A Sense of the World Essays on Fiction, Narrative, and Knowledge

Examines how works of literary fiction can be a source of knowledge. This work uses the problem of cognitive value to explore: literature's contribution to ethical life; literature's ability to engage in social and political critique; and the role narrative plays in opening up possibilities of moral, aesthetic, experience and selfhood. A team of leading contributors from both philosophical and literary backgrounds have been brought together in this impressive book that examines how works of literary fiction can be a source of knowledge. It analyzes the important trends in this current popular debate, which have never before been collected together in a single volume. The innovative feature of this volume is that it mixes work by literary theorists and scholars with work of analytic philosophers that combined together provide a comprehensive statement of the variety of ways in which works of fiction can engage questions of worldly interest. It uses the problem of cognitive value to explore: literature's contribution to ethical life; literature's ability to engage in social and political critique; and the role narrative plays in opening up possibilities of moral, aesthetic, experience and selfhood. This remarkable volume will attract a broad audience from around the world among professionals and students with a great variety of interests