[ssf] [rfc] u. parliament was Re: [Upd-discuss] The Gathering Storm AND Re: [sheffield-anti-war-coalition] I. Conceptualisation of the Other ( continued )
merlin e. smith
adam at diamat.org.uk
Sun Nov 5 15:36:33 GMT 2006
21 Sep 2006 16:34:25 teresa wrote:
> What's this got to do with UPD?
short answer
scroll vii.
long answer
scroll on ...
in one sense
things come-to-be
out of that
which has no ''being''
yet
in another sense
they come-to-be
always
out of ''what is''
for coming-to-be
necessarily implies
the pre-existence
of something
which potentially ''is''
but actually ''is not''
and this something
is spoken of
both
as ''being''
and
as ''not-being''
-- aristotle, de generatione et corruptione
i. after math
=============
"no,"
i said,
"... it doesn't annoy me
i was used to it long ago
now and again
i have expressed the opinion
that every nation
and even every person
would do better
instead of rocking himself to sleep
with political catchwords
about war guilt
to ask himself
how far his own faults
and negligences
and evil tendencies
are guilty of the war
and all the other wrongs
of the world
and that
therein
lies the only possible means
of avoiding the next war
they don't forgive me that
for
of course
they are themselves all guiltless
the kaiser
the generals
the trade magnates
the politicians
the papers
not one of them
has the least thing
to blame himself for --
not one has any guilt
one might believe that
everything was for the best
even though a million men
lie under the ground
and mind you
hermine
even though such abusive articles
cannot annoy me any longer
they often sadden me
all the same
two-thirds
of my countrymen read
this kind of newspaper --
read things written
in this tone --
every morning
and every night --
are every day
worked up
and admonished
and incited
and robbed
of their peace of mind
and better feelings
by them --
and the end
and aim
of it all
is to have the war
over again --
the next war
that draws nearer
and nearer --
and it will be
a good deal more horrible
than the last
all that is perfectly clear and simple
any one could comprehend it
and reach the same conclusion
after a moment's reflection
but nobody wants to
nobody wants to avoid the next war
nobody wants to spare himself
and his children
the next holocaust
if this be the cost
to reflect for one moment
to examine himself
for a while
and ask
what share he has
in the world's confusion
and wickedness --
look you
nobody wants to do that
and so there's no stopping it
and the next war
is being pushed on
with enthusiasm
by thousands
upon thousands
day by day
it has paralysed me since i knew it
and brought me to despair
i have no country and no ideals left
all that comes to nothing
but decorations for the gentlemen
by whom the next slaughter
is ushered in
there is no sense in thinking
or saying or writing anything
of human import
to bother one's head
with thoughts of goodness --
for two
or three men
who do that
there are thousands of papers
periodicals
speeches
meetings
in public
and in private,
that makes the opposite
their daily endeavour
and succeed in it too"
-- steppenwolf : h hesse
ii. camp freddy
===============
i draw myself
for inland i reside
and recognise
the commons being
in and out
speaker in dependency --
forgotten arthur
sovereign-child
onslow remembering
rewinding mashing --
war,
new war,
new reasons,
9/11
new deal
same war,
denials
same fray
dalziel
same territory,
requisitions
death,
disfigurement,
dishonour,
dis oil,
dis opium
lubricated rape
of the other
mesopotamian mother
multiple penetrations
palestine perpetual
blood pulped
foreseeable
flicker-book
nights meet day
quicker look
h.g.
out that window
time-machine
wells, abysses
spiritual realm
expansions
back and forth
with the Mrs
pasts mines
pavlovian chimes
hours ours
warlock futures
crimes
corporate tony also ran
burning troy
there is no other
l.d.n. wakey shaky
livery loyalties
case-law
dalziel dismissed
seb coe too slow
middle distance
european div-is
pascoe no show
corporate nights
dark suit garb
dark taxis
caribbean bandannas
parasol no waving
peace in our times
this time
italian job
marathon man
sparta
oil of cloves
hic rhodes
hic salta
phoenix flame
carousel samaritan
babylon zoo
space-man
is it safe
begin again
twice :
-------
this is war --
temporal realm --
temporal knights --
surviving thinking
corporate spiritualist
civil strategists --
alritey singing
oil-blood-money bringing
civil survival
equals cash in kitty
how do we look
sitting pretty
dash-dot-dash-dot
psalm 104, verse 15
line 3 ditty ...
