Philosophical fiction is any story or book that spends a lot of time exploring questions that philosophers ask. These questions may include how society works, why people act the way they do, what gives life meaning, what is right or wrong, how art affects people, how knowledge is learned, whether people have free will, or other topics that interest philosophers. Philosophical fiction includes books that focus on big ideas. These books may also be part of other genres like science fiction, utopian or dystopian stories, and coming-of-age novels.
There isn't one definition that everyone agrees on for philosophical fiction, but looking at well-known examples can show its history. For instance, a dialogue written by Plato could be considered philosophical fiction. Some modern philosophers have written novels, plays, or short stories to explain their ideas. Examples of these writers include Voltaire, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Thomas Mann, Hermann Hesse, Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Ayn Rand. Writers who admire certain philosophers may include their ideas in the main themes or stories of their books. Examples of such books are The Moviegoer by Walker Percy, Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Nietzsche, Wittgenstein's Mistress by David Markson, and Speedboat by Renata Adler.
Definition
There is no one agreed-upon definition of philosophical fiction, but looking at important books can show its history. For example, a Platonic dialogue might be considered philosophical fiction.
This genre began in 18th-century France as the philosophical tale (conte philosophique), a type of story that discusses problems in society and people in power. These tales share ideas about how the world works, such as the habits of nobles, types of governments, religious extremism, and certain philosophical beliefs. They use the structure of folktales, including phrases like "once upon a time," to avoid being censored. Like folktales, they belong to the apologue genre, which includes short stories with moral lessons, such as fables and utopias. Voltaire is the most famous writer of this genre, and his works Candide, Micromegas, and Zadig are the best examples.
Origin
Under Louis XIV's rule, the absolute monarchy grew stronger, increasing the king's power and restoring rules about right and wrong. This led to the censorship of many books. Voltaire and Diderot, who followed the ideas of 17th-century libertines, became known as Enlightenment philosophers. They criticized the unfair treatment of people during their time. Many faced censorship or were imprisoned. Some published their works secretly, while others asked for help from foreign rulers called "enlightened despots." To avoid being stopped, these philosophers created new types of writing, such as the philosophical tale.
Characteristics
The philosophical tale is a type of story that combines elements from fairy tales and adventure novels. It uses the structure of fairy tales, such as a castle setting and noble characters, but also includes exciting journeys and challenges. In Voltaire's Candide, for example, the story takes place in a castle, the time is not clearly stated (though it has connections to real events like the 1755 Lisbon earthquake), and the main characters are mostly from noble families. The story also includes parts of an adventure novel, such as long trips and many exciting events. Voltaire wrote his tales like traditional fairy tales but changed them by adding a philosophical message. He used humor, such as irony, and sometimes included elements of comedy. He also showed real problems in society, encouraging readers to think about the story’s message. The philosophical tale also shares traits with the picaresque genre, where the main character moves between different social groups or makes fun of serious emotions like love.
The philosophical tale follows the structure of fairy tales but changes it by exaggerating some parts. It often includes strange events, such as characters who die and come back to life without explanation, while others stay dead. The characters are often exaggerated, meaning they are shown as having only one main trait. For example, the character Candide is known mainly by his name. However, the world in these stories is real and often contrasts with the society of the time. This difference is created through parody, a technique that changes or twists the rules of the genre it copies.
The philosophical tale often uses satire, which is a way to criticize society. Satire uses tools like exaggeration, humor, and irony. In Candide, Voltaire uses satire to criticize the nobility and the ideas of some philosophers. For example, the character Pangloss is a funny version of the real philosopher Leibniz. Satire also makes terrible or immoral actions seem normal, as seen in Candide when Voltaire writes, "We buried my lord in a beautiful church, and threw Issachar in the trash."
The philosophical tale became famous because of Voltaire, who used funny or satirical characters and writing styles to express his ideas. Stories can reach more people than essays because they are easier to enjoy. The goal of argumentation in these tales is to share ideas in a way that is easy to understand. To spread Enlightenment ideas, Voltaire used fictional stories because they attract readers and make moral lessons easier to accept.
Every text has a topic, which is the subject it discusses. An argumentative text also has a thesis, which is the main idea the author wants to prove. This thesis is opposed by a counter-thesis, which is the opposite idea. In Candide, the character Pangloss represents the ideas of the philosopher Leibniz, which Voltaire criticizes throughout the story. To support his ideas, Voltaire uses examples, causes, and references.
The philosophical tale is a form of indirect argumentation, meaning it uses a story to teach a lesson. Instead of listing arguments and examples clearly, the author uses the story itself as the main argument. The story’s events and examples are developed in detail to help the reader understand the moral or message.