Friday, August 17, 2012

Anti-Cartesian


You think you are 
An exception to the rule— 

Methinks how 

Can this be when all sense of measure’s lost, 
You exceptional fool?

 


5 comments:

  1. Foolishness is not so exceptional, is it Vassilis? Unfortunately it's commonplace, especially the foolhardiness of those who consider themselves exceptional.

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  2. How can I say this without sounding funny: Shakespeare would be forgiven for stealing these lines from you, Vassilis. They would be the best lines he has not quite writ in many a year.

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  3. I second Elisabeth's sage observations...

    there is a tradition of the 'wise fool' in some parts except, of course, that the real thing finally appeared, ruining it for everyone else.

    The Cartesian-'rule' nexus is marvelous (btw)

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  4. The fool doesn't mind being regarded as foolish. He wouldn't want it any other way. His folly is his perverse badge of honour. Yet in his exceptional foolishness (despite it -- or perhaps, because of it?), he often proves the most loyal of friends,

    "The Fool does not follow any ideology. He rejects all appearances, of law, justice, moral order. He sees brute force, cruelty and lust. He has no illusions and does not seek consolation in the existence of natural or supernatural order, which provides for the punishment of evil and the reward of good. Lear, insisting on his fictitious majesty, seems ridiculous to him. All the more ridiculous because he does not see how ridiculous he is. But the Fool does not desert his ridiculous, degraded king, and accompanies him on his way to madness. The Fool knows that the only true madness is to recognize this world as rational."

    --Jan Kott on Shakespeare's fools

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  5. Tomfoolery! I say
    Had I a whit

    Of the Great Will’s skill
    And wit, I would fain play

    The part of his fool
    Instead of his dimwit.

    PS. Thanks for the encouragement, though; I shall try harder during the next round of rehearsals.

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