Borges: Poetry is inspired by God

Poetry is a form of artistic expression that has captivated humanity for centuries. It is an art that requires not only creativity and imagination, but also a deep understanding of language and its nuances. In considering the source of this inspiration, many people believe that poetry is inspired by a divine force.

One way to approach this idea is to consider the nature of the mind. As the philosopher Descartes pointed out, the mind is an immaterial entity that exists beyond the physical world. It is through the workings of the mind that poetry is created, and this suggests a connection to the divine.

Moreover, the attributes of creativity and imagination, which are essential to the creation of poetry, are often viewed as divine qualities. According to many religious traditions, God is the ultimate creator, and humans are made in God’s image. This means that the creative abilities that humans possess are also divine in nature.

Additionally, the philosopher Spinoza argued that everything that exists in nature is a manifestation of God. From this perspective, the purely natural is also purely divine. Therefore, the inspiration behind poetry, which is a natural expression of human creativity, can also be viewed as divine.

Jorge Luis Borges, the renowned Argentine writer and essayist, in his essay “The Divine Comedy, the Aleph and other essays” suggests that the opening of Homer’s Iliad, “Sing muse, the wrath of Achilles, son of Peleus”, is an invocation of the Holy Spirit.

For Borges, poetry is a means to access the divine and express the transcendence of the human being. In his vision, the Holy Spirit is the force that inspires poetry and elevates it to a higher plane of existence.

In short, Borges’ perspective on divine inspiration in poetry coincides with the idea that creativity and imagination are divine attributes within the human being. For Borges, poetry is a way of invoking and expressing the Holy Spirit, and in this way, reaching a higher knowledge of reality.

In conclusion, poetry can be seen as an art form that is inspired by a divine force. This idea is based on the immaterial nature of the mind, the divine attributes of creativity and imagination, and the view that everything in nature is a manifestation of God. While the source of poetic inspiration may be difficult to pinpoint, the notion that it is connected to the divine remains a powerful and enduring one.