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A Review of '''Real Presences''' by G. Steiner

A Review of the book '''Real Presences''' written by G. Steiner

==fr. Theology Vol. 102 (1999) 169-176==

==fr. Theology Vol. 102 (1999) 169-176==

''Real Presences: Two Scientists’ Response to [[George Steiner]]''

''Real Presences: Two Scientists’ Response to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Steiner George Steiner]''

==Authors==

==Authors==

Wilson Poon and Tom McLeish

Wilson Poon and Tom McLeish

Real Presences is Steiner's personal manifesto against the [[deconstruction movement]] in modern [[literature]] (and [[art]] and [[music]]). It is not a book that many scientists would read, let alone re-read.And yet we have read and re-read the book; it has made us laugh and cry. Why? This essay is a first attempt at articulating the shock of relevance two scientists felt after their encounter with this remarkable book.

Real Presences is Steiner's personal manifesto against the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deconstruction deconstruction] movement in modern [[literature]] (and [[art]] and [[music]]). It is not a book that many scientists would read, let alone re-read.And yet we have read and re-read the book; it has made us laugh and cry. Why? This essay is a first attempt at articulating the shock of relevance two scientists felt after their encounter with this remarkable book.

 

==Section 1==

==Section 1==

Real Presences is evidently born out of pain (one reviewer calls it a ‘vulnerable’ book), the pain

Real Presences is evidently born out of pain (one reviewer calls it a ‘vulnerable’ book), the pain

notation’ (114); ‘at the heart of futurity lies (sic.) the “byte” and the number’ (115), not the word.

notation’ (114); ‘at the heart of futurity lies (sic.) the “byte” and the number’ (115), not the word.

Earlier, in a 1961 essay5 ‘The Retreat from the Word’, Steiner suggested that the ‘unspeakability’

Earlier, in a 1961 essay5 ‘The Retreat from the Word’, Steiner suggested that the ‘unspeakability’

of modern science was inevitable, quoting the [[physics|physicist]] (and atomic bomb builder) J. [[Robert

of modern science was inevitable, quoting the [[physics|physicist]] and atomic bomb builder [[J. Robert Oppenheimer]] as his authority.

Oppenheimer]] as his authority.

That there is wordlessness in the practice of science today is not in doubt. On the one hand,

That there is wordlessness in the practice of science today is not in doubt. On the one hand,

science across the board into further ‘unspeakability’. On the other hand, there is the infamous

science across the board into further ‘unspeakability’. On the other hand, there is the infamous

inarticulateness of scientists (with notable exceptions). Both manifestations of scientific

inarticulateness of scientists (with notable exceptions). Both manifestations of scientific

wordlessness widen the chasm between the ‘Two Cultures’. [[William Wordsworth|Wordsworth]]’s [[prophecy]] that in the

wordlessness widen the chasm between the ‘Two Cultures’. [[William Wordsworth|Wordsworth’s]] [[prophecy]] that in the

future, science would inspire the sonnets and stanzas of reflection6 has simply not come true.

future, science would inspire the sonnets and stanzas of reflection6 has simply not come true.

shallow, inaccurate and utilitarian. Much criticism of the decisive role of science7 is based on a

shallow, inaccurate and utilitarian. Much criticism of the decisive role of science7 is based on a

view of the [[culture]] which is palpably wrong when seen from the ‘inside’. An inarticulate science

view of the [[culture]] which is palpably wrong when seen from the ‘inside’. An inarticulate science

lays itself bare to painful misrepresentation: '''the primary felt activity of questioning is eclipsed by a

lays itself bare to painful misrepresentation: (namely)

demand for answers, puzzles by solutions, creativity by control.'''

 

<center>'''the primary felt activity of questioning is eclipsed by a demand for answers, puzzles by solutions, creativity by control.'''</center>

Part 2 contains a trenchant discussion of the role of ‘theory’. For Steiner, critical theories

Part 2 contains a trenchant discussion of the role of ‘theory’. For Steiner, critical theories

of life. Nothing in these prodigious conjectures disarms, let alone elucidates, the fact that

of life. Nothing in these prodigious conjectures disarms, let alone elucidates, the fact that

the world is when it might not have been, the fact that we are in it when we might, when

the world is when it might not have been, the fact that we are in it when we might, when

we could not have been.’ </blockqoute>

we could not have been.’</blockquote>

But what is science? In Steiner’s terms it is men and women extending the cortesia of welcome to

But what is science? In Steiner’s terms it is men and women extending the cortesia of welcome to

of disappointment to read (italics ours)

of disappointment to read (italics ours)

<blockquote>‘Only art can go some way towards making accessible, towards waking into some

<center>‘Only art can go some way towards making accessible, towards waking into some

measure of communicability, the shear inhuman otherness of matter.’</blockquote>

measure of communicability, the shear inhuman otherness of matter.’</center>

Frighteningly, ‘we are utterly free not to receive ... [when we are] face to face with the presence of

Frighteningly, ‘we are utterly free not to receive ... [when we are] face to face with the presence of

matter and spirit, between man and “the other” ’. (227) The echoes with our view of science are

matter and spirit, between man and “the other” ’. (227) The echoes with our view of science are

loud and clear.

loud and clear.

==Section 5==

==Section 5==

Although structured in three parts, Real Presences in [[fact]] consists of three movements and a coda

Although structured in three parts, Real Presences in [[fact]] consists of three movements and a coda

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

1 George Steiner, Real Presences (Faber and Faber 1989)

#George Steiner, Real Presences (Faber and Faber 1989)

2 George Steiner, A Festival Overture, Festival Lecture (The University of Edinburgh 1996)

#George Steiner, A Festival Overture, Festival Lecture (The University of Edinburgh 1996)

3 Numbers in brackets refer to pages in Real Presences.

#Numbers in brackets refer to pages in Real Presences.

4 See, e.g. The EPSRC Programme 1997-98 (Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council 1997)

#See, e.g. The EPSRC Programme 1997-98 (Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council 1997)

5 Reprinted in Language and Silence (Faber and Faber 1985)

#Reprinted in Language and Silence (Faber and Faber 1985)

6 John Carey’s Introduction in The Faber Book of Science (Faber and Faber 1995)

#John Carey’s Introduction in The Faber Book of Science (Faber and Faber 1995)

7 See, e.g., B. Appleyard, Understanding the Present (Pan 1992)

#See, e.g., B. Appleyard, Understanding the Present (Pan 1992)

8 S. Weinberg, Dreams of a Final Theory (Hutchison 1993)

#S. Weinberg, Dreams of a Final Theory (Hutchison 1993)

9 J. Gribbin and M. Rees, Cosmic Coincidences (Heinemann, 1990)

#J. Gribbin and M. Rees, Cosmic Coincidences (Heinemann, 1990)

10 This process is documented by, e.g. S. Weinberg, op. cit., p. 196.

#This process is documented by, e.g. S. Weinberg, op. cit., p. 196.

11 C. S. Lewis, The Last Battle (Fontana 1985), title of Chapter 14

#C. S. Lewis, The Last Battle (Fontana 1985), title of Chapter 14

[[Category: Languages and Literature]]

[[Category: Languages and Literature]]

[[Category: Philosophy]]

[[Category: Philosophy]]