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 (Opens in a new window), 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/ (Opens in a new window).

SUPPORT PHILOSOPHICAL FICTION 

Whereas the humanities are under fire in universities and in the public arena (Opens in a new window), I decided to make thinking my main occupation, and to make this my service to humanity. Being a philosopher (Opens in a new window), 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 (Opens in a new window) (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? (Opens in a new window) Example of a short story: The One Thing (Opens in a new window).

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

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

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 (Opens in a new window) - a list of all short stories (Opens in a new window) freely available.

More about me (Opens in a new window) - my present writing projects (Opens in a new window) - philosophical conversations (Opens in a new window) 

Images by Jeanne des Bouvrie (Opens in a new window).