Chapters 9-13

Blog Chapters 9-13

Chapter 9- The Little Man Who Wasn’t There

“The more complicated civilization becomes the more conscious we must be that our nervous systems automatically leave out characteristics of the events before us”. (p 98)

It is interesting to think about the truth that we often make seeing and believing into a single process. Isn’t this what we have always been taught to do though? Just like the famous quote “seeing is believing”. If you see something then it must be true, because you are watching it happen.

Fearful words and unthinkable words are sort of silly when you think about it in the way that this book lays them before us. Words like “rattlesnake” are just words. It is the negative connotations of which we learn them in, that make them so toxic. Of course other hate words, and words related to prejudice are much worse to think about than words like rattlesnake.

In response to the question “what is a jew?”. I would say it is anybody who wishes to identify themselves this way. The rest concerning if a person does or doesn’t fit into a certain mold isn’t anybody’s business but that persons.

Chapter 10-Classification

“The effect that each of these classifications has upon what he may and may not do consititutes there reality” (107).

I get from this that classifications are really just groupings, and may or may not be relative in a literal sense. They limit our society by grouping us. It makes sense when Hayakawa makes the statement that classification is not a matter of identifying our “essences”, but simply a reflection of social convenience or necessity.

Classifications are a creation of how we feel people/ things need to be grouped to fit our societal needs. Having read this chapter, I will undoubtedly look at the idea of classifying differently.

From a societal stand point (not scientific) how can we really define truth? How can we ever know what is honestly true?

Chapter 11- The Two-Valued Orientation

It isn’t correct to think about questions as only having two sides. This is an interesting thought to me. In most cases questions seem to be answered either right or wrong. I suppose it is important to pay attention to the middle ground options as well.

This chapter runs through numerous examples of two valued structures, often using the examples of good guys and bad guys. I think we define what is good and what is bad based upon how we are raised and what is going on around us. Because of this, there can be no clear answer of what is good and bad.

“Action resulting from two-valued orientations notoriously fails to achieve its objectives” (p 124).
I feel this quote sort of sums up the ideas of the chapter. It is definitely true!

Chapter 12-The Multi-Valued Orientation

“Although we like to think of ourselves as rational beings, there are few of us who do not exhibit the two- valued orientation when we are stirred up by controversy.” (p 128)

I feel that this quote is something that people try and tell themselves is not true, but I think it is pretty accurate. When people feel passionately about a subject, they often feel there is a only a right and a wrong, while not leaving room for a shade of grey. This is a pitfall for debate, when we are arguing with one another.

Chapter 13- Poetry and Advertising

“The most important respect in which poetry and advertising resemble each other is that they both strive to give meaning to the data of every day experience.” (p 135)

I really like this passage because it is true, and I never thought about the way that poetry and advertising were similar. Both use symbolism to either sell an idea, or make us think deeper about an idea. They both make us think farther on a subject or idea than we would normally. This is what I like about both poetry and advertising-making us think outside the box.