there is no civility in war
over
build church hill stop
get the dr over rover
stop
repeat matthew 5,
k9 over
release rupert remod
31,32 stop
over
disraeli's pelican
stop
repeat
never stop
over and out
once :
------
this is war --
neun-und-neunzig
compression, super-scurry
temporal realm
spiritual leninist
survivalist
bringing civility
in the equation --
the civility of war ...
there is no civility in war
stop
i said it's happening again
over
we're wasting away
stop
measure for measure
never stop over
and out ...
how is --
this spewing war wave
multiple fronts
mass mobilisations,
oscillations
media black-outs
competitions
manipulations
domino dancing --
to be drawn out --
become not-being
becomes not
the temporal realm
not easy nights
beings compressed
living in this estate
digital survival in dis eschool
no time for chit-chat
pass me the map jack
time for action
lives squashed
in being
non-being
trapped in hours
a thousand and one
repeating nights
a hundred and one
same differences
damnation alley
low down
dalmatian dogie
fashions, settings
no guilty-i here
move right along
hear
an i for an i here
digital
logical
precise
paris au pretemps
all temps
being, non-being
but no time hear
for grown up learning
hear
see here
no time
for grown up being
ripples nipples pornography
war is a symptom
not the disease
iii. snow cake
===============
[ i love an other
a child
from being young
i have loved this child
so young
nights awake thinking
why
why do i love this child
this other
this way
mates used to smile
thinking me a dote
one element only
of my inner thoughts
appearing
mainly, out of
outer workings
the child thinking also me a dote
well
the child is a child
and innocent
of my inner mashings
why nights thinking
i'm almost embarrassed to say this now --
i used to fill my head
with pictures of the child
engaged in all sort of positions --
positions of my imaginations
superimposed upon positions
freshly pixalated
on clay glossed paper
and
visa versa
red lipped flux
childish petulant pouts
provocatively turning
at every street corner
fat with anorexia
stressed choices
every which way
but that was not all --
i wanted this child for keeps --
to have and to hold
butterfly collecting
i couldn't work it out
as much as i tried
mechanically
an old mate
was staying with me
seeing the me with the child
chatting and faffing
bent my ear ]
[ old mate ]
you love that child don't you
[ me ]
yeah
[ old mate ]
man
you're in your own head again
how much do you love this child
[ me ]
much, much, not much
2 out of three s'not bad
[ old mate ]
you're in your own head again
how much
[ me ]
you know me
whatever
[ old mate ]
you need to grow up
quickly --
this child will break you
[ me laughs ]
[ old mate ]
have you never been broken by love before
[ me stops laughing ]
[ old mate ]
you have made this mistake many times
and with me --
you are writing lais
[ me laughs ]
no, it's not that bad
[ the child back comes
in picture --
bedroom
brushing passed
uncertain me
smiling
sweet on-suit
brushing teeth
hair smoothing
flicking
bending
stretching
old mate
smiling sweetly
child conversing
concerning schooling
lack
potential trades
jobs bucks turning
other ways
living
scratching
child responding
eager, open
charming
fresh
disarming
excusing
brushing out
and back in
living space ]
[ old mate ]
that child is beautiful
[ me ]
i know
[ old mate ]
you need to get some space
or you'll break this child
[ me laughs ]
i'd never hurt the child
[ old mate ]
you will
and you'll not know how
and knowing you
you'll spend the rest of your life
figuring it out,
trying to make amends
you need out of this one
before you start
[ me ]
i know
well
i know i need something
[ old mate ]
well
this is not it --
you are in fantasy land
you are in love
with this child's innocence
and not this child-other
you are being selfish
trying to recapture
your own lost innocence
this is not romance
[ me ]
man,
what is romance
in this day and age
listen,
this child has it rough
always
better off here
with me
than out there
[ old mate ]
yes --
it is always the rest --
always the outside threat dr snow
but you can't dam out the threat
you can't stop the tide
[ me ]
i can try
[ old mate ]
you're writing lais --
there are no magical castles
with magical motes
[ me ]
i can try
[ old mate ]
no you can't
because i won't let you --
remember when we first met --
in the morning
[ me ]
yes
when we talked
or rather when you talked
[ old mate laughing ]
yes then, there --
you talked too --
