Author Description
Gregory Currie defends the view that works of fiction guide the imagination, and then considers whether fiction can also guide our beliefs. He makes a case for modesty about learning from fiction, as it is easy to be too optimistic about the psychological insights of authors, and empathy is hard to acquire while not always morally advantageous.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates the epistemological capacity of fiction to function as a reliable source of knowledge and psychological insight. Gregory Currie, a philosopher of mind and literature, evaluates the cognitive mechanisms involved in engaging with fictional narratives. He argues for a cautious approach regarding the claims that literature inherently fosters empathy or provides accurate psychological understanding of human behavior.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Philosophical analysis of the relationship between imagination and belief
- Examination of the cognitive processes triggered by narrative engagement
- Critical assessment of the 'empathy-building' hypothesis in literature
Scope Limits
- Does not provide a comprehensive history of literary theory
- Does not focus on specific literary movements or stylistic analysis
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars in the philosophy of literature frequently cite this text for its rigorous challenge to common assumptions about the moral and cognitive benefits of reading. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which requires a strong background in analytic philosophy to fully parse.
Page Count:
256
Publication Date:
2020-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0191748064
ISBN-13:
9780191748066
Philosophy
Literary Criticism
Aesthetics
Epistemology
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