Comments on: Self-Referential Melville? (Or The Novelist’s Hallelujah) http://foolishsage.com/2009/02/24/self-referential-melville-or-the-novelists-hallelujah/ the out-of-context contextuality of a foolish sage Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:59:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Foolish Sage http://foolishsage.com/2009/02/24/self-referential-melville-or-the-novelists-hallelujah/comment-page-1/#comment-125439 Foolish Sage Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:29:28 +0000 http://foolishsage.com/?p=1357#comment-125439 I like that, Brandon, because it recognizes that desires, even the desire for approbation, is not always a bad thing. Many of us who are Christians (or who have been brought up in Christianity) have taken on an assumption that any desire for the approval of others is automatically sinful. I like your angle that it may have implications for community and accountability. I like that, Brandon, because it recognizes that desires, even the desire for approbation, is not always a bad thing. Many of us who are Christians (or who have been brought up in Christianity) have taken on an assumption that any desire for the approval of others is automatically sinful. I like your angle that it may have implications for community and accountability.

]]> By: Brandon http://foolishsage.com/2009/02/24/self-referential-melville-or-the-novelists-hallelujah/comment-page-1/#comment-125438 Brandon Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:22:32 +0000 http://foolishsage.com/?p=1357#comment-125438 I would answer this question here, but thinking the answer is just fine for me. :) All action is done with the hope of some self gain. Perhaps vocalizing our so-called profound thoughts is part of getting verification from others that they are indeed profound (or that we are perhaps idiots). Perhaps God put that inclination in us to make sure we didn't just clam up. That is, to keep us responsible to our other human neighbors. I would answer this question here, but thinking the answer is just fine for me. :)

All action is done with the hope of some self gain. Perhaps vocalizing our so-called profound thoughts is part of getting verification from others that they are indeed profound (or that we are perhaps idiots). Perhaps God put that inclination in us to make sure we didn’t just clam up. That is, to keep us responsible to our other human neighbors.

]]> By: Foolish Sage http://foolishsage.com/2009/02/24/self-referential-melville-or-the-novelists-hallelujah/comment-page-1/#comment-125434 Foolish Sage Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:48:47 +0000 http://foolishsage.com/?p=1357#comment-125434 Perhaps I could have made that question more clear. What I meant is "are we ever <i>content</i> to just be profound within our own minds (without any need to communicate the thought to others)?" You are correct, of course, that authors must be internally profound before they can externalize it into their writing. My question came from what I took to be Melville's belief (at least as expressed through Ishmael): that humans are <i>not</i> motivated to be profound unless they have the promise of reward (whether monetary or through approbation) from others. I'm wondering if meditative monks come closest to being the exception that proves Melville's rule. Perhaps I could have made that question more clear. What I meant is “are we ever content to just be profound within our own minds (without any need to communicate the thought to others)?” You are correct, of course, that authors must be internally profound before they can externalize it into their writing. My question came from what I took to be Melville’s belief (at least as expressed through Ishmael): that humans are not motivated to be profound unless they have the promise of reward (whether monetary or through approbation) from others.

I’m wondering if meditative monks come closest to being the exception that proves Melville’s rule.

]]> By: Mindy Withrow http://foolishsage.com/2009/02/24/self-referential-melville-or-the-novelists-hallelujah/comment-page-1/#comment-125431 Mindy Withrow Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:39:46 +0000 http://foolishsage.com/?p=1357#comment-125431 If we weren't profound in our own minds, what would motivate us to stammer anything to the world? It sure isn't royalties that make a novelist shout "hallelujah." If we weren’t profound in our own minds, what would motivate us to stammer anything to the world? It sure isn’t royalties that make a novelist shout “hallelujah.”

]]> By: Foolish Sage http://foolishsage.com/2009/02/24/self-referential-melville-or-the-novelists-hallelujah/comment-page-1/#comment-125428 Foolish Sage Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:57:45 +0000 http://foolishsage.com/?p=1357#comment-125428 Perhaps I should set up an auto-DM on Twitter for new followers: "Oh! happy that the world is such an excellent listener!" Perhaps I should set up an auto-DM on Twitter for new followers: “Oh! happy that the world is such an excellent listener!”

]]> By: Chris Dattilo http://foolishsage.com/2009/02/24/self-referential-melville-or-the-novelists-hallelujah/comment-page-1/#comment-125427 Chris Dattilo Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:53:19 +0000 http://foolishsage.com/?p=1357#comment-125427 Melville was foreshadowing blogs and of course twitter. Melville was foreshadowing blogs and of course twitter.

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