“A definition is the enclosing a wilderness of idea within a wall of words.” – Samuel Butler
I remember hearing this idea for the first time and being so struck by the truth and simplicity of it. To define something is to capture it, just like an animal in the zoo. And humans can view it, examine it and admire it when it is captured. But that idea is also now imprisoned and it becomes easy for a person to think that what they see is all that the idea is. It becomes easy for the idea to no longer be able to grow or expand, especially when the idea is codified, like in the Quran or Bible or other sacred texts.
Drawing © 2022 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
>verbal communication is merely my attempting the transfer of an idea, from my head, to yours.
that’s why words sometimes feel awkward and clumsy, and talking is, at times, a blunt instrument that bludgeons more than focuses.
because truth is, at its core, abstract. and so in order to describe truth, we must constantly play this little dance, using certain words here and there and always struggling to say well.
>Wow! I totally agree. This is a great quote. That is exactly how I feel about the “god” in particular. A lot of people do the same thing using science. I could say I don’t believe in evolution because I narrow define god and creation, or I could say I believe in evolution because I narrowly define scientific evidence. I juast say: WOW! Thats so amazing what has happen here on Earth- I can barely believe how life has come to be! I don’t need to find an “answer” like ‘God did it’ or ‘science did it’, I can just enjoy it and be amazed. Thats not to say that definitions aren’t useful & functional, it is just important to know when you need them and when you don’t 🙂