Responding Emotionally to Fiction

2020 ◽  
pp. 73-84
Author(s):  
Susan James
Keyword(s):  
Transitional Objects ◽  
The Real ◽  
Anna Karenina ◽  
Complex Skill ◽  
Philosophical Understanding

Contemporary analytical philosophers ask why we respond emotionally to characters we believe to be fictional. Why, for example, do we grieve for Anna Karenina? To understand this problem it is helpful to turn to Spinoza, who argues that the ability to keep our emotions in line with our beliefs is a complex skill. Rather than asking why we depart from it in the case of fictions, we need to begin by considering how we acquire it in the first place. Spinoza also considers the value of this skill. In his account, fictions function rather like Winnicott’s transitional objects. They enable us to negotiate the boundary between the real and the imaginary in a way that contributes to our philosophical understanding and increases our capacity to live together.

scholarly journals Responding Emotionally to Fiction: A Spinozist Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 ◽  
pp. 195-210
Author(s):  
Susan James
Keyword(s):  
Current Debate ◽  
Fictional Characters ◽  
Transitional Objects ◽  
Analytical Philosophy ◽  
The Real ◽  
Anna Karenina ◽  
Knowing That ◽  
Complex Skill ◽  
Lively Debate ◽  
Philosophical Understanding

AbstractWithin contemporary analytical philosophy there continues to be a lively debate about the emotions we feel for fictional characters. How, for example, can we feel sad about Anna Karenina, despite knowing that she doesn't exist? I propose that we can get a clearer view of this issue by turning to Spinoza, who urges us to take a different approach to feelings of this kind. The ability to keep our emotions in line with our beliefs, he argues, is a complex skill. Rather than asking why we depart from it in the case of fictions, we need to begin by considering how we get it in the first place. Spinoza also considers the value of this skill. In his account, fictions function rather like Donald Winnicott's transitional objects. They enable us to negotiate the boundary between the real and the imaginary in a way that contributes to our philosophical understanding. These Spinozist proposals, I contend, suggest that the questions dominating current debate need to be reformulated.

scholarly journals On the ontology of fictional characters: A semiotic approach

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 82-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umberto Eco
Keyword(s):  
Present Article ◽  
Human Condition ◽  
The Other ◽  
Fictional Characters ◽  
Fictional Character ◽  
The Real ◽  
Anna Karenina ◽  
Cognitive Access ◽  
Semiotic Approach

Why are we deeply moved by the misfortune of Anna Karenina if we are fully aware that she is simply a fictional character who does not exist in our world? But what does it mean that fictional characters do not exist? The present article is concerned with the ontology of fictional characters. The author concludes that successful fictional characters become paramount examples of the ‘real’ human condition because they live in an incomplete world what we have cognitive access to but cannot influence in any way and where no deeds can be undone. Unlike all the other semiotic objects, which are culturally subject to revisions, and perhaps only similar to mathematical entities, the fictual characters will never change and will remain the actors of what they did once and forever.

Fiction and Emotion: The Puzzle of Divergent Norms

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 403-418
Author(s):  
Stacie Friend
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Responses ◽  
Real Problem ◽  
The Real ◽  
Anna Karenina ◽  
Usual Interpretation

Abstract A familiar question in the literature on emotional responses to fiction, originally put forward by Colin Radford, is how such responses can be rational. How can we make sense of pitying Anna Karenina when we know there is no such person? In this paper I argue that contrary to the usual interpretation, the question of rationality has nothing to do with the Paradox of Fiction. Instead, the real problem is why there is a divergence in our normative assessments of emotions in different contexts. I argue that explaining this divergence requires a more nuanced account of the rationality of emotion than has previously been proposed. One advantage of my proposal over alternatives is that it helps to explain one way we can learn emotionally from fiction and imagination.

scholarly journals Disciplinary discourses of globalization in the horizon of lack of meaning: “challenge” and the search for an “response”

2021 ◽  
Vol 128 ◽  
pp. 01037
Author(s):  
Leonid Lomako ◽  
Konstantin Maltsev ◽  
Anna Maltseva
Keyword(s):  
The Real ◽  
Modern Times ◽  
The Third ◽  
Philosophical Interpretation ◽  
Economic Paradigm ◽  
The Absolute ◽  
Philosophical Understanding ◽  
New Time

The overlapping disciplinary discourses of globalization are built in the perspective of the absence of its concept; the concept presupposes the disclosure of meaning, that is, a philosophical interpretation. The representation of the globalization of the form of modernity actualizes its philosophical understanding and sets the perspective for defining its concept; concepts of the “third era of liberation” I.G. Fichte, “the era of nihilism” F. Nietzsche and M. Heidegger’s “closing period of modern times” are presented as the horizon of the philosophical interpretation of globalization as planetarism, the essential (conceptual) features of which are “destruction of space” as the removal of boundaries and “compression of time” to total modernity, provided by technology as the arche of modernity. In a metaphysical concept, there is a combination of the real and the actual, which for the new time is essentially subjective; the new European subject and the idea of technology are one essence and there is a beginning from which modernity unfolds and is interpreted, which remains for modernity itself both “unnecessary” and “impossible” (M. Heidegger). The article demonstrates the impossibility of the concept of globalization for the dominant view of modernity in the economic paradigm (J. Agamben) and the essential non-reality of Heidegger’s concept of planetarism for modern disciplinarily arranged science. It is concluded that the real challenge is the impossibility of comprehension with the absolute exclusion of the possibility of a response.

