"Science and Poetry" is a foundational work of literary theory that explores the shifting relationship between scientific advancement and the human need for poetic expression. Written by the influential critic I. A. Richards, this treatise examines the psychological impact of the 'neutralization of nature'-the process by which science stripped the physical world of its traditional mythological and emotional resonances. Richards argues that as the scientific worldview provides a purely factual understanding of the universe, the role of poetry becomes more vital than ever as a means of organizing human experience and maintaining psychological balance.
The text introduces the concept of 'pseudo-statements,' suggesting that while poetry does not offer scientific truths, it provides essential emotional truths that satisfy the human psyche. By analyzing how poetry functions as a tool for value-alignment and emotional health, Richards lays the groundwork for what would become the New Criticism movement. "Science and Poetry" is an essential read for scholars of aesthetics and philosophy, offering a rigorous defense of the arts in a modern, technocratic age. This work remains a classic exploration of how literature preserves human meaning in the face of objective empirical inquiry.
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