Introduction to Philosophy: Philosophy and Literature

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

In this course, we will be considering philosophical issues raised both in and through literature. We will treat topics such as the communicative potential of metaphor, the translation of literature from one language to another, the relevance of authorial intention to interpretation, the ethical potential of literature, the nature of literary fictions, and the capacity of literature to afford knowledge or insight. We will also engage in depth with several works of literature, with an eye to considering whether philosophical reflection might be undertaken through literature, and if so, how.