Rationality Is . . . The Essence of Literary Theory

“Klassen invites readers of all academic backgrounds to broaden their understanding of rationality, distilling abstract theoretical notions into the cultural soil of our times. Using the lens of literature, with thoughtful and wide-ranging ideas, we are shown that rationality is not relegated to mathematics or the sciences but belongs to all of us.”


—Satyan L. Devadoss, Fletcher Jones Professor of Applied Mathematics, University of San Diego





“Norm Klassen’s book is a remarkable achievement. It offers a benevolent presentation of mainstream literary criticism together with a bold, insightful, and coherent defense of rationality in the Western tradition. This certainly requires a deep and sophisticated understanding of how literature reveals the intelligibility of everything that there is. This didactical introduction helps students not only to appreciate the relevance of contemporary literary criticism but also to rediscover the authentic joy of reading.”


—Mátyás Szalay, director, Edith Stein Philosophy Institute





“Is the reach for rationality a Platonic binding to the ideal or a Faustian pact with darkness? At a moment when the idea of rationality appears suspect from all camps threatening to tear asunder our social fabric, Klassen’s treatise redeems an integral element of what makes us human. Accessible to a broad readership and saturated with close readings, this book is nothing short of an apologia for the arts and humanities.”


—Charles Stankievech, Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, University of Toronto