Tuning the Self

This book provides a cognitive analysis of the poetry of George Herbert (1593-1633). From Herbert's own thinking, recorded in his prose treatises, can be deduced that his poems should serve a specific function: teaching self-knowledge to his readers. The cognitive framework applied here can serve to explain this function.

This book provides a cognitive analysis of the poetry of George Herbert (1593- 1633). From Herbert's own thinking, recorded in his prose treatises, can be deduced that his poems should serve a specific function: teaching self-knowledge to his readers. Self-knowledge is a necessary skill, to be applied in one's strife for 'temperance': the regulation of body, house, church, mind, and community. To Herbert, the meaning of his poems is subservient to this function: poetry should aid his readers to temper their lives. The cognitive framework applied here can serve to explain this function. Following Merlin Donald's theory of cognitive evolution, art serves the purpose of mimetic meta-cognition: a specific cognitive strategy at the disposal of a county priest. Moreover, a cognitive framework can serve to explain why the Herbert-tradition has paid so little attention to this artistic function; this tradition operates within specific confines, the same confines that Herbert sought to compensate with his poetry and his thinking.

Autorentext

Eelco van Es studied English literature and Pedagogy, and obtained his PhD in cultural studies in 2012 at the University of Groningen. He currently works there at the department of Culture and Cognition, and is particularly involved with the application of academic theories of culture to cultural education in primary and secondary schools.