Tuesday, October 20, 2009

The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings.

I am despairing of ever learning to think well. Or of knowing how to think; as a philosopher, as a theologian, as a scientist, as a woman - to what should I aspire? Because what and/or who we define ourselves as determines to some extent how we think, right? [Is this right? tell me!]

Occasionally I am able to fool myself into thinking that I am quite knowlegable...I imagine that [for my age, of course] I am well read; I imagine I think logically with a high degree of insight. Then something happens that strips away my pride and reminds me that in a most basic and deep way, I know just about nothing.

Sadly, I am not going to get to take a lot of pondering-intensive classes til my senior year here, but someday I'm going to take Intro to Philosophy. I am. I am.

In the meantime, here is some excellent writing to ponder:

"'You have been given questions to which you cannot be given answers. You will have to live them out - perhaps a little at a time.'
'And how long is that going to take?'
'I don't know. As long as you live, perhaps.'
'That could be a long time.'
'I will tell you a further mystery,' he said. 'It may take longer.'"

Wendell Berry (Jayber Crow)

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