Poetry’s Place in the World

The quarrel between philosophy and poetry has a long and contentious history, but it is not without its moments of fruitful alliance. The alliance of these two quarreling foes often arises from a recognition of the composite nature of the human being. As in the paradigmatic case of the Platonic dialogue, the philosophical use of poetic form reminds us that reason is everywhere and always instantiated in individuals thinking within particular historical and political circumstances. Human rationality as embodied always arises from a finite being with particular needs, desires, and hopes. Poetic philosophical works enable us to scrutinize the way such hopes and longings not only distort our attempt to give an account of who we are and the world in which we find ourselves but also come to determine which questions we ask in the first place. In this way, the philosophical use of poetic form often highlights the psychological obstacles that stand in the way of rational inquiry and prudent action; in such works, the poetic form is the tribute reason pays to its embodiment in a passionate being.