Philosophy
The Philosophy of Literature and the Moral Value of Fiction
Quick fact
Plato, often called the first philosopher of art, wanted to ban poets from his ideal republic because he believed fiction could corrupt citizens by appealing to emotion over reason—yet his dialogues themselves are famous literary masterpieces.
Why this is interesting
We often close a novel feeling changed, but can a made-up story really make us better or worse people? That question has haunted philosophers for over two thousand years.