Btw secret handshakes, stealthy meetings in the attic etc. are features of
secret cults. Wittgensteinians are not a secret cult but a public one with
a pretty good standing in the academia so they would hardly need such
things. Yet the insider-outsider idea does seem to be strong, and it seems
that there are group codes that go with this, as we might expect. For
example, it has been argued here that I can't understand Wittgensteinians -
this is a debatable claim but if true then it shows that there is a sort of
a group version of ''private language' at work.
I am off to a conference with the lions in the garden now.
O.K.
On Tue, Apr 28, 2015 at 11:09 AM, Adriano Palma <Palma@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
The Wittgenstein cult is funny, to be sure.
The man was an interesting character though wholly unpleasant
*From:* lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:
lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On Behalf Of *Omar Kusturica
*Sent:* 27 April 2015 23:55
*To:* lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* [lit-ideas] Re: The cult of personality
I'd suggest that W.'s biography still lacks some crucial details. (Our
Geary might be surprized to learn that there are very similar requirements
for godheads in various religions):
- Virgin birth - this is absolutely a must. No godhead was ever begotten
by a mortal man, although the body of a mortal woman may be used as a
wessell of God's will. We can't have W. being born in an ordinary, prophane
way.
-Dangerous prophecy - when W. was born, some sage must informed the King
of the land of imminent danger. The King should then take steps to kill the
dangerous child. There are several different ways to keep the child alive -
raised by shepherds is the recommended version, but raised at Cambridge
might perhaps do.
-Tested by the Devil - in some way or other this must happen. Perhaps this
is why is W. is said to have given his money to relatives who were already
rich. Older versions had it that he chased the merchants out of the temple.
-Crucifixion - this is highly recommended but if the godhead is not
willing to die in pain, perhaps he can sacrifice a plant instead.
-Resurrection - absolutely a must
There is more, but for now these are the necessary (but not sufficient)
conditions
On Mon, Apr 27, 2015 at 11:37 PM, Robert Paul <rpaul@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
Omar wrote
*Well, the implication was somewhat different. No, W. wasn't Stalin or
Hitler - he didn't kill millions of people, he only talked a lot of
nonsense - but the personality cults might have remarkable similarities
nevertheless. Celebrating the birthday of a man who has long been dead
strikes me as being much in those lines.
Robert replied
You simply leap to the conclusion that those who study and have studied
Wittgenstein, belong to a cult (complete with secret handshakes, signs, and
words). Perhaps they meet by moonlight in basements and attics to...do
whatever they do, in your story. They're slyer than sly, more circular than
der Wiener Kreis, and have been known to kidnap Heideggerians and hold them
for ransom. A bad bunch—especially because their books, papers—and even
their speech—is completely unintelligible. And these behaviorists
in disguise, are this way intentionally. They do it on purpose! Do you
think G. E. Moore died a natural death? Well, think again. Nothing is as it
seems with these people—think of that Duck-Rabbit! Would bona fide
biotaxonomists create a rabbit that might be a DUCK? Perhaps this will be
clear to you; perhaps not. I'll only say this: if you encounter a lion in
your garden and when it speaks, you CAN understand it, well...you really
don't want to be there. Go inside, dial 999-AUGUSTINE, and wait.
Robert Paul
