Logic and poetry
Abstract
This article addresses the question: Can one represent a poem, especially a lyrical one, in symbolic logic? The authors' actual attempt to do so reveals that such representation is more plausible than they had expected on the basis of pure theorizing. Such an attempt can enhance one's appreciation of both the aesthetic qualities of the poem and the worth of formal logic. The process of interpretation and formalization draws one's attention to certain relations and structures within a poem and also brings about a keener understanding of the relations between reading, interpreting and formalizing. Contrary to what is usually intimated in textbooks, this is not a one-way process. The mutual elucidation that form and content can provide does not have the nature of a given, datum; it must be generated by active interpretation.
Opsomming
Hierdie artikel bespreek die volgende vraag: Kan 'n gedig, veral 'n liriese gedig, in simboliese logika weergegee word? Die outeurs se daadwerklike poging om dit te doen toon aan dat so 'n weergawe in 'n groter mate uitvoerbaar is as wat hulle op grond van blote teoretisering sou verwag het. So 'n onderneming kan 'n mens se waardering van die estetiese eienskappe van 'n gedig sowel as van die waarde van die formele logika verhoog. Die proses van interpretasie en formalisering vestig die aandag op sekere relasies en strukture binne 'n gedig en bring ook 'n skerper besef van die relasies tussen lees, interpreteer en formaliseer tot stand. Anders as wat in handboeke gewoonlik gesuggereer word, is dit nie 'n eenrigtingsproses nie. Die wedersydse opheldering wat vorm en inhoud vir mekaar kan verskaf, het nie die aard van 'n gegewe, 'n 'datum', nie; dit moet deur aktiewe interpretasie geskep word.
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Copyright (c) 1987 JLS/TLW
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