/lit/ - Literature

Somewhat of a Peterson thread, but more in line with the Jung quote.

So I remember hearing Peterson say in a debate with Sam Harris something along the lines or sentiment of:

"The great authors of previous times express truths in their works which resonate with us, really without us even knowing why, but with an internal sense of the work being great."

Except what he actually said was:

"The authors get there first [before the philosophers and thinkers explicitly express these truths]."

Philosophically, do you guys find this to be true? I think I elaborated on the quote correctly. It's from the infamous "Truth" debate where Peterson takes a pragmatic approach, and Sam Harris takes a fact-based approach and forces Peterson to admit that compiling facts do not produce a "Truth" and that rather "Truth" is more of what is self-preserving and lasting for the species. It was essentially a debate over the definition of truth, but that line struck me.

I guess I was reading about Heidegger and his criticisms of being platitudinal, and was reminded of this quote.

Anyway, general discussion thread.