Rivista di Estetica 91

This special issue explores one of the most intriguing puzzles in aesthetics and philosophy of mind: our emotional engagement with fiction. Why do we have emotions toward events and characters we know to be non-existent? And what do these responses reveal about the nature, rationality, and value of emotions? Bringing together leading philosophers and emerging scholars, the volume revisits classic debates – from the paradox of fiction to the appeal of tragedy and horror – while also offering new perspectives on phenomena such as emotional recalcitrance, moral self-knowledge, and the attraction of "junk" fiction. The contributions show how engagement with fiction shapes our emotional lives, evaluative outlooks, and understanding of ourselves. The result is a rich and interdisciplinary dialogue that underscores both the enduring vitality of these questions and their broader significance for theories of emotion, imagination, and knowledge.