Poetic faith and prosaic concerns. A defense of “suspension of disbelief”

Abstract

This paper defends a version of “suspension of disbelief” in an analysis of the problem concerning our emotional responses to fictional characters. The paper begins with an analysis of the issues, as raised initially by Cohn Radford. It then offers an examination of Coleridge’s notion of the suspension of disbelief. It is argued that a developed version of this concept provides a solution to Radford’s problem. The concept is defended against possible objections. Finally, its psychological plausibility is examined.