284. People have killed animals since the
earliest of times, used the fur, bones etc. etc. for various purposes; they
have counted definitely on finding similar parts in any similar beast.
They have always learnt from experience;
and we can see from their actions that they believe certain things definitely,
whether they express this belief or not. By this I naturally do not want to say
that men should behave like this, but
only that they do behave like this.
who’s to know whether ‘they counted
definitely’ or not?
might there not have been people who
regarded –
‘finding similar parts in any similar
beast’ –
a gift
from the gods –
something not guaranteed –
or indeed to be expected?
and what is it to say –
‘they have always learnt from experience?
who’s idea of ‘learning’ –
and who’s idea of ‘experience’ –
are we talking about here?
we don’t
see –
‘that they believe certain things
definitively’ –
we hoist this interpretation onto their
actions –
with the idea that it will suit our
purposes
the point is this –
any behaviour –
in the absence of interpretation –
is unknown
–
yes we interpret behaviour –
to make it known
and any interpretation that we but forward
–
is no more than a proposal –
open to question –
open to doubt
© greg t.charlton. 2010.
