Solomon, Robert C. - In Defense of Sentimentality

"What's Wrong with Sentimentality?" The title of Mark Jefferson's article¹ already indicates a great deal not only about the gist of his essay but also about a century-old prejudice that has been devastating to ethics and literature alike. According to that prejudice, it goes without saying that there is something wrong with sentimentality, even if it is difficult to put one's finger on it.