Philosophy and literature are said to be different from each other as philosophy is centrally and evidently concerned with truth, logic, and its further development, justification and reasons, while literature, as generally perceived, is about fiction. It is plausible that fiction is the core of literature; there are other forms of literature as well, but fiction is the central case. Thus, the difference between philosophy and literature is that where one mainly concerns theoretical concepts, the other mostly concerns fiction.

The interdependence of philosophy and literature

Although philosophy and literature are two different realms of study, they are closely and highly related to each other. Their association is tightly knit, so much so that sometimes it becomes difficult to separate one from the other. When we study a book, we come across ideas that are woven into a certain text of fiction; these ideas and thoughts therefore determine the entirety of the text. Every literary text therefore is also a thought-based text that seeks an answer, searches for possibilities of answers, or even considers the impossibility of having an answer at all. Hence, the boundaries between philosophy and literature are always blurred. You may come across the texts of Gandhi, Albert Camus, Rousseau, or Sartre in literature, but their content is highly philosophical and thought-provoking. It is important to understand that in history, some of the major philosophical movements were introduced to the world through literature. For example: Existentialism, Absurdism, and Nihilism. Writers create characters that appeal to us and provoke us to answer questions deeply associated with our existence. Literature, too, is nothing but several ideas reaching readers through different languages and genres.

Inclusion of Philosophy in English Literature courses

For academic pursuits and otherwise, it is indispensable to understand the importance of the integration of these two sensibilities in the curriculum of courses like MA in English literature and PhD in English literature as well as in life.

A philosophy-oriented paper in a Masters in English literature course will allow students to reflect on several texts prescribed in their syllabus through the lens of those philosophical theories. This will enhance students' critical worldview, and they will have a well-equipped mind to perceive the varied implications, themes, subtexts, and undertones of a literary text. Jaipur National University offers a paper on Major Philosophical Trends in the B.A. English Hons. Programme that enhances students’ analytical abilities and intrigues their minds for further philosophical interpretation of the text. This paper contains the key representative figures of philosophy, like Gandhi, Kant, Nietzsche, Sartre, and Camus. Students can further develop these philosophical ideas in their critical analysis of the text. Philosophy and literature are therefore inseparable realms of academic discourse and life. To be able to feel the essence of one, one has to investigate and look deeper into the other.