In the Corners of Clouds

This week’s inspirational morsel comes from Goethe, and it’s particularly pithy: Doubt grows with knowledge . Nice. Short, sharp, simple, and, for me at least, one of those quotes to which there is an immediate and excitable response in the affirmative, followed swiftly by a more considered analysis. I often find this, and it irks me; I react to some philosophical or literary quip with child-like glee (or perhaps dog-like in my scrabblings to get to the door of understanding), then the boring adult of the conscious mind rolls up its sleeves and says ‘now then, what is it about that statement that’s got you in such a tizz, and please can you articulate your response so that the rest of the class can understand?’ GAH! Yes, I probably can, but it will take effort and I’d rather keep skipping around the room with the Ghost of Goethe. However, after some musings, a lot of head scratching, and a few diversions into wholly unrelated areas (luckily I am trained in the art of academic writing...

  I’ve been contemplating this little nugget from Nietzsche: “Ultimately, no one can extract from things, books included, more than he already knows. What one has no access to through experience one has no ear for.” I have always based enormous value on my intellect. As a child in a chaotic home, my ability to reason, analyse, and structure my mind was of utmost importance. Fortunately, this way of being is one that our culture celebrates and rewards, in fact demands . Suffice to say, good grades abounded, certificates were granted, academic success was guaranteed. I now place enormous value on my intuition. As an adult in a chaotic world, my ability to imagine, create, and let go of mental structures is of utmost importance. Unfortunately, this way of being is one that our culture denigrates and dismisses, in fact fears.   Suffice to say, arguments abound, points are rejected, social success is not guaranteed. When I say I know something intuitively, this is often argu...