Fiction lies in order to tell the truth and seeks reality through shadows. Philosophy attempts to dispel false realities; it pursues clear understanding of things as they are. While the relation of philosophy and fiction is, perhaps, paradoxical, they implicate one another's picture of human experience.

This book uses fiction to help readers process philosophical themes, and the philosophical reflection, in turn, helps clarify the fiction. The study moves through roughly a hundred years of modern fiction, from Washington Irving's "The Devil and Tom Walker" (1824) through James M. Cain's Double Indemnity (1936). This exploration examines several "classic" works of literary fiction, a few largely forgotten stories and several popular novels. It discovers that reading fiction through the lens of philosophy helps readers perceive the complexity and richness of fiction, reinvigorating the pursuit of wisdom that lies just beneath the surface of the words on the page.

Book Information
ISBN 9781476688473
Author Schuy R. Weishaar
Format Paperback
Page Count 277
Imprint McFarland & Co Inc
Publisher McFarland & Co Inc
Weight(grams) 363g