Author: Thomas Hill Green

Thomas Hill Green (1836-1882) was a prominent English philosopher known for his significant contributions to political philosophy and ethical theory. Born in Birkin, Yorkshire, Green was educated at Rugby School before attending Balliol College, Oxford, where he would later become Whyte”s Professor of Moral Philosophy. A leading figure among the British Idealists, his philosophical work sought to reconcile the liberal, democratic impulses of his era with a firm grounding in moral principle. While Green”s most substantial philosophical texts include “Prolegomena to Ethics” (1883), where he presented his ethical theory, and his “Lectures on the Principles of Political Obligation, ” in which he outlined his conception of rights and the role of the state, he also engaged with the world of literature and culture. His essay “An Estimate of the Value and Influence of Works of Fiction in Modern Times” delves into the impact of literary works on the society and the moral development of individuals. This essay reflects Green”s view that fiction plays an educational and social function, shaping the ideals and character of readers. Green”s work, while firmly rooted in the philosophical tradition, also displays a broader concern with the welfare and improvement of society, marking him as a thinker deeply engaged with the practical application of ethical ideals in the modern world.