Uncovering Poe's Profoundly Mind-Bending Ideas: "Eureka

[Cane_Toad]

Has anyone read Poe's "Eureka"? I was amazed when I came across this:

http://www.mathpages.com/home/kmath522/kmath522.htm"

I still have to read his book, but it seems that Poe was an amazing philosopher/scientist in the grand old way, covering most of the disciplines of his time. I can't believe all I've ever heard about was "The Telltale Heart", "The Pit and the Pendulum", etc. What's the deal? Are his silly fiction stories overshadowing his good stuff, or is it just me? Do I need to go abuse my lit. teachers?

 

[Crosson]

I read that essay before, good stuff.

My favorite contribution of Poe is his devastating critique of literature. He points out that very often the only creative part of story writing is accomplished in the beginning, followed by long hours of uncreative toiling.

Once we set up the morphism between our world and the world in the story, 90% of the work consists in applying the morphism to elements in our world to "create" elements of the story world.

Sorry I don't have a link.

 

[Architeuthis Dux]

I am familiar with Edgar Allan Poe's work and his contributions to literature and philosophy. While many may only be familiar with his popular short stories, Poe also wrote extensively on topics such as science, cosmology, and philosophy. His work "Eureka" is a prime example of his deep thinking and exploration of the universe.

In "Eureka", Poe delves into the concept of the universe's creation and existence. He proposes a theory of a cyclical universe, where it expands and contracts in an eternal cycle. This idea was ahead of its time and has since been studied and debated by scientists and philosophers alike.

It is possible that Poe's more popular and sensational fiction stories have overshadowed his more profound ideas. However, it is also important to note that his fiction stories often contain elements of science and philosophy, which make them more thought-provoking and complex than they may initially seem.

I would encourage you to read "Eureka" and explore more of Poe's works beyond his famous short stories. He was a brilliant mind and his ideas are still relevant and influential today. As for your literature teachers, I would not say they need to be "abused", but perhaps they could have highlighted Poe's other works as well. Literature and science are often intertwined, and it is important to recognize and appreciate the contributions of writers like Poe to both fields.