The Cosmic Web: Scientific Field Models and Literary Strategies in the Twentieth CenturyFrom the central concept of the field--which depicts the world as a mutually interactive whole, with each part connected to every other part by an underlying field-- have come models as diverse as quantum mathematics and Saussure's theory of language. In The Cosmic Web, N. Katherine Hayles seeks to establish the scope of the field concept and to assess its importance for contemporary thought. She then explores the literary strategies that are attributable directly or indirectly to the new paradigm; among the texts at which she looks closely are Robert Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Nabokov's Ada, D. H. Lawrence's early novels and essays, Borges's fiction, and Thomas Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow. |
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Aleph ambivalence Antiterra artistic attempt become Birkin Bohr Borges's Cantor set Cantor set theory chapter Chris classical cognitive complete consciousness cosmic CP symmetry create D. H. Lawrence dialectic discourse dynamic Einstein essays example exist experience fiction field concept field model field theory field view Gardner Gödel Gravity's Rainbow Halting Problem Heisenberg imagination implies incest infinite set infinity interaction Jorge Luis Borges language Lawrence Lawrence's linear literary literature logical mathematics means memory metaphor mirror modern mother motion Nabokov narrative narrator narrator's nature novel observer paradoxes particle patterns Phaedrus Phaedrus's Philosophy physicists physics Pirsig possible problem Pynchon's Quality quantum mechanics reader reality realization relativity theory rhetorical scientific models self-referentiality sense sequence set theory singularity Slothrop space Strange Loop strategy structure subject and object suggests symmetry Thomas Pynchon tion Tlön to-and-fro transfinite numbers unconscious Ursula Van's whole Women in Love York