Narrative and Self-Deception in La Symphonie Pastorale

Is it possible to develop a personal narrative that is not fictitious or self-deceptive? In this essay, I will look at the way that personal narratives contribute to self-deception. In so doing, I will consider the narrative that the narrator or pastor of André Gide’s Pastoral Symphonie develops whi...

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Main Author: Julie Kirsch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Associazione Culturale Humana.Mente 2012-02-01
Series:Humana.Mente: Journal of Philosophical Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.humanamente.eu/index.php/HM/article/view/199
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author Julie Kirsch
author_facet Julie Kirsch
author_sort Julie Kirsch
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description Is it possible to develop a personal narrative that is not fictitious or self-deceptive? In this essay, I will look at the way that personal narratives contribute to self-deception. In so doing, I will consider the narrative that the narrator or pastor of André Gide’s Pastoral Symphonie develops while reflecting upon his romantic relationship with his blind adopted “daughter”, Gertrude. Although the pastor’s narrative is largely self-deceptive, we need not fear that all narratives are equally delusional. When a narrative is not self-deceptive, it can make a positive contribution to self-knowledge and moral understanding.
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spelling doaj.art-67635c85b05d4fa494c02afc24a97e592022-12-21T23:30:59ZengAssociazione Culturale Humana.MenteHumana.Mente: Journal of Philosophical Studies1972-12932012-02-01520Narrative and Self-Deception in La Symphonie PastoraleJulie Kirsch0D’Youville College, Buffalo, New York, USAIs it possible to develop a personal narrative that is not fictitious or self-deceptive? In this essay, I will look at the way that personal narratives contribute to self-deception. In so doing, I will consider the narrative that the narrator or pastor of André Gide’s Pastoral Symphonie develops while reflecting upon his romantic relationship with his blind adopted “daughter”, Gertrude. Although the pastor’s narrative is largely self-deceptive, we need not fear that all narratives are equally delusional. When a narrative is not self-deceptive, it can make a positive contribution to self-knowledge and moral understanding.http://www.humanamente.eu/index.php/HM/article/view/199self-deceptionpersonal narrativeAndré Gide’s Pastoral Symphonie
spellingShingle Julie Kirsch
Narrative and Self-Deception in La Symphonie Pastorale
Humana.Mente: Journal of Philosophical Studies
self-deception
personal narrative
André Gide’s Pastoral Symphonie
title Narrative and Self-Deception in La Symphonie Pastorale
title_full Narrative and Self-Deception in La Symphonie Pastorale
title_fullStr Narrative and Self-Deception in La Symphonie Pastorale
title_full_unstemmed Narrative and Self-Deception in La Symphonie Pastorale
title_short Narrative and Self-Deception in La Symphonie Pastorale
title_sort narrative and self deception in la symphonie pastorale
topic self-deception
personal narrative
André Gide’s Pastoral Symphonie
url http://www.humanamente.eu/index.php/HM/article/view/199
work_keys_str_mv AT juliekirsch narrativeandselfdeceptioninlasymphoniepastorale