Never Out of Style: On the Critique of Literary Devices in Political Philosophy

Philosophers and literary critics share a deep-rooted suspicion towards the use of literary devices in philosophical texts. More often than not, these stylized texts are condemned as ‘unphilosophical’ and seen as undermining the more important philosophical content. In this chapter, we object to the critique of ‘non-philosophical’ literary style, especially with regards to works of ethical and political philosophy. We propose that in certain texts, the stylistic features generate philosophical content by evoking in the reader an immersive and engaged reading experience. This allows for the expression of philosophical ideas that would otherwise be inexpressible, and serves to stimulate a deeper understanding of the ‘ethical’ and ‘political’. We conclude that the use of literary devices in philosophical texts is not necessarily ‘unphilosophical’, but has the potential to constitute an indispensable part of a text’s philosophical content.