Philosophy plays a significant role in individuals' intellectual, emotional, and physical development. Whether you're meditating with Marcus Aurelius or diving deep into metaphysics with Alexander the Great, it is difficult to skim through a philosophical piece and not attain impactful knowledge that will help you in life.
That being said, the impact of philosophy on humanity would not have been possible without the medium of literature helping it resonate among mass audiences. Similarly, philosophy's impact on literature has been equally seismic and vital. Stories without ethos are an empty shell; fill it with philosophical thought, and you have a tale that connects with people profoundly.
Let's take an enlightening look into the relationship between literature and philosophy.
History
The relationship between literature and philosophy can be defined as parental in terms of pure closeness, simple yet perplexing.
Among famous philosophers, there are varying opinions on literature in general; for example, Aristotle regards literature highly, assigning a moral effect to it, while Plato condemns it.
For over two thousand years, literature, in essence, has been phrased as “the servant of philosophy.” This school of thought describes the close relationship between philosophy and literature and how many philosophers would regard literature as inferior to it.
In Plato's book, Republic, we see him chase the poet out of the city. In contrast, Aristotle accredits literature in Poetics as he focuses on the connection between reality and tragedy.
But regardless of the philosopher's perception of literature, it didn't stop authors from using philosophical resonances in their reads. Albert Camus' masterpiece, The Stranger, was based on existentialism and absurdism; Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder was quite literally a journey through Western philosophy.
But why does philosophy have such an influence on literature regardless of opposition?
We can look at three main factors that contribute to it.
1. Exploration:
Philosophy basically comprises asking fundamental questions about existence. These are nuances that make people think on a deeper level. Authors incorporate themes of philosophy to create evergreen characters and storylines, giving readers the opportunity to reflect and relate at the same time.
2. Critical Thinking:
The beauty of philosophy is that it makes audiences think. This is a powerful device if incorporated into literature, for it broadens the story's scope. Complexity adds character and well-crafted narratives that effectively juggle hard-hitting philosophical ideas and exponentially execute the read's effectiveness, giving readers room to grow and explore further.
3. Character Development/Moral Dilemmas
If not the story itself, it is common to see philosophical resonances woven into the ethos of a character in the story. Philosophy often becomes the breeding ground for classic character development. Writers can incorporate philosophical theories to construct characters, which gives them a layered personality.
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