Donald R. Maxwell discusses the differences and similarities in the cultures and disciplines of literature and science, the origin of this dichotomy, the distinction in the use of language, and the differences in the practice of the two cultures. As distinct from literature, the physical sciences are empirical and concern truths that cannot be deduced intuitively. Science, not literature, is cumulative, predictive, and reproducible and its language is transparent and unambiguous. Literature attempts to give utterance to the ineffable and uses ambiguity, metaphor, and the evocation of memory to create new and wonderful worlds. Science discovers that which already exists while literature creates that which might never exist. These differences are illustrated by the writings of Marcel Proust, Henri Bergson, and others.
| ISBN: | 9780820450094 |
| Publication date: | 23rd August 2000 |
| Author: | Donald R Maxwell |
| Publisher: | P. Lang an imprint of Lang, Peter, Publishing Inc. |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 165 pages |
| Series: | Studies in the Humanities |
| Genres: |
Literary studies: c 1900 to c 2000 |
Donald R. Maxwell discusses the differences and similarities in the cultures and disciplines of literature and science, the origin of this dichotomy, the distinction in the use of language, and the differences in the practice of the two cultures. As distinct from literature, the physical sciences are empirical and concern truths that cannot be deduced intuitively. Science, not literature, is cumulative, predictive, and reproducible and its language is transparent and unambiguous. Literature attempts to give utterance to the ineffable and uses ambiguity, metaphor, and the evocation of memory to create new and wonderful worlds. Science discovers that which already exists while literature creates that which might never exist. These differences are illustrated by the writings of Marcel Proust, Henri Bergson, and others.
Science or Literature? features in the following genres: Literary studies: c 1900 to c 2000
Science or Literature? is available in Hardback
Science or Literature? was written by Donald R Maxwell and published by P. Lang an imprint of Lang, Peter, Publishing Inc.
Science or Literature? has 165 pages
Yes it is part of Studies in the Humanities series