Stories and lives

Abstract

I explain how Dunlop's account of narrative resolves puzzles about second order desire and about evincing complex emotions. But it seems to work with a too simple view of emotion. I suggest how a different view of the connection between narrative and emotion can have similar consequences. But if this is so then the act of narration is not as crucial as Dunlop thinks. At the end of the paper I contrast Dunlop's appeal for rich emotional vocabularies with a requirement that the emotions we express be helpful and true to our lives.