What does philosophy think about literature? And what does literary theory tell us about philosophy? Find out how philosophy addresses the questions of the nature and value of literature, and how literary analysis shows that philosophy's attempts to persuade its reader seem to conflict with its self-definition as the discourse of pure and untainted reason. Discover why Plato divided philosophy and literature, banishing literature from his ideal state, and how Aristotle answered Plato's criticisms of literature. And explore how philosophy's drive to define phenomena takes us into different ways of defining literature.