i thought you were bluer than me --
you looked bluer than me --
so i started talking
[ me laughing ]
sure,
'i was only asking
because the kid next door
said she came from blackpool'
[ old mate laughing ]
yes --
where's that punch line from again --
rewind me
[ me ]
'a small child is walking
hand-in-hand
with its parent --
they pass a very pregnant women
''where do we come from'' --
questions the child
the parent stops perplexed
thinks,
and begins with mulberry bush stories
stops
stares at the silent child
and moves on to
the birds and the bees --
the child is still silent --
the parent continues --
anatomy
externals
ultra-sound,
stops --
internals
drs ands nurses
scopes forceps
stops perplexed
then checks
with the child
if the answer
is cool'
[ old mate laughing ]
yes,
exactly --
and then you told me yours
remember --
veil in the pea-pod
remember --
you hurt a child you love
then didn't you --
there --
didn't you --
[ me ]
yes
[ old mate ]
and then
we fitted our pieces
together --
you the abuser
me the abused
[ me ]
i am so sorry
[ old mate ]
don't be --
it wasn't you
that abused me
[ me ]
i just wish
i could have been there
[ old mate ]
oh wish, wish,
wish when, where --
before we had met --
do you have a time-machine --
fantasy --
as soon as you knew
you were there --
you are so hard on yourself
you always were --
remember
i'm a hustler baby
that's how my daddy made me
and you, abuser
made a drunken pass --
that is all
[ me ]
yeah,
you could always
beat me at stories --
but remember
we did agree
there is a parallel
[ old mate ]
yes, then
but now, no --
it is a tangent --
you try yourself
in repetitious jeopardy --
you live in circular time --
would you ever stop
rationalising
what you did
and just accept
what you did
was wrong
[ me ]
yes,
i admit it
i was wrong
[ old mate ]
oh ... don't be so dramatic
you admitted it long ago
to others and to yourself
[ me ]
yeah, i remember
angels and devils
[ old mate ]
and did not the veil begin to drop
when you accepted
the reality of the other
and apologised
as i told you it might
[ me ]
yes
thanks
[ old mate ]
well
this is the same --
just like before
sooner or later
in tension you'll shear --
you'll turn from friend to foe
and then,
the veil will raise again
[ me ]
no
[ old mate ]
yes,
others will raise it --
many
even if this child does not
but this time
the veil will be lead --
can you handle that
[ me ]
no
[ old mate ]
your story --
this fantasy --
is as old as adam --
the classic conquering self --
with no concept
of the real
potential
romantic other
you can do better
way better
iv. [ mill to bentham ]
=======================
there is no need to expatiate
on the deficiencies
of a system of ethics
which does not pretend
to aid individuals
in the formation
of their own character
which recognises no such wish
as that of self culture
we may even say
no such power
as existing in human nature
and if it did recognise
could furnish little assistance
to that great duty
because it overlooks
the existence of about half
of the whole number
of mental feelings
which human beings
are capable of
including all those
of which
the direct objects
are states
of their own mind
morality consists of two parts
one of these is self-education --
the training,
by the human being himself
of his affections and will
-- that department is a blank
in bentham's system --
the other and co-equal part
the regulation of his outward actions,
must be altogether halting
and imperfect
without the first
for how can we judge
in what manner
many an action
will affect
even the worldly interests
of ourselves or others
unless we take in
as part of the question
its influence on
the regulation of our
or their
affections and desires
a moralist
on bentham's principles
may get as far as this
that he ought not to slay
burn
or steal
but what will be his qualifications
for regulating the nicer shades
of human behaviour
or for laying down
even the greater moralities
as to those facts
in human life
which tend to influence
the depths of the character
quite independently
of any influence
on worldly circumstances --
such
for instance
as the sexual relations
or those of family in general
or any other social
and sympathetic connexions
of an intimate kind
the moralities of these questions
depend essentially
on considerations
which bentham never
so much as took
into the account
and when he happened
to be in the right
it was always
and necessarily
on wrong
or insufficient grounds
v. china girl
=============
need help i
