Change of genre

According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Poetic Justice is defined as an outcome in which vice is punished and virtue rewarded, usually in a manner which is either or both peculiarly or ironically appropriate. They say that the term was coined by English literary critic Thomas Rymer in the 17th century. At that time it was believed that a work of literature should uphold moral principles, and instruct the reader in correct moral behaviour. Thinking that this was connected with the morality plays, I explored further.
Again according to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the characters in the 15th and 16th century allegorical dramas personified moral virtues and vices, in order to teach moral lessons. Morality plays were one of the three types of vernacular drama produced during the middle ages. The other two were the mystery play and the miracle play. Morality plays were intermediate in the transition from liturgical plays (based on scripture) to secular and ultimately professional theatre.
I have just restarted reading this small book by Martha Nussbaum. For reasons I do not recall I did not get very far into the book the first time. So far I have read her introduction, and the first chapter, which explains her approach in the rest of the book. Although she may think that I am simplifying her argument too much, or maybe even that I am missing her point, I think not. 
Nussbaum does not dismiss the importance and value of science, and indeed stresses that we need to know and understand the science of things like economics and justice. The problem with science, however, is that much of it is the best theory which has not been able to be disproved. Rational people can argue rationally about economics and law, in part because science alone falls short. She argues that novels foster empathy as we identify with characters in the story, and project our emotions onto those characters. Although few contemporary authors have as blatant an “author’s message” as Thomas Rymer advocated, and as Charles Dickens did, many address significant moral dilemmas .
Before I returned to this book, I had read a couple of science fiction books (by CJ Cherryh) set in a future where the moral questions that we are today grappling with could be set out starkly and with their undoubted complexity and multi-nuanced issues presented full frontal. I then moved onto a Peter Robinson DCI Banks crime procedural. In this fanciful version of sleepy Yorkshire, multiple murders permit the exploration of contemporary moral issues in a way that may help many of us to clarify our own moral positions.
I believe that Martha Nussbaum has it right, as did the authors of the morality plays. People can understand and deal with major moral issues when presented with them by way of a story that catches the attention, encourages identification with or against characters, and provokes an emotional response. From this the reader can reach conclusions which she then has the opportunity to debate with fellow readers or even critics. That can only be a good.