Should philosophy be written as Literature?

Question

Plato's works are applauded as great philosophy and great literature. Aristotle's works are applauded as great philosophy but not as great literature (they are apparently course notes written for or by Aristotle's students).

Are 'literary' (artistic) qualities not irrelevant to philosophy? Should not the primary goal of philosophical style be to say what you have to say clearly, unequivocally, and as simply as possible? Why should the philosopher have to 'sell' his ideas by putting them in the pretty but distracting (and often confusing) clothing of 'literary style'?

Answer 1

My experience has been that both styles of writing can be clear and worthwhile. I am thinking of 'thought experiments' as being a great way to get an idea across. I remember finding my first philosophical explorations through science fiction stories, (Utopian societies, nature of time, identity and so on). In the end the clear unequivocal style should be used in strict argument and as the final word but to show ideas and as you say 'sell' them literary style can be very useful. I for one do not think popularizing philosophy is a bad thing, rather it is good to get people to think and the "story" is a great way to do it. Literary style can be confusing and that's why I do think the final word should be the strict logical argument. But it shouldn't be the only word.

Answer 2

I agree with you. Plato's works, including "Apology" in which the first-person voice is Socrates, and other chapters describing Socrates' trial, is written clearly and simply in the best litarary style. "Existentialist" philosophy is very well-reflected in so-called existentialist literature, which, by placing it in the setting of human dilemmas and choices, certainly expounds this philosophy more clearly than various abstract writings by Sartre, Heidegger, and others. And, to me, there is another obvious example. The philosophy and the theology of Christianity is presented in the Bible as a series of stories, uniformly excellent literature and also setting forth a direct challenge to inhumane attitudes and practices prevalent in ancient Rome. Apart from its theological dimensions, what better attack on the inhumanity of Rome than the account of one particular crucifixion? The philosophic question of whether human life is sacred, or counts for nothing, should have come to the attention of Romans when thousands of slaves rebelling under Spartacus were crucified all along the Appian Way, but the Biblical story of the injustice posed questions in people's minds that led not only to the founding of the church, but the rationalist-humanist movement which stands so often at odds with religious traditions. Philosophy is about people, their beliefs and their choices, therefore works quite well sometimes in story form.

Answer 3

I do not agree with clothing of literary style. Philosophy has to show ideas clearly, but not necessarily artisticaly. Literature is expressing ideas beautifully. Two difefrent ideas. If a philosopher is willing to have many readers writting literature is the answer!, otherwise, not!

Answer 4

Try to read Derrida's
"Spurs: Nietzsche's Styles" and tell me what you learn.

good question.

It has to do with the persuasive status of propositions and metaphor, the body and desire as part of rationality, poetics and cognitive aesthetics.

I dislike authors, who, by convention of the time, do use unnecessary verbiage to make a philosophical point. But, in the historical sense, the style demonstrated the intelligence of the author, and is a monogram to their genius. I read the Prince again recently-- there's so much deference and linguistic play in that work, that one may arrest not only the standard interpretation for the intended audience, de Medici, but find voice for others, namely us, as well.

Also language has this peculiar way of fixing our intuitions, and hiding the commonsense judgments, which many fundamental ontologists disdain.

Answer 5

Allowing philosophy to be written as literature leaves more of an opportunity for different kinds of interpretations....It forces you to look deeper into an idea instead of reading a simple explanation that does not require much thought to understand.

Answer 6

sometimes, philosophy can be ambiguous so it's lined up with the artistic side (that is, the literary side).

so should philo be written as literature? i think there should be a criterion for considering one as is.

Answer 7

Any written thing is literature.
Clear or not clear depends upon the style of the writing and also, the reader's perception and understanding.

Answer 8

Some fools made up some rules so they could pretend to be far more educated and therefore superior, to others. If it is in a book, as far as I am concerned its literature,