Publication
Title
Is literary fiction about truth or meaning?
Author
Abstract
In this paper, I develop an alternative account of the novel’s cognitive value, based on the distinction Hannah Arendt made between truth (the result of the ‘need to know’) and meaning (the result of the ‘need to think’), claiming that the latter is better able to explain the novel’s cognitive value. To do this, I focus on a twofold movement I consider central to our experience of literary works, namely the fact that literary works always invite us to come to an interpretation of the work, but at the same time resist interpretation.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Aesthetic investigations
Publication
2019
Volume/pages
3 :1 (2019) , p. 116-129
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
VABB-SHW
Record
Identifier
Creation 15.01.2020
Last edited 07.10.2022
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