Thrilling and terrifying at once. The only problem I can see is this: what to hold onto? What is sure? There is a difference in believing and knowing, so when you KNOW nearly nothing, and are not sure what you believe...it's quite tricky.
By way of explanation as to my current stone, it doesn't get any better than this:
Plato, "Parmenides"
I see, Parmenides, said Socrates, that Zeno would like to be not only one with you in friendship but your second self in his writings too; he puts what you say in another way, and would fain make believe that he is telling us something which is new. For you, in your poems, say The All is one, and of this you adduce excellent proofs; and he on the other hand says There is no many; and on behalf of this he offers overwhelming evidence. You affirm unity, he denies plurality. And so you deceive the world into believing that you are saying different things when really you are saying much the same. This is a strain of art beyond the reach of most of us.
Heraclitus!!
ReplyDeleteI had this conversation with a girlfriend last weekend. :-)
Panta rei! --Simplicius Simoanius
ReplyDeleteThrilling and terrifying at once. The only problem I can see is this: what to hold onto? What is sure? There is a difference in believing and knowing, so when you KNOW nearly nothing, and are not sure what you believe...it's quite tricky.
ReplyDeleteEvery philosopher needs his stone. Woe to the person who loses it, as I did back in late 2000.
ReplyDeleteWhat is your stone now?
ReplyDeleteThis is it.
ReplyDeleteZeno:Parmenides::Nietzsche:Plato
It used to be "The United States of America"
ReplyDeleteWe are all idolators at heart, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteBy way of explanation as to my current stone, it doesn't get any better than this:
ReplyDeletePlato, "Parmenides"
I see, Parmenides, said Socrates, that Zeno would like to be not only one with you in friendship but your second self in his writings too; he puts what you say in another way, and would fain make believe that he is telling us something which is new. For you, in your poems, say The All is one, and of this you adduce excellent proofs; and he on the other hand says There is no many; and on behalf of this he offers overwhelming evidence. You affirm unity, he denies plurality. And so you deceive the world into believing that you are saying different things when really you are saying much the same. This is a strain of art beyond the reach of most of us.
We are all idolators at heart, I suppose.
ReplyDelete-----------
:-)