary of the novel "Origin," describing the main character, Edmond Kirsch, and the central conflict between religion and science. This provides readers with an understanding of the book's premise and its relevance to the critique.
Fearism Introduction: The article introduces Fearism as a philosophical concept developed by Desh Subba, which places fear as a primary driver of human behavior and society. This background sets the stage for the subsequent analysis.
Character Analysis: The article highlights that all characters in the novel are portrayed as fearful, with specific reference to Edmond Kirsch's reading of atheist authors Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris. The fear-driven behavior of characters in the novel is an interesting point, but the article does not delve deeper into how fear influences their actions and decisions.
Religion vs. Science: The article asserts that the novel is a victory of science over religion, breaking the notion of God as a creator. It suggests that this perspective aligns with Fearism, but it doesn't provide an in-depth exploration of how the novel addresses this conflict. The relationship between science, religion, and fear could be explored more thoroughly.
Cultural and Philosophical References: The article references various philosophers and philosophical concepts, such as Friedrich Nietzsche and Albert Camus. While these references are interesting, the article could benefit from a more detailed examination of how these philosophies connect to the novel's themes and the Fearism framework.
Narrative Structure: The article discusses the novel's narrative structure, mentioning elements like mystery, conspiracy, and conflict. However, it doesn't delve deeply into the storytelling techniques used by Dan Brown to create suspense or how these elements relate to the theme of fear.
Cultural and Geographical Context: The article suggests that the novel's setting in Spain is suitable due to its Catholic and culturally unique background. It briefly touches on how different cultures shape individuals' perspectives, but a more comprehensive exploration of this aspect could add depth to the analysis.
Fearism and Creationism: The article claims that Fearism can be applied to understanding the novel's critique of creationism. While this connection is intriguing, it would be more informative if it explained how Fearism offers a unique perspective on this topic and how it differs from other philosophical approaches.
Writing Style: The article's writing style is generally clear and straightforward, but it could benefit from more detailed analysis, critical engagement with the novel's themes, and a more structured presentation of ideas.
Clarity of Argument: The article presents intriguing ideas but could be more coherent and organized in its argumentation. It often jumps between topics without fully developing each point.
In conclusion, the article offers a unique perspective on Dan Brown's novel "Origin" by applying the philosophy of Fearism. However, it could benefit from a more in-depth analysis of how the novel's themes and characters relate to fear, as well as a more structured and organized presentation of its arguments. Additionally, more comprehensive explanations of the philosophical concepts mentioned would make the analysis more informative and engaging.
By
Zaker Hussain
Senior Lecturer philosophy
School education department Jammu and kashmir
