Alternative Title
Cosmology and Natural Theology in Edgar Allan Poe's Eureka
Publication Date
1-28-2017
Abstract
Contrary to some literary classifications, Edgar Allan Poe’s book-length prose poem Eureka is not intended to be fiction. In Eureka Poe was seriously attempting to advance ‘truth’ about the universe. Poe was doing natural science and poetry in the tradition of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and other natural philosophers. Poe’s prose poem is natural scientific astronomy and cosmology, plus natural theology, not science fiction.
Document Type
Article
Keywords
poetry, science fiction, cosmology, natural philosophy, natural science, natural theology
Disciplines
Astrophysics and Astronomy | Cosmology, Relativity, and Gravity | History of Science, Technology, and Medicine | Intellectual History | Modern Literature | Philosophy of Science | Poetry | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion | Stars, Interstellar Medium and the Galaxy
Part of
Word 97-2003 document, File name: Edgar Allan Poe - Cosmology and Natural Theology - [28 January 2017 revision of 5 Dec 2015 document - twalker at smu dot edu]
Title: "Edgar Allan Poe’s Cosmology and Natural Theology: A Constructive Postmodern Appreciation"
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Walker, Theodore, "Edgar Allan Poe’s Cosmology and Natural Theology: A Constructive Postmodern Appreciation" (2017). Perkins Faculty Research and Special Events. 8.
https://scholar.smu.edu/theology_research/8
Included in
Cosmology, Relativity, and Gravity Commons, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Commons, Intellectual History Commons, Modern Literature Commons, Philosophy of Science Commons, Poetry Commons, Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons, Stars, Interstellar Medium and the Galaxy Commons
Notes
This 28 January 2017 document is a lightly revised version of my 5 December 2015 essay first posted online at www.poe-eureka.com/2016/05/09/358/ via The Eureka Project in May 2016. The Eureka Project is now inactive. Essay no longer online.