The Paradox of Fiction: A Critical Review of the Main Theories
Abstract
The subject of the article is the paradox of fiction. I present the most important attempts to explain and solve it. I argue that this paradox results from the assumption that an emotional response requires the belief that something is really there. This belief is not necessary at all — someone can be afraid that p, and at the same time not have a strong belief that p. It is enough to have a specific thought. I defend the thesis that our emotional reactions are mediated by the mind and its representational and content-related equipment. Due to the modest literature on this topic in Polish, the article was written in the author’s native language. The article is therefore educational and, above all, popularizing.
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