The dialogue between philosophy and literature

Abstract

The talk about the relationship between literature, philosophy, history and science crops again and again and is found in the works by modern philosophers such as Richard Rorty, Arthur Danto and some others as well as by literary critics, for example Wolfgang Iser. Some of them see the boundary between philosophy and literature while others dismiss it. Many philosophers believe that a true philosophical insight is best served ‘au naturele’; style should not overtake the message. On the other hand, we could remember classical examples of philosophers whose literary style has become indispensable to the philosophical success. In my report I would like to discuss R. Rorty’s view on the problem, his understanding of representation and the critical approach to his view.