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A Simple Solution to the Paradox of Negative Emotion

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Suffering Art Gladly

Abstract

Philosophers have long been perplexed by the way in which works of art move us when they elicit so-called negative emotions such as pity fear, sorrow, and anger. What is perplexing is that these emotions are generally considered to be unpleasant to experience, yet people seem to enjoy and value the works of art that arouse them. Depending on the context, this fact is referred to as ‘the paradox of tragedy’, ‘the paradox of horror’, or simply ‘the paradox of negative emotion’.

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© 2014 Rafael De Clercq

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De Clercq, R. (2014). A Simple Solution to the Paradox of Negative Emotion. In: Levinson, J. (eds) Suffering Art Gladly. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137313713_6

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