i imagine
since small i
i thought persuasions --
when three
walking we three
through a village --
passing shop
i see an image
a stamp
flat-cap
a smiley face --
pointing stating --
one in three chinese --
radio fact repeating
other-heads shaking
singing --
not told so
they chinese --
therefore
makes me it
statistically
looking back
to the window
recognising face reflecting
i convinced of chinese-being --
holding this pearl
above all others
time passing
thoughts replacing --
other pictures
best-fit me --
for i could not juggle,
or chop-sticks play --
so i doubt my state
of chinese-being --
you imagine,
i open seed
an other imagination,
hearing
my quest for being --
being in the reflected other --
put it
monkey-being
best-fit me
pictures producing
sounds
artifacts --
-- drawing me
with joined-up
matching
monkey-facts
time passing
in the commons
still fast
other patterns drawing me --
i draw myself --
books, magazines,
bill-stickers --
categories now, new titles
allegiances, classings, groupings
insignia, passports, club-memberships,
spade-handed, diamond hearts
other expectations of being
reflecting common plottings,
common realm believes
layered --
layering
crash, wallop --
compression --
tight in weeks,
hours, moments --
self-other-mirrors
smithereens
common mind speculations,
spiritual concepts
squashed
flattened --
new self formed --
survival-i --
here-and-now-i --
welcome-to-the-temporal-realm-i --
lots of members
lots reside
lots domino dancing
in this dense dominion
once :
------
one dead in seconds
clocks stopped
gap in me,
my community
my fault
my new self formed cracked-whole
my survival --
the temporal other --
death
the temporal realm
uncompressing slowly --
to the commons,
to the possible outcomes
the real --
self-realisations --
cracked and cracking i,
intoxicated i,
stupid i,
ego i,
flying i,
what you do little i
never again little i
never the same little i
uncompressing
surviving, hours living, thinking
laying shattered --
intervention
helicopters
female doctors
strutting knees with wood,
brown-paper --
belfast learnings --
weeks surviving
male fencing schools --
psycop blather
interventions
family other
shattered --
cracked-all --
never the same
not ever
twice :
-------
months, self-surviving
other broken-i exhibits --
on hearing told
other i pray trading
shattered-i exhibits --
another dying, self
an other, self --
days given
weeks possible
lumber punctures
bradford burnings
geiger readings
brighton bombings
hillsborough crushings
needles pricks --
compressed
rarefied --
months --
6 maybe --
a year --
back to days
slowly months,
digital
compressing other, self
the dying other
the living self
like me
others
like me
dreaming of the dead
the dying
together
separate
cracked --
need help i
i imagine
since small i
i thought persuasions
vi. 1929
========
it was not until the dawn
of the twentieth century
of the Christian era
that war began to enter
into its kingdom
as the potential destroyer
of the human race
the organisations of mankind
into great states and empires
and the rise of nations
to full collective consciousness
enabled enterprise slaughter
to be planned
and executed upon a scale
and with a perseverance
never before imagined
all the noblest virtues
of individuals
were gathered to strengthen
the destructive capacity
of the mass.
good finances
the resources of world-wide credit and trade
the accumulation of large capital reserves
made it possible to divert
for considerable periods
the energies of whole peoples
to the task of devastation
democratic institutions
gave expression
to the will-power
of the millions
education not only
brought the course of conflict
within the comprehension of everyone
but rendered each person
serviceable
in a high degree
for the purpose at hand
the press
afforded a means of unification
and of mutual stimulation
religion
having discreetly avoided conflict
on fundamental issues
offered its encouragements
and consolations
through all its forms
impartially to all the combatants
lastly
science unfolded its treasures
and its secrets
to the desperate demands of men
and placed in their hands
agencies and apparatus
almost decisive in their character
in consequence
many novel features
presented themselves
instead of merely fortified towns being starved
whole nations were methodically subjected
or sought to be subjected
to the process of reduction by famine
the entire population
in one capacity or another
took part in the war --
all were equally the object of attack.
