Analyis of Knowledge of a Possibility by JUllary Putnam

The value of literature as a source of knowledge is a timeless debate that varies depending on how knowledge is defined. I will adopt Hillary Putnam’s theory of “Knowledge of a Possibility” (Putnam 488) in “Literature Science, and Reflection” (1976), and focus on the value of literature as a source of conceptual knowledge. The emergence of the novel brought with it conventions for a more realistic writing style that aimed to appeal to the common readers. Variations of the degree of realism ranged from writing that tried to present a fully authentic experience of life, known as Formal Realism, and writing that offers some authentic aspects of life but also conserves characteristics of classic genres of epics and romances. These contrasting styles can be seen notably in Journal of the Plague Year (1722) by Daniel Defoe, and Joseph Andrews (1742) by Henry Fielding respectively. In the context of these author’s respective works, the intrusiveness of Fielding’s narrator along with his relatively artificial characters and plot, ultimately makes the work less realistic by the standards of Formal Realism and by contrast, Defoe’s first person narration along with his more lifelike characters and plot, adhere more strictly to the conventions of Formal Realism. In the debate about knowledge, the author’s intentions for a work are important, and should be considered by looking at the impact of realism towards the effectiveness of communicating the author’s purpose to the reader. However, knowledge in literature is not limited to an author’s intentions, and I contend that realism is directly proportional to the knowledge in literature through discovery of new possibilities and learning from an author’s experience, and though not perfect, De...

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...of Defoe and Fielding, and in the context of Putnam’s evaluation of knowledge in literature, there is a direct correlation between the utilization of Formal Realism and the knowledge a work can offer. It is understandable that every work has its unique intentions, and not every work needs to adhere perfectly to the conventions of Formal Realism for it to be valuable, but generally there is a positive correlation between realistic characters, plots, and narrative techniques and potential of conceptual discovery. The value of knowledge in literature comes from the reader’s ability to relate with and interpret it for themselves, and immersion allows readers to do so more effectively. Ultimately, a person’s experiences may be limited by time, but through literature a reader can get an insight into lifetimes of diverse experiences from authors and characters.