ABSTRACT
A figurative painting, a novel or a movie may, by analogy, be construed as a prop which guides the viewer in the construction of a make-believe, that is, a fictional world. Of course people in fictional worlds can subscribe to moral principles we recognize as repugnant. Evil characters – characters who have by our lights twisted notions of morality – abound in the pages of fiction. Each fictional world has its own perspective and when we find one novel appealing and another repellent, one convincing and another implausible, what we are comparing and assessing is different world views. Few philosophers would welcome the idea that they create fictional worlds which, if sufficiently captivating, may be elevated to the realm of truth. A young man will be more sensibly touched with amorous and tender images, than a man more advanced in years, who takes pleasure in wise, philosophical reflections, concerning the conduct of life, and moderation of the passions.
