biographical truth
These days during my study, I find that a lot of the research has started out by making bold assumptions. Because one can never fully represent or re-live the past, therefore one speculates. However, once there's a speculation, it is our duty to search for bits and pieces of evidence to support the assumption. If it is wrong, you use other methods, or look for other materials. If you think the other person's opinion is covered with flaws, you have to prove that you are right. It is like a bunch of people playing jigsaw puzzle; until the picture reveals its story. In this field, "there may be facts out there, but they can only be approached by way of opinion". What I am trying to say is, it is so important to make fearless assumptions, and courageously defend your point and convince others what you think might be the case. All is done within the realms of logic. The study of literature, I find, is in fact very scientific. As a student from the East (or maybe I shouldn't relate this to the education in Taiwan), we may passively accept what is said on the printed text. We might be afraid to make hypothesis, because it might appear stupid. Stupid can be the pathway to truth, or close enough to fact. If there is one.