Conversations on Dante 5: Tasia Scrutton and Simon Hewitt on grief theory, CS Lewis and Dante

Leeds Dante Podcast

Conversations on Dante is a new set of podcast episodes from the Leeds Centre for Dante Studies at the University of Leeds. In each episode, we sit down with researchers from a range of disciplines to discuss some of the work which is helping to shape our understanding of Dante, his context and works, and his place in the cultures of the world.

In this episode, Dr Tasia Scrutton and Dr Simon Hewitt discuss continuing bonds theory - a field which considers the importance of a continuing bond with the dead in bereavement. We consider CS Lewis's diary, A Grief Observed, written after the death of his wife in 1960, and how Lewis engages with Dante; we go on to discuss how Dante and Lewis share a concern with the ongoing connections between the living and the dead, and the enduring bonds between souls - questions which had also been discussed by Aquinas and Augustine. We also consider the broader implications of continuing bonds, and how Dante can help us understand those implications for society today.

Tasia Scrutton is Associate Professor, and Simon Hewitt is Research Fellow, in the School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science at the University of Leeds.

The conversation is hosted by Matthew Treherne.