Abstract
In Shakespeare's plays, Hamlet is the prince who is most deeply stained with philosophical temperament. In the plasy, Hamlet mentions but refuses "philosophy" twice. That Hamlet is influenced by natural philosophy is shown in that he keeps on probing into the metaphysical meaning of existence. But Hamlet's contemplative nature is combined with his spiritedness, leading to his inappropriate understanding of soul and virtue, and further brings about his tendency of relativism and sophism. In virtue of prince Hamlet's lack of an appropriate knowledge of human nature and human affairs, he finally heads for cosmopolitism. Through a presentation of the improper joint of a potential man of politics with philosophy, Shakespeare reveals his hidden concern about the possible corruption that philosophy could do to politics.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 35-43 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Foreign Literature Studies |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| State | Published - 25 Dec 2016 |
Keywords
- Cosmopolitism
- Hamlet
- Philosophy
- Soul
- Virtue