“Nature is always existential, not always explicable.”
In this collection of essays, the author examines common assumptions about the earth’s creation, as evident in great literature, that contradict the vast knowledge modern man has gained about the age of the universe and mankind. He asserts, “The common anthropic error, to elaborate a little, is to elevate the stature of mankind by shrinking the age and extent of the cosmos, an error common to numerous historical and contemporary beliefs at odds with one another as well as with natural history.” It is these cultural myths that have been both divisive and unifying in history. Scientific theories, according to the author, are neither.
Religious and mythic versions of the universe all have in common a supernatural event as the impetus for creation, and they also assign importance to the human being that seems inconsistent with their place in a “universe billions of years along entirely composed of atomic matter.” With this argument at the core of these essays, Toliver explores works such as John Milton’s Paradise Lost and Dante’s Inferno. One such example is how the literature of Milton and Dante, with its established belief system firmly rooted in the Genesis creation story, shapes how even contemporary populations view not only creation but also the ideas of heaven and hell. Milton describes the afterlife in heaven as having celestial choirs, while Dante’s circles of hell dole out continuous torture to lost souls befitting their carnal sins. The author states, “The reconstituting of intact forms as they once existed whether mechanical or organic isn’t how atomic matter works under the bonding forces and cycles.” Of course, as he points out, these thinkers and writers didn’t have the benefit of scientific discovery with its hard facts and numerical proofs. However, his point is that modern people do have the benefit of concrete scientific evidence for the Big Bang, Earth’s age, and humanity’s evolutionary journey. Humanity now better understands its place in the vastness of space.
Toliver writes these essays to explain to the average reader how scientific theory has advanced throughout the centuries, especially in the last few decades, with the advent of telescopes capable of sending fact-gathering instruments out into our galaxy. Toliver’s career as a professor of English, American, and comparative literature and his current work in linking the humanities to the sciences gives him a unique perspective. He presents these essays in concise, conversational language, which makes his premise easy to understand. Though some terms may be troubling to the non-scientific mind, he offers explanations and examples along the way to emphasize his thesis. Each essay can be read on its own, but together they present a comprehensive and compact study.
The essays are varied, with titles such as “Wormholes and Angels with Tiny Wings,” “Confusion Comes Naturally,” “Patriots and Other Rogues,” and a very interesting essay on how natural history shapes folk music, titled “On the Dark Side of the Mountain.” Each of these and the other included essays is a thoughtful reflection on the natural order of the universe and on how understanding that order should be a priority for those who seek truth. Though these essays deal with scientific theory and natural law, it is Toliver’s unique look at how literature has shaped a worldview that, even in the face of scientific discovery and fact, still holds belief in what is scientifically impossible. It is a fascinating study which is sure to lead one to other books by the author.
