I was able to watch episode one of thirteen of Bronowski's Ascent of Man series on Youtube this morning, after beginning to read this post. His anthropology is, of course, fifty years out of date, but his over-arching conclusions are still mostly spot on.
I think the essential difference between the minds of the ancient freemen and those of the modern kept folk is that our ancient teachers saw most themselves, their companions, and crucially, their environments, as subject, not object. That is, I see myself as subject, with a view, with a 'take', and I see my brother that way, too. But my son seems to live in a world where he is the only real subject, and everything else is of two dimensions or less. My forebears on this continent, whose voices I almost hear at times in the wood, saw almost everything in their environment as being itself subjective. Not as thinking in a human way, or experiencing in a human way, but as fundamentally different than mere stuff.
"They have studied nature, drawn their conclusions, and found it to be the embodiment of a profound metaphysical principle pertaining to all existence". James G. Gowan, writing in regard of Australian aborigines. Twenty years ago, I could only have heard this as nonsense of the most primitive sort; unscientific, irrational, and fundamentally childish. I was wrong.
Rationalism, rationally pursued, will soon demonstrate the limits of reason unmistakably. To deny that mystery has borne us here is to deny the mystery within as well, with results one may grieve daily in world events.
I was able to watch episode one of thirteen of Bronowski's Ascent of Man series on Youtube this morning, after beginning to read this post. His anthropology is, of course, fifty years out of date, but his over-arching conclusions are still mostly spot on.
I think the essential difference between the minds of the ancient freemen and those of the modern kept folk is that our ancient teachers saw most themselves, their companions, and crucially, their environments, as subject, not object. That is, I see myself as subject, with a view, with a 'take', and I see my brother that way, too. But my son seems to live in a world where he is the only real subject, and everything else is of two dimensions or less. My forebears on this continent, whose voices I almost hear at times in the wood, saw almost everything in their environment as being itself subjective. Not as thinking in a human way, or experiencing in a human way, but as fundamentally different than mere stuff.
"They have studied nature, drawn their conclusions, and found it to be the embodiment of a profound metaphysical principle pertaining to all existence". James G. Gowan, writing in regard of Australian aborigines. Twenty years ago, I could only have heard this as nonsense of the most primitive sort; unscientific, irrational, and fundamentally childish. I was wrong.
Rationalism, rationally pursued, will soon demonstrate the limits of reason unmistakably. To deny that mystery has borne us here is to deny the mystery within as well, with results one may grieve daily in world events.
Much appreciate your patronage, J.R.