Three philosophical poets : Lucretius, Dante, and Goethe
George Santayana (Author), Kellie Dawson (Editor), David E. Spiech (Editor), James Seaton
"This concise and compelling volume—described by Santayana as a “piece of literary criticism, together with a first broad lesson in the history of philosophy”—introduces Santayana's thought in the rich context of a European poetic tradition that demonstrates his broad conception of philosophy. Rejecting both the Platonic opposition of philosophy and poetry and more recent attempts to reduce philosophy to science, Santayana argues that philosophy and poetry at their best are united in articulating a comprehensive vision of the world that permits honest contemplation of the universe. He considers the ideal visions of three artists: Lucretius's naturalism provides a total perspective on the physical world but renders experience monotonous; Dante's supernaturalism provides a total perspective on experience but subordinates nature to morality; Goethe's romanticism provides a dramatic perspective on nature and experience but lacks totality. Santayana sees each as the best in his own way, though none is best in all ways; and he speculates that the ideal poet would integrate the gifts and insights of all three, resulting in “rational art,” of which philosophical poetry is a prime example."-- Provided by publisher
Print Book, English, 2019
Critical edition. The Santayana edition View all formats and editions
The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2019
The works of George Santayana, volume VIII
Criticism, interpretation, etc
xxxvi, 239 pages ; 24 cm.
9780262043359, 0262043351
1100427672
Acknowledgments
Introduction / James Seaton
Preface to the first edition
Table of contents based on Harvard University Press first edition (1910)
Introduction and Three Philosophical Poets : Leucretius, Dante, and Goethe critical edition text
Appendix
Chronology
Editorial appendix
Explanation of editorial appendix
Editorial sigla and symbols
Standard reference bibliography
Notes to the text
Textual record
Textual commentary
Discussions of adopted readings
List of emendations
Report of line-end hyphenation
List of variants
"First published in 1910 by D.B. Updike, The Merrymount Press in Boston. In 1936 Scribner's included the work in Volume VI of the Triton Edition"--Title page verso