THE PARADOX OF FICTION

           
How is it that an author of fiction, a writer who essentially writes untruths, can evoke an emotional response from readers? Why are readers, many times, moved to tears, anger, or horror over fabrications?  How is it that some readers, after reading a mystery/thriller they know is essentially a made-up story, must sleep with the lights on?

             This is the paradox of fiction - that readers truly believe the people, and the various situations writers put them in, actually exist, or did exist at one time.
            Steven Schneider, from Harvard University, offers an excellent critique on this topic in his article written for The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, a peer-reviewed academic resource.  Here is the link: http://www.iep.utm.edu/fict-par/

           
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