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Running head: PHILOSOPHICAL RESPONSE TO FICTION 1

PHILOSOPHICAL RESPONSE TO FICTION 6

A Philosophical Response to Fiction: Naked Reverse by Michael Boylan

Student’s Name

Institution

Introduction

The primary ethics in philosophy refers to the theories that give a suggestion on what is ought to be done when there is controversy between what is right and what is wrong. Normative theories, that is, realist v. anti-realist, is used in sorting device. Anti-realist theories suggest that morality is conventional leading to lack of morals in the world. Examples of these theories include ethical non-cognitivism, ethical intuitionism, and ethical contractarianism. On the other hand, realist theories propose that there are moral facts that may be either true or false. Discovering of this facts within the natural universe is then referred to as naturalist. If the realist theories are not found in the natural world, they are described as non-natural theories, and these are found in the supernatural domain. Three main theoretical philosophical principles will be used to describe the themes in Naked Reverse by Michael Boylan that will be discussed in this paper are utilitarianism, virtue ethics and deontology. The three can thus be in the category of realist naturalist theories.

The book Naked Reverse raised many thoughts of ethics, optimism and trust. The book is mainly about Andrew Viam who is a college professor that embarks on a journey into the real world that is full of love and violence. Andrew fell in love with a woman who is running away from his boyfriend who has been involved in organized crimes and want her back. His journey goes from the streets of Chicago to the woods Wisconsin and he requires new resources if he wants to be alive come the next term of the college. This summer break where his journey is seen is an experience he never thought he would experience and he hopes that he will never go through it again. As much as the Odyssey was a way of knowing if would survive, he hoped that he will go through the experiences ever again. The book is an exploration of finding about oneself and opening up to love even after the feeling of betrayal from past relationships. Andrew metamorphosed from being a soft spoken person to a man with his own mind. The ordeal of Andrew finding his wife with another made him walk away and in the process met Anthea and they built a friendship and love learning from each other and thus becoming stronger and better versions of themselves.

What’s captivating in the book is the metamorphosis that Andrew through on his adventure. He totally changed and became a new person at the end of the story in terms of his personality. At the beginning of his journey, Andrew was seen as a soft and meek personality who changes to being strong and confident man. He believes in love and learns to trust love which taught him that going for what you need and what you need is not a bad thing in the long run. He fell in love with Anthea during the camping “They didn’t even realize we were campers in love and not married people” (Boylan, 2016). He stands up to his wife and through this he is able to find happiness. After finding his wife, Barbara, with another man in bed, Andrew decided that it is time to find out why it happened. Andrew admits that his wife was the first woman who had showed him tenderness. This is why, even though he felt hostile towards her, there were also a feeling of tenderness. His clarity was through him going away in an adventure. During this, we are able to understand that his relationship with his wife is not so good. After talking to Anthea about Samuel and Judy, Andrew realized that his relationship with his wife was the same as that of the two. The comparison was that Judy and Andrew had lost their selves in the will of their significant others; Samuel and Barbara (page 133).

We are able to learn that Andrew was bullied in the relationship and along the way he was able to find another person whom he fell in love with. Anthea changed his world through the way she viewed life and her perspectives about the ways of life. It is through this that Andrew chased her even after he learns that she was just using him. She asked for Andrews help and without hesitating, he offered it. The experience makes them learn different lessons from each other. Anthea learns that there is much to love than just seeing someone as a bore and she learns to open up and talk about what she feels and what she thinks. Additionally, she learns that not every act should be seen as malevolent or mischievous. On the other hand, Andrew learns to stand up for himself and not just tolerate people, especially Barbara. He also learnt that he has a mind of his own and should use that to defend himself. Additionally, Andrew learnt that it is his duty to protect others and all these lessons helped to understand who he really is as an individual.

There is an aspect of personal world view imperative. This means that as human beings, we are entitled to our own logical opinion about the events and occurrences that takes place in our lives. After his journey, Andrew was confident to a point that he asked how Barbara and Giles were doing and if their relationship had continued. The confrontation was not what Barbara was used to as she knew how to use words to reply to Andrew but this was not the case. Barbara believed that Andrew was guilty after deciding to leave after finding her cheating. There was a changed man who Barbara was not used to as he was posing directions of his own.

Another philosophical point is the good. This is witnessed when Andrew gets back from his Odyssey. He is ready to forgive his wife and start a new chapter. Even though he knew that it would be hard, he was hopefully that the relationship would work. He was ready to make it work and kept wondering what he was doing in a divorce office since all he wanted as to take his wife back home. He also offered the condominium and automobile to his wife as he figured that she deserved it for living with him for thirteen years. After the consultation, the thought of getting back together with Barbara was not a good idea as Andrew learnt that they were two different people who were not fit for each other. Conversely, Andrew was ready to help Anthea and chase after her even though he was used. He spent many evenings with her and after coming from work, he would find her in his home.

From the book, we are able to learn that Barbara, Samuel and Clay were manipulative. They wanted things to go their way or the universe to act on their favor forcefully. On the day of divorce meeting, Barbara wanted to get money from Andrew in addition to getting condominium and a motorcade. She desired half of Andrew’s bank account even though she was earning more than him. This is a selfish act that she wanted to get everything even though she was the one who cheated in the name of trying to help their relationship. Clay on the other hand was selfish as he wanted all his girlfriends to serve him and they had no say. He would ask his men to go after his girlfriends once they decided to get away from him. He would get away with law suits as he had much money and thus would use that to buy his freedom. Samuel wanted his wife to abide to his rules and not question him. These three characters depict the act of manipulation and selfishness as they thought about what they wanted and not what the other people felt.

In conclusion, the theory of utilitarianism, virtue ethics and deontology are witnessed in Naked Reverse as we read about the story of Andrew and how his journey changed him. The philosophical theories are seen as we learn about other people that Andrew interacted with during his journey, life before the journey and life after the Odyssey.

References Boylan, M. (2016). Naked Reverse. Seattle, Washington: Booktrope.