Wallace Stevens and Modern Science 3

philosophical implications of quantum physics and the basic tenets of the perennial philosophy suggests that Stevens is perhaps the quintessential modern poet: by resisting the intelligence almost successfully, Stevens' poetry appeals as directly as possible to the whole human being, not just the rational faculty. Said another way, Stevens reflects not only the circumstances and psychology of his own age, but he also brings intellectual legitimacy to the experience and creativity of the inner human being, and to the perennial sense of the experience of "the good" or god. In this way, perhaps, poetry helps redeem the scientific error that only rationality provides true understanding, and in the process sets in motion a possibility for redeeming the fragmented and disjointed western culture. Art, in this case, replaces both religion and science.

* * *

Notes
1Kenner, Donald Davie and C.F. Terrell have all made convincing beginnings
toward arguing this point.
2The Complete poems and Selected Letters and Prose of Hart Crane, p. 218.

References
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----. Wallace Stevens: The Later Years, 1923-1955. New York: William Morrow, 1988.
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----. Letters of Wallace Stevens. Holly Stevens, ed. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1966.
----. The Necessary Angel. New York: Vintage Books, 1951.
----. Opus Posthumous. Milton J. Bates, ed. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1989.
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