ABSTRACT
Richards' Science and Poetry first appeared in 1926 and was heavily revised in 1935. The first positive steps in the science of the mind have been slow in coming, but already they are beginning to change man's whole outlook. Science can tell us about man's place in the universe and his chances; that the place is precarious, and the chances problematical. It can enormously increase our chances if we can make wise use of it. The poetry has constantly the air of making statements, and important ones; which is one reason why some mathematicians cannot read it. Love poetry seems able to out-play psychoanalysis. The poetic approach evidently limits the framework of possible consequences into which the pseudo-statement is taken. In the poetic approach the relevant consequences are not logical or to be arrived at by a partial relaxation of logic. Mr Hardy stands high above all other modern poets by the deliberate purity of his responsiveness.
