PHIL 232 - Philosophy of Literature

FC ARHU

4 credits
This course will consider philosophical questions concerning the nature, appreciation and value of literary works. These questions include, How should we understand literary works as reproducible art? What distinguishes fiction from creative nonfiction? Do fictional characters exist? Do emotional responses to fiction make sense? Are an author’s intentions relevant to interpreting their work? Can there be more than one correct interpretation of a literary work? Are some works of literature objectively better than others? What, if anything, can we learn from literature? Does reading literature make us morally better people? And, Is it wrong for non-minority writers to write from the perspective of minorities?

Prerequisites: one course in PHIL.