the air opened paths
along which death
and terror
could be carried far
behind the lines of actual armies
to women
children
the aged
the sick
who earlier in struggles
would perforce
have been left untouched
marvellous organisations
of railroads
steamships
and motor vehicles
placed and maintained
tens of millions of men
in continuously in action
healing and surgery
in their exquisite developments
returned them again and again
to the shambles
nothing was wasted
that could contribute
to the process of waste
the last dying kick
was brought to military unity
but all that happened
in the four years
of the Great War
was only a prelude
to what was preparing
for the fifth year
the campaign of the year 1919
would have witnessed
an immense accession
to the powers of destruction --
had the germans
retained morale
to make good their retreat
to the rhine
they would have been assaulted
in the summer of 1919
with forces and by methods
incomparably more prodigious
than yet employed
thousand of aeroplanes
would have shattered their cities
scores of thousands
of cannons
would have blasted their front
arrangements were being made
to carry simultaneously
a quarter of a million men
together with all their requirements
continuously forward
across country
in mechanical vehicles
moving ten of fifteen miles each day
poison gases of incredible malignity,
against which only a secret mask
-- which the germans could not obtain in time --
was proof
would have stifled all resistance
and paralysed all life
on the hostile front
subjected to attack
no doubt
the germans too had their plans
but the hour of wrath had passed
the signal of relief was given
and the horrors of 1919
remained buried in the archives
of the great antagonists
the war stopped as suddenly
and as universally
as it had begun
the world lifted its head,
surveyed the scene of ruin
and victors and vanquished
alike drew a breath
in a hundred laboratories
in a thousand arsenals
factories
and bureaux
men pulled themselves up
with a jerk
and turned from the tasks
in which they had been absorbed
their projects
were put aside
unfinished
unexecuted
but their knowledge was preserved
their data
calculations
and discoveries
were hastily bundled together
and docketed
''for future reference''
by the War Offices
in every country
the campaign of 1919
was never fought
but the ideas
go marching along
in every army
they are explored
elaborated
refined
under the surface of peace --
and should war come again
to the world
it is not for the weapons
and agencies
prepared for 1919
that it will be fought --
but with the developments
and extensions of these
which will be incomparably
more formidable and fatal
it is theses circumstances
that we entered
upon that period
of exhaustion
which has been described
as Peace
it gives us
at any rate
an opportunity to consider
the general situation
certain sombre facts emerge
solid
inexorable
like shapes of mountains
from drifting mist
it is established
that henceforward
whole populations
will take part in war --
all doing their utmost --
all subjected to the fury
of the enemy
it is established
that nations
who believe their life is at stake
will not be restrained
from using any means
to secure their existence
it is probable
-- nay, certain --
that among the means
which will next time be
at their disposal
will be agencies
and processes of destruction
wholesale
unlimited
and perhaps
once launched
uncontrollable
mankind has never been in this position before
without having improved appreciably
in virtue and enjoying wiser guidance
it has got into its hands
for the first time
the tools by which
it can unfailingly accomplish
its own extermination
that is the point
in human destinies
to which all the glories and toils of men
have at last led them
they would do well
to pause
and ponder
upon their new responsibilities
Death stands to attention
obedient
expectant
ready to serve
ready to shear away the peoples
en masse
ready
if called on
to pulverise
without hope of repair
what is left of civilisation
He awaits it from a frail
bewildered being
long its victim
now --
for one occasion only --
his Master
-- aftermath : w s churchill
vii. answered prayers
=====================
''that which touches all
should be approved by all''
>> i was still busy with the stronger pugilist
>> who was now crying
>> and trying to get back to his victim
>> to pick up some coins,
>> about 2 squid fifty
>> on the floor
>> and asking the kid on the ground
>> if he was ok
>> and could he help ?
