File spoon-archives/phillitcrit.archive/phillitcrit_2000/phillitcrit.0008, message 207


From: zatavu-AT-excite.com
Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2000 20:03:36 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: PLC: Literary Saints



On Wed, 16 Aug 2000 20:41:36 -0500, phillitcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
wrote:

>  The problem is not with thoughts, but with speaking them, or writing
>  them. I take it that these then constitute political acts. Surely you do
>  not think the Declaration a harmless piece of paper. Surely you do not
>  so hold the Gettysburg Adddress. I continue to disagree.  
>  g

Completely useless documents in and of themselves without the actions that
followed to back them up. Please explain the moral/political position of the
following poem:

'Twas brillig and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe
ALl mimsey were the borogoves
And the mome rathes outgrabe

THese are mere words in the strictest sense. How are we to learn how to live
from them? WHat is their moral or political statement? This is an extreme
example, I admit, but sometimes taking an extreme helps make the point most
clearly.

Troy Camplin
>  
>  zatavu-AT-excite.com wrote:
>  > 
>  > On Wed, 16 Aug 2000 17:58:06 -0500,
phillitcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
>  > wrote:
>  > 
>  > >  You've always agreed with me. It was just sometimes you didn't know
you
>  > >  agreed with me, and in some cases you still don't.  But consider
this,
>  > >  re you last post. To write is to act.  To speak is to act. Your
"sticks
>  > >  and stones" thing won't wash. What are younger people for if not to
>  > >  contradict their elders.  See _The Importance of Being Earnest_.
>  > 
>  > Speaking and writing are particular kinds of actions that I do not
connect
>  > with moral/immoral actions. I was refering to physical actions.
Language is
>  > connected to thought and I do not think thoughts should themselves be
>  > considered moral or immoral. Doing so opens us up to things like
thought
>  > police and other fascist/politically correct notions. This is not to
say
>  > that I don't think that changing people's thinking won't change
people's
>  > actions (in general, not for any particular person at any particular
time
>  > necessarily). However, any one person's thinking something isn't going
to
>  > hurt anyone so long as that person doesn't act on those thoughts. Those
are
>  > two separate issues.
>  > 
>  > Troy Camplin
>  > >
>  > >  zatavu-AT-excite.com wrote:
>  > >  >
>  > >  > On Wed, 16 Aug 2000 14:25:36 -0500,
>  > phillitcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
>  > >  > wrote:
>  > >  >
>  > >  > >  To choose any single work as "an adequate basis for conducting
one's
>  > >  > >  life" would seem to me to be a profound mistake. The work
offers a
>  > >  > >  laboratory, a trying out of a set of ideas, an embodyment of
them
>  > which
>  > >  > >  allows them to be looked at, walked around, discussed. What
says
>  > _the
>  > >  > >  Picture of Dorian Gray_ if it is not "and the greatest of these
is
>  > >  > >  charity."
>  > >  >
>  > >  > George! WHen did you and I start agreeing with each other? So far
>  > everything
>  > >  > in this thread either has you agreeing with me or I agree with you
on
>  > it.
>  > >  > :-) THe comments on Naked Lunch, Snow White and The Picture of
DOrian
>  > Gray
>  > >  > are right on.
>  > >  >
>  > >  > Troy Camplin
>  > >  >
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>  
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