If the meaning of a verbal expression (word, phrase, manifesto, aria, essay, poem, maxim, edict, missive, command, epistle, canto, entreaty, declaration, hymn, verse, query, inquisition, lyric, chant, polemic) is nothing more than another arbitrary—though consequent—expression, the defenders of rationalism (the doctrine that words mean more than other words) fear what, exactly? That divorced from our anchor we will sink into diabolical wantonness? To unending cruelty? As if words, properly disciplined, could control the outcome? This seems like delusion to me. Because I think we can just choose to end cruelty. Regardless of what words others embrace. Try this exercise: walk down the street repeating the words, “I can’t walk” over and over again. I suspect that after about 20 or 30 seconds the words will feel as silly as old gum.
June 28, 2013 by m4u
I am word, phrase, manifesto, aria, essay, poem, maxim, edict, missive, command, epistle, canto, entreaty, declaration, hymn, verse, query, inquisition, lyric, chant, polemic.
I am the last sentence. And that’s only the linguistical, syntactic, semantic aspect of being God. Of course, there’s the rest of what I am, but that’s not really the subject of the post, now, is it?
🙂