>> it was all getting very confused
> What's this got to do with UPD?
this has taken me a while to figure out
the thing that finally stopped
the stronger pugilist
from beating his victim to death
was this ...
[ me ]
no i mean stop
my children are inside
and i don't want them disturbed
[ pugilist ]
sorry mate
i didn't mean to wake them up
[ me roaring ]
how could you not
with this racket
and,
it is not your noise
but your violence
that is disturbing
violence begets violence
that is elementary
and there is enough of that
on the telly already
i don't want it here
and i don't want it there
... do you know
he just stopped at that point
and replied --
"you're one of the good guys aren't ya"
well i laughed
for although i do try
to do good things
and am drawn by good examples
-- many in these lists --
i'd be the last one
to give myself
that particular label
on all fronts however
the world is in a cusp --
however
on all fronts
it is evident
that, if we wish
to continue our occupation
then, we need to clean up our act --
the world has become little more than
a by-product
of the somewhat accidental survival
of our species --
and the world has been
and is being thoroughly
diseased by us
we have trapped
the world
and trap ourselves
in circular repetitious
mass human behaviour patterns --
circular repetitious time
this trap i hear
labelled sometimes as ''progress''
and i would concur with others
that there has been some
abstracting through generations
my existence is testimony to a speculation
if not a progression
provided in part by my state --
my educational cost alone for example
must be greater than six figure sterling --
this is in no way unusual
where i and multitude of others mix
and grew up
in the here and now
however, we appear to be repeating en masse
what most children learn
on first touch of a candle flame
in the here and now therefore
-- the temporal realm --
i reject the non-contextual
use of the label ''progress''
to define my state
my point --
the world is in a cusp
the weather front :
-------------------
the stern report
sets out to quantify
the mathematical scale of
the gross economics --
dire straits
to quote --
"and then there is
the greatest opportunity of all --
the prize
of securing
and safeguarding the planet
for our generations to come."
this is a worthwhile prize
no doubt
to quote again --
"[ further he ] said the green challenge was also an
opportunity --
'for new markets,
for new jobs,
new technologies,
new exports where companies,
universities and social enterprises
in britain can lead the world.'"
this i doubt
the war front :
---------------
in the commons,
i hear many calls for cease-fire --
many of these before
this war's
recent incarnation
and out-pouring
i hear also, and am heartened somewhat
by initial drafts
of temporal realm representatives
reconsidering strategies
i hear also, and am heartened somewhat
by the call of the land --
sovereignty,
to be represented --
for with out this representation
any concepts
we may have
concerning common
universal purpose
would be undermined
and not underpinned
the spiritual nights, from their age
great experience and learnings
have tortoised
in and out
of parliament
in the protection
of our constitution
a caring parent
produces a caring child
as does a caring other
presently
these are words only
the inner front :
-----------------
in this inner state --
the state within the state --
that exists within us all
i hear still temporal knights
unable or unwilling
to take responsibility
for their doings
still unable
or unwilling
to quantify the death --
the dead
to quantify the terror --
the terrorised
brought,
bought by their command
or as a product
of their inaction
i suspect
this inability --
their unwillingness
to explain fully --
that is, to provide the commons
with the mathematical scale
of the gross economics of the state --
is a by-product of their fear --
fear has struck them dumb
and i would deem them
correct to be afraid --
their adventurous antics
upon the oceans
in the skies
and upon the land
under covers of raised union
and flags of convenient brands
has and continues
to severely wound
and rape
our constitution
both
in fact and
in law
my point --
churchill's constant fear --
how can we maintain
a constitution
with sufficient morality
to survive this war --
in the immediate after math
of a previous stage
i am not surprised
that he felt
the defendants
at nuremberg
should be declared outlaw
and shot --
the things he had done
in wielding the hallows
that time round --
in the commons
and without --
drawn upon the multitude --
to carrot and stick all comers
by force of will --
i am not surprised he felt that way out
an other
an other union state
the child
the parent
intervened --
try the defendants
face the fear
the fear front :
----------------
3 o'clock --
scene nonce unfolds --
[ in vitro ]
i won't be long now
[ parent, other ]
oo ...
i can feel you ...
awake again kooky koo ...
