The willful error philosophy in literary criticism suggests that the author’s original meaning may not be the most important interpretation. It allows readers subjective freedom in interpretation and can be applied to other forms of art. Some disagree and believe understanding the author’s intent is necessary. It can provide new insights and may be applied to legal documents in government.
The willful error philosophy suggests that, in literary criticism, the author’s original meaning is, perhaps, not the most important or correct interpretation of the work. In other words, there should be more freedom for readers to interpret what they want from the information they receive. The concept is credited with being first introduced by William K. Wimsatt Jr. and Monroe Beardsley in 1946 and represents an opinion on literary criticism.
Intentional error allows readers great subjective freedom in determining what the work may say. Like anything else, those readers who can make the strongest arguments to back up their points are likely to receive the most favorable responses. While this may seem to change the meaning from what the author intended, it may or may not. If the author is clear in what is written, readers can come to the same conclusion as the author.
Some might apply this philosophy to other works of art as well, not just literature. For some works of art, interpretation is a key factor in the individual’s enjoyment of that work. Depending on how esoteric, or vague, a certain artwork may be, it could be subject to a wide range of interpretations, especially when viewed in a different time period than the one in which it was created. Therefore, paintings, drawings and sculptures could mean profoundly different things to different people.
Not everyone agrees that the intentional error philosophy is correct or good. Rather, some believe that the only way to truly understand a work is to try to determine the author’s original intent and the context in which it was produced. Depending on the situation, however, the intentional fallacy can be a good way to take a fresh and creative look at old work.
For works of fiction and history, using willful error as a basis for literary criticism can provide some new insights. In some cases, the author’s original intent may no longer be relevant to a reader. On the other hand, even if the original meaning is relevant, the new interpretation may better suit the personal circumstances of the reader.
In government, while it may not be called the same, willful error is also a philosophy that some have subscribed to. Rather than trying to determine the original meaning of a legal document, such as a constitution, some may adhere to a philosophy that discounts, at least to some extent, the original meaning altogether. While this is not the same as a literary criticism, it accomplishes the same thing philosophically, by opening the document up to reader interpretation without the limitation of trying to determine the original intent.
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