[lit-ideas] Re: agnotology
- From: Mike Geary <jejunejesuit.geary2@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 11:25:02 -0500
Robert Frost wrote: "Whose woods these are, I think I know. / His house is
in the village though."
I protest. He sould have written: Whose woods these are, I think I know. /
If so, his house is in the village.
This correction, though it plays havoc with the rhyme scheme, is everthemore
fundamental to the tenets of Uncertainity. Veronica could save herself a
lot of worry, not to mention gas, by adopting the theory of Uncertainity
which holds that certainty is condition based. Veronica wonders if the
garage door is closed. According to Uncertainity, if a, then b unless c.
If Veronica closed the garage door, then the garage door is closed, unless
it came open by some unknown agent. So even if Veronica goes back home to
confirm that she closed the garage door, that only means the garage door is
closed at that moment. Veronica will have to stay there at the house and
watch the closed garage door stay closed until the cows come home and who
knows when that might be. Not fun. In lieu of all that watching, I
recommend Veronica and all else embrace Uncertainity. Maybe it is, maybe it
isn't, hard to say. Much more relaxing.
As to the division of labor, I haven't had a live-in relationship for 24
years now. I'll gladly take out the garbage and not bitch if someone will
come clean up this crappy apartment and maintain at minimum a clear path
through the rooms. I'll even cook once a month. Any takers?
Mike Geary
still in Memphis if they haven't renamed it -- or some other c.
On Thu, Apr 21, 2011 at 10:22 AM, Veronica Caley <molleo1@xxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:
> The reason I think my husband ought to remove the trash from the kitchen
> is that every bit of food that comes into the house is shopped for, planned
> meals around such, prepares same and serves it in an appetizing way. This
> seems to me to be fair. All our other waste baskets are removed and cleaned
> by me.
> He, however, is totally in charge of yellow paint.
>
> The thing that I would like to know, but almost never do, is when I leave
> the house by myself whether or not I closed the garage door. This however,
> is only peripherally about knowing or not knowing. It's the consequence of
> free floating anxiety. So, frequently, I leave, go a quarter of a mile or
> less, turn around and look. Then, I know that I know. Am I still missing
> an "I know?" I don't know.
>
> Veronica Caley
>
> Milford, MI
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* David Ritchie <ritchierd@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> *To:* lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> *Sent:* Thursday, April 21, 2011 12:08 AM
> *Subject:* [lit-ideas] Re: agnotology
>
>
> On Apr 20, 2011, at 4:11 PM, John Wager wrote:
>
> As a general reply to the entire threat, not just RP's response, may I
> offer the observation that marriage affects agontology greatly.
>
> Just today, I have had the experience of being asked at least three times
> if I'm sure *that I know that I know that I *(a) took out the trash, (b)
> was careful not to spill any yellow paint on the cabinet fronts being
> re-stained by my wife in the basement, and (c) called the man about the deck
> repair. Such experiences are probably the most common example of whether
> just "knowing" or having to "KNOW that you know" are more than just academic
> exercises.
>
>
> And the answer in each instance was? I confess complete ignorance re. why
> men always have to take out trash, why women should be experts in the
> not-spilling of yellow paint, and why either sex (or gender) should be given
> sole charge of that most critical of tasks, namely trying to ensure that a
> sufficient trail of cheese and wine has been laid on the gravel path to the
> front door such that repair persons may be enticed to come in.
>
> David Ritchie,
> realizing (thanks be to Geary) that his condenser may need cleaning in
> Portland, Oregon
>
>
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