Trying to place science and literature in their proper places in my head. The story so far...
If Science is an undertaking to find Absolute Truths, then what is Literature with a dominant scientific theme (like Ian McEwan's Solar or E. O. Wilson's Anthill)? Literature can't take the place of science in leading us to absolute truths. So what is it for? To me, it appears to be an undertaking to talk about the path, the exploration itself. Measured discourse (good literature), as it does always, can illuminate the way--ahead of us and behind us. More than the illumination, it is--for those who value it and practice it well--personally fulfilling and deeply meaningful.
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from Darwin's Natural Heir
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