Tolstoy and Anna Karenina

PMLA ◽  
1927 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 505-521
Author(s):  
Clarence Augustus Maninng
Keyword(s):  
Leo Tolstoy ◽  
The Real ◽  
Anna Karenina ◽  
The Past ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
The World ◽  
Great Writer

The problem offered by Count Leo Tolstoy to the world has not been advanced appreciably nor has a definite soluio been offered during the past years. Large numbers of hitherto unknown articles and stories have been brought to light. Nearly every person connected with the great writer during his last years has published memoirs and reminiscences. Nevertheless the serious question as to the nature of the real greatness of the man is still unanswered and no one has attempted a synthesis of the various views held about him.

Scanning electron microscopy of human iliac bone by a simple preparation method

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 226-227
Author(s):  
Toshihiko Takita ◽  
Tomonori Naguro ◽  
Toshio Kameie ◽  
Akihiro Iino ◽  
Kichizo Yamamoto
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Preparation Method ◽  
Specimen Preparation ◽  
Real Surface ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
The Real ◽  
Simple Preparation ◽  
Scanning Electron

Recently with the increase in advanced age population, the osteoporosis becomes the object of public attention in the field of orthopedics. The surface topography of the bone by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is one of the most useful means to study the bone metabolism, that is considered to make clear the mechanism of the osteoporosis. Until today many specimen preparation methods for SEM have been reported. They are roughly classified into two; the anorganic preparation and the simple preparation. The former is suitable for observing mineralization, but has the demerit that the real surface of the bone can not be observed and, moreover, the samples prepared by this method are extremely fragile especially in the case of osteoporosis. On the other hand, the latter has the merit that the real information of the bone surface can be obtained, though it is difficult to recognize the functional situation of the bone.

Personal Audio System: Hearing Symptoms, Habits, and Sound Pressure Levels Measured in Real Ear and a Manikin

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 2016-2026
Author(s):  
Tamara R. Almeida ◽  
Clayton H. Rocha ◽  
Camila M. Rabelo ◽  
Raquel F. Gomes ◽  
Ivone F. Neves-Lobo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Real ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Sound Pressure Levels ◽  
Audio System

Purpose The aims of this study were to characterize hearing symptoms, habits, and sound pressure levels (SPLs) of personal audio system (PAS) used by young adults; estimate the risk of developing hearing loss and assess whether instructions given to users led to behavioral changes; and propose recommendations for PAS users. Method A cross-sectional study was performed in 50 subjects with normal hearing. Procedures included questionnaire and measurement of PAS SPLs (real ear and manikin) through the users' own headphones and devices while they listened to four songs. After 1 year, 30 subjects answered questions about their usage habits. For the statistical analysis, one-way analysis of variance, Tukey's post hoc test, Lin and Spearman coefficients, the chi-square test, and logistic regression were used. Results Most subjects listened to music every day, usually in noisy environments. Sixty percent of the subjects reported hearing symptoms after using a PAS. Substantial variability in the equivalent music listening level (Leq) was noted ( M = 84.7 dBA; min = 65.1 dBA, max = 97.5 dBA). A significant difference was found only in the 4-kHz band when comparing the real-ear and manikin techniques. Based on the Leq, 38% of the individuals exceeded the maximum daily time allowance. Comparison of the subjects according to the maximum allowed daily exposure time revealed a higher number of hearing complaints from people with greater exposure. After 1 year, 43% of the subjects reduced their usage time, and 70% reduced the volume. A volume not exceeding 80% was recommended, and at this volume, the maximum usage time should be 160 min. Conclusions The habit of listening to music at high intensities on a daily basis seems to cause hearing symptoms, even in individuals with normal hearing. The real-ear and manikin techniques produced similar results. Providing instructions on this topic combined with measuring PAS SPLs may be an appropriate strategy for raising the awareness of people who are at risk. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.12431435

Current Issues: Evidence-Based Practice for the Real World: Thoughts on Clinical Education in Communication Disorders

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 100-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne K. Bothe
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Education ◽  
Real World ◽  
Evidence Based Practice ◽  
Communication Disorders ◽  
University Faculty ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
Basic Principles ◽  
The Real ◽  
Language Pathology

This article presents some streamlined and intentionally oversimplified ideas about educating future communication disorders professionals to use some of the most basic principles of evidence-based practice. Working from a popular five-step approach, modifications are suggested that may make the ideas more accessible, and therefore more useful, for university faculty, other supervisors, and future professionals in speech-language pathology, audiology, and related fields.

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