Abstract:

I examine the often-denigrated concept of the novel of ideas from its inception and critical decline to its relatively recent revival. Using a variant of the exploitation-exploration dilemma in psychology, I suggest that early usage referred to works that exploit philosophical principles—or better, enact them—by setting philosophical positions in conflict. By contrast, use of the concept for more recent works sees characters and plots exploring philosophical stances. The shift corresponds with the greater attention paid to complexity and ambiguity that are hallmarks of continental philosophy and neopragmatism, and with it greater need to explore philosophical stances through fiction.

摘要：

我研究了经常被诋毁的思想小说的概念，从它的诞生和批判的衰落到它相对最近的复兴。使用心理学中开发-探索困境的一个变体，我建议早期的用法指的是通过设定冲突的哲学立场来利用哲学原理的作品——或者更好的是，制定它们。相比之下，在最近的作品中使用这个概念可以看到探索哲学立场的人物和情节。这种转变对应于对作为大陆哲学和新实用主义标志的复杂性和模糊性的更大关注，以及通过小说探索哲学立场的更大需求。