Description
Literature is a source of understanding and insight into the human condition. Yet ever since Aristotle, philosophers have struggled to provide a plausible account of how this can be the case. For surely the fictionality - the sheer invented character - of the literary work means that literature concerns itself not with the real world but with other worlds - what are commonly called fictional worlds. How is it, then, that fictions can tell us something of consequence about reality? In Fiction and the Weave of Life, John Gibson offers a novel and intriguing account of the relationship between literature and life, and shows that literature's great cultural and cognitive value is inseparable from its fictionality and inventiveness. Review: Review from previous edition Gibson's book is well-written, erudite and wide-ranging, littered with valuable insights, and his broad vision of cognitive literary value as not constrained by narrow notions of truth and reference is an attractive and welcome one. Cain Samuel Todd, Analysis Reviews We need more books like Fiction and the Weave of Life. Brief, coherent, readable and bold ...The book is well-written, original, and thought-provoking. It deserves to be widely read. James Harold, British Journal of Aesthetics engaging and admirably clear ... rigorous and stimulating Times Higher Education
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