Unreliable narratives and scepticism: what can we learn from fiction?

Date

2021-05

Editor(s)

Advisor

Bergès, Sandrine

Supervisor

Co-Advisor

Co-Supervisor

Instructor

BUIR Usage Stats
18
views
45
downloads

Series

Abstract

This thesis investigates whether we can learn from fiction. First, I analyse accounts of how we understand fiction and of the concepts that need to be analysed. Then I look more specifically at accounts that suggest we can learn from works of fiction. I argue that these accounts are unsatisfying and focus instead on a literary device, unreliable narration, from which I argue we can derive a better account of how we learn from fiction. I offer an analysis of a literary device called unreliable narration. Afterwards I suggest that this literary technique can provide a different way of learning from fiction. Finally, I argue that what my analysis of unreliable narration suggests is that through this device, fiction can help us learn and practice scepticism as an epistemic virtue.

Source Title

Publisher

Course

Other identifiers

Book Title

Degree Discipline

Philosophy

Degree Level

Master's

Degree Name

MA (Master of Arts)

Citation

Published Version (Please cite this version)

Language

English

Type