Questioning the Question - One Story at the Time

USING FICTION TO ENCOURAGE THOUGHT

In a time of slogans and opinions, when in 140 signs the course of history can be changed, the need for contemplation and reflection is more important than ever. Can we in this age in which information is abundant, in which democracy seems to equal the necessity of having an opinion (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), still create space for rigorous thought? Is there a place for stories that make you think about what you always thought to be true?

SHORT STORIES: PHILOSOPHY FOR A BROAD AUDIENCE

I write. Fiction. Short stories, parables. Stories that have something to say. That make people think about who they are, who they want to be, what they can be. Literary stories, science fiction. 

In the midst of the messines sof life I aim to write 2 to 3 short stories every week. Besides other work (teaching) and writing (philosophy/essays). This takes a lot of time. I don't do freewrites. I edit my stories thoroughly, and I am dedicated to writing stories that mean something, something beyond just being a story. Therefore I read a lot to learn from other writers, and I edit and read stories by other authors to learn more about the art of fiction every day.

However, there is also rent to pay, coffee to drink. At the same time, I want to keep my stories freely available to everyone. No pay-walls. No board of trustees deciding which story fits with what the audience would like to read. 

So I ask your support... 

HELP ME CHANGE THE WORLD, 

ONE SHORT STORY AT THE TIME

For all short stories published & freely available, visit my website: http://www.nobyeni.com/about/fiction-short-stories-by-nobyeni/ (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

SUPPORT PHILOSOPHICAL FICTION 

Whereas the humanities are under fire in universities and in the public arena (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), I decided to make thinking my main occupation, and to make this my service to humanity. Being a philosopher (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), I read and write, acknowledging the value of both ancient texts that form the basis of our paradigms, as well as the current blurbs that fill our every-day life. Literature, music, film, as well as scientific discovery – all take place within the epistemic space which is both formed by, and creating the thoughts that we have. But are these frames of thoughts, these discourses, something true in themselves? Can we even question the bubble within we find ourselves, or are we stuck? 

So far, fiction seems to be the best way to explore these topics. And to make people think about them, instead of telling them what to think.

Some of my areas of interest which most of my short stories focus on:

Minority thinking - What does it mean to be a woman in a world in which ‘the man’ is the norm? Can there be an alternative structure of politics and society in which power is not the focus of the struggle? Example of short story: Beginning of Life (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) (published on old blog, but remains freely available).

Language - Can I say something that is not already implied by previous thoughts? How do I know that we understand the same when I use a word? When I ask a question, can I hear an answer that I haven’t already expected? (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) Example of a short story: The One Thing (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Freedom - Is there a universal understanding of this concept? What limits freedom? (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) Are we free to think and do whatever we want? Example of a short story: Love Please (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Truth - Why is the idea of truth in decline? (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) Is there only relativism, or is there something which it is possible to defend – something beyond relativism? Example of a short story: The Dogs (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).

Can we, in this age in which information is supposed to be free, still create space for stories that question reality?

Visit my website: 

http://www.nobyeni.com (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) - a list of all short stories (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) freely available.

More about me (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) - my present writing projects (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) - philosophical conversations (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) 

Images by Jeanne des Bouvrie (Öffnet in neuem Fenster).