File spoon-archives/phillitcrit.archive/phillitcrit_1997/phillitcrit.9711, message 57


Date: Mon, 03 Nov 1997 11:05:52 +0100
From: "Joerg T. Gruel" <jtg-AT-owl-online.de>
Subject: Re: PLC: Knox on Homer


Stirling Newberry wrote:

> As with the question of "What is the Faust idea in Goethe?" the answer is
> to hand them a copy of the book (in the original of course).

 Which would be a highly moralistic action - common pedagogic cruelty wrapped
into the insult of a friendly advice: reclaiming distance and reflection in
the age of soap opera consumption, instant meaning and fast formula: whence
would the capability to read a text like that "properly" derive? The "man",
hehe, doesn't read books, she only talks about them. There's a moral.

Goethe was stuck the label of a "Pagan":  To Eckermann, he remarked that this
annoyed him: "Me - a Pagan? But I had Gretchen executed! Wasn't that Xtian
enough? What else do these people want in order to be Xtian?"

Yet with the moral intention of the Faust (part one ) so clearly stated by the
author, there may still be some who like sniffing around in that sulphuric
atmosphere better. To whom applies

"Wer immer strebend sich bemueht,
 Den koennen wir erloesen".

(So, Walter, let go of that whimsical "transcendental imagination", and, to
use a metaphor, return to thy seminary).

As to the morals in Homer, could one say it was "We are great guys, and always
have been so"?. Or would the question be "What was it that Homer got paid
for?"

BTW, Luther, who wasn't much given to humanistic studies, has translated some
Aesopian fables, and highly recommended their reading to his bible-proof
audience. Fascinating detail, I'd say. Now, was it "Aesop" who invented
(constructed???) morals, or Anaximander, or Zoroaster, or who else?

You've opend up a wide field field here, Mike, on just entering the Café and
spreading around a few words.

Faustically Yours,

Joerg,
vulcanizing again




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