Only so much do I know, as I have lived.

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pructus

#539891 Fri, 11 Jul 08 02:34 PM

They are often virtually disfranchised; and, indeed, there are advocates for their celibacy. As far as this is true of the studious classes, it is not just and wise. Action is with the scholar subordinate, but it is essential. Without it, he is not yet man. Without it, thought can never ripen into truth. Whilst the world hangs before the eye as a cloud of beauty, we cannot even see its beauty. Inaction is cowardice, but there can be no scholar without the heroic mind. The preamble of thought, the transition through which it passes from the unconscious to the conscious, is action. Only so much do I know, as I have lived. Instantly we know whose words are loaded with life, and whose not.

http://www.bartleby.com/268/8/33.html

**

Ralph Waldo Emerson's "The American Scholar"

1. The preamble of thought, the transition through which it passes from the unconscious to the conscious, is action.

What should "it" mean here?

2. Only so much do I know, as I have lived..

Does this mean that "I know as much as I have lived" or "I have lived as much as I know" ?

pructus

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

Full Member (291)

Marius Hancu

#539963 Fri, 11 Jul 08 04:27 PM

> Only so much do I know, as I have lived..

I know only those things/events that I have lived

I know (I have knowledge) only to the extent that I have lived

This may be a play on:

Cogito, ergo sum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cogito_ergo_sum

Marius Hancu

Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006

Montreal, Canada

Veteran Member (11,673)

Marius Hancu

#539972 Fri, 11 Jul 08 04:32 PM

1. The preamble of thought, the transition through which it passes from the unconscious to the conscious, is action.

It: Always look for the previous noun which makes sense

Marius Hancu

Nouns

Tanit

#539995 Fri, 11 Jul 08 05:05 PM

Marius Hancu

Only so much do I know, as I have lived..
...
This may be a play on:
Cogito, ergo sum

Hi,

May I ask you to expand on this? I really don't see the link between the two.

Thanks.

Tanit

Joined on Mon, Jul 31 2006

In the middle of the Mediterranean Sea

Contributing Member (1,970)

A man can do only what he can do. But if he does that each day he can sleep at night and do it again the next day. (A. Schweitzer)

pructus

#540029 Fri, 11 Jul 08 05:40 PM

Thanks a lot, Marius !!

pructus

Marius Hancu

#540246 Sat, 12 Jul 08 01:34 AM

>>May I ask you to expand on this? I really don't see the link between
the two.

Cogito, ergo sum
I think, thus I am
can be perhaps changed, if we play with words:
I live(d), thus I am [which may be seen as self-evident!)(meaning I've experienced life, thus I am, I am the result of my life experience)
which, in turn, can be extended, in a broad sense, IMO, to:
I am what I have lived

Only so much do I know, as I have lived..
I know only those things/events that I have lived
can be extended, IMO, to:
I know/am only what I've lived

Many would perhaps not agree, but ... this is a play, as I mentioned.

Marius Hancu

Tanit

#540342 Sat, 12 Jul 08 06:52 AM

Marius Hancu
Cogito, ergo sum
I live, thus I am
can be inverted/extended, in a broad sense, IMO, to:
I am what I have lived

Hi,

Thanks for answering. You can safely include me among those who strongly disagree.

Cogito ergo sum means "I think, thus I am/ I exist".
A rough explanation would be: the very fact that I am able to think and I am wondering whether I exist or not proves that I exist.
It has nothing to do with experiencing and getting to know things.

I studied philosophy back in my school years. Not because I loved it, but because I had to.

Tanit

Marius Hancu

#540394 Sat, 12 Jul 08 10:42 AM

I know very well what it means.

I edited my posting, I missed yesterday one line in the play.

Marius Hancu

Tanit

#540398 Sat, 12 Jul 08 11:06 AM

Hi,

Yes, I can see you've added two lines (the ones I'm highlighting below) which were not there prior to my reply.

TODAY

Cogito, ergo sum
I think, thus I am
can be perhaps changed to
I live, thus I am
which, in turn, can be inverted/extended, in a broad sense, IMO, to:
I am what I have lived

YESTERDAY

Cogito, ergo sum
I live, thus I am
which, in turn, can be inverted/extended, in a broad sense, IMO, to:
I am what I have lived

There must be a bug ... one should not be allowed to edit his/her post after it's been answered. It makes the replies seem meaningless.
I'm out of here, now.

Tanit