Philosophical fiction is any fiction that devotes a significant portion of its content to the sort of questions addressed by philosophy. Its works explore aspects of human existence ranging from the function and role of society to the nature of human motivation, the purpose of life, ethics, the significance of art, and the foundations of knowledge through experience or reason.
Facts
Place of OriginFrance; the philosophical tale (conte philosophique) emerged in the 18th century under Enlightenment writers such as Voltaire and Diderot as a way to critique society under royal censorship. 1 Notable ExampleCandide (1759) by Voltaire 1 Defining TraitDevotes a significant portion of its content to the sort of questions addressed by philosophy, such as ethics, free will and the purpose of life. 1 Philosophical Fiction
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Connections
Features Author
Source Wikipedia: D. H. Lawrence
Dune, Works Source Dune (novel) (Wikipedia)
Source Wikipedia: Notes from Underground
Source Wikipedia: Philip K. Dick
Source Wikipedia: The Confidence-Man
Form Of Genre
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Originated In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.
Source Philosophical Fiction (Wikipedia)tier 2
Sources
1. Philosophical Fiction (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation (Wikipedia)Lead paragraph, first sentence
Philosophical fiction is any fiction that devotes a significant portion of its content to the sort of questions addressed by philosophy.
Origin section
In an attempt to circumvent the prohibitions, these philosophers devised new literary genres, including the philosophical tale (conte philosophique), a fictional narrative that critiques society and those in power, conveying philosophical ideas and concepts such as the customs of the nobility, political regimes, religious fanaticism, and certain philosophical currents.
Origin section, final sentence
Voltaire is the foremost exponent of this genre, with Candide, Micromegas, and Zadig being his most representative works.
View the Source Wikipedia: Notes from Underground
WikipediaFeatures Author: Notes from Underground, Infobox, genre fieldQuote, Features Author: Notes from Underground, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Philosophical fiction
Wikipedia: The Confidence-Man
WikipediaFeatures Author: The Confidence-Man, Infobox, genre fieldQuote, Features Author: The Confidence-Man, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Satirical novel, philosophical novel
Dune (novel) (Wikipedia)
Features Author: Dune, Infobox, genre fieldQuote, Features Author: Dune, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Science fiction, Philosophical fiction
Wikipedia: D. H. Lawrence
Features Author: D. H. Lawrence, Infobox, genre fieldQuote, Features Author: D. H. Lawrence, Infobox, genre field
Genre:
Wikipedia: Philip K. Dick
Features Author: Philip K. Dick, Infobox, genre fieldQuote, Features Author: Philip K. Dick, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Science fiction, paranoid fiction, philosophical fiction
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