engleski

Dangerous passions of fictional characters

This paper addresses the problem of ‘dangerous literature’ – those works which are, in light of their subject matter, representational properties and the allure of their linguistic expression, considered potentially harmful for the readers. More precisely, we look at works which portray characters whose passions led them to commit ‘immoral acts’ – Emma Bovary’s adultery, Medea’ infanticide, Othello’s homicide – and we ask about the cognitive, moral and other kinds of influences such works have on readers. By analyzing ways in which literature, as primarily linguistic medium, depicts such passions, and by analyzing ways in which readers process and experience such fictional portrayals, we provide a defence of why these works should be included in our educational system. To successfully argue in favour of our inclusion thesis, we primarily have to refute Plato’s worries regarding the danger of emotional experiences and the possibility of moral corruption through art. To discard Plato’s challenge, we first explore the nature of emotions and their overall relevance for our lives, including our ethical interactions. We then turn to the cognitive scientists and literary scholars and philosophers influenced by them – Jenefer Robinson, Patrick Hogan, Murray Smith – to highlight how engaging with the emotional experiences of fictional characters is of immense value for an individual’s cognitive and moral development. Finally, we turn to the work of Martha Nussbaum and Helen Small, whose views on the connection between art, emotions and education support our inclusion thesis.

education, emotions and emotional experiences, fictional characters, literature

nije evidentirano