we're nearly ready
on the out-side
[ in vitro ]
i'll soon be out
i am so excited
[ parent, other ]
hold your poppies you
we've still got some stuff to do
there's something lurking about
out here
that we want to put in to a frame
before you pop out
otherwise it will frighten you
[ in vitro quivering ]
frighten
what is this thing
[ parent, other ]
it is a word --
''terror''
it means extreme fear
[ in vitro shuddering ]
i don't like
the thought of that
what does this word
feel like
[ parent, other ]
oo ... calm you
it feels horrible
as it is presently drawn
and worse still
when it draws itself upon others
[ in vitro ]
are words that strong
that they can draw upon people
[ parent, other ]
yes, some are
some have drawn
many billions together
by being spoken but the once
this word --
''terror'',
is not that strong --
others repeat it
to help it along
[ in vitro ]
why do people repeat it
if it is so horrible
[ parent, other ]
habit,
but we've got other ones too
[ in vitro ]
we've got many
[ parent, other ]
yes you
work is one too
still got some to do
one-two was a race horse
two-one was one too
two-one won a race
one-two won one too
splish splash you
still got work to do
[ in vitro off faffing
in the greater play ]
[ parent, other aside ]
there's lots of fear
in the temporal realm
as death is a product
of the temporal realm
fear --
in its raw extreme form
begets death,
breeds terror
breeds death
quickly compressing
two-tone survival decisions
in to all the subjects
of its kingdom
fear needs to be judged
openly, if unable
to judge itself --
fear left unjudged
tends to judge others
in its place
a mate, a man
made it crystal clear to me once
that he would cut through me
to get to fresh air --
without a doubt
he had done it before
fear is one aspect of ''pain'' --
but it is not
the pain itself --
and,
it is not our common ''disease''
fear of the unknown
fear of the known
fear of the boogie man
fear of the self
fear of the other
fear of flying --
fear finally that this disease
will be with us
for the rest of our born days --
that this disease can kill us
as it kills our family
and friends
life decisions
in the temporal realm
two-tone determinations in dis eschool
but the same essential root habit --
'' murder''
the outer front :
-----------------
the other --
the real --
the gross economics of the state --
our alienated society
to re quote stern --
"and then there is
the greatest opportunity of all --
the prize
of securing
and safeguarding the planet
for our generations to come."
this is a worthwhile prize
no doubt
a spiritual yearning
that touches the eternal
to re quote again --
"[ stern ] said the green challenge was also an opportunity
'for new markets,
for new jobs,
new technologies,
new exports where companies,
universities and social enterprises
in britain can lead the world.'"
what an opportunity --
the offer of a mathematical
solution in the here and now --
a temporal solution
which maintains faith
in the eternity
of petro-currency hegemony
this is a racket --
scratch the surface
strip-off the ego-money's new clothes
and we will find surely
most if not all the 'new technologies'
we need to win this prize
already discovered
and locked-up --
patented
resistance begins -- hans rothfels
"there is a kernel of truth
in the assertion
occasionally made by germans
that our country
-- like so many others later --
was the first to be 'occupied'
conquered and ravished by foreign rulers
though the objection
is also valid
that rape has seldom been accompanied
by such frantic rejoicing
on the part of the victims
we should however
rigorously oppose the view
still frequently held abroad
that resistance did not begin
until the war was lost
in this view
resistance is restricted
to the attempt
by certain sections of the population
to escape the threatening catastrophe
with no more than a black eye"
to re quote stern again --
"[ he ] said the green challenge was also an opportunity
'for new markets,
for new jobs,
new technologies,
new exports where companies,
universities and social enterprises
in britain can lead the world.'"
i offer a different opportunity --
a spiritual solution
that touches the eternal
based upon a constitution
and blood
but my blood is neither green
nor blue
for i am a mor
in search of mooring
both scene unscene
the jacks i raise
are black to their base
quoting rothfels again
"in march 1935
a manifesto against racial mysticism
was read from protestant pulpits
as a result
700 clergy were arrested
a memorandum drafted
at whitsun 1936
by the leaders of the confessing church
went still further --
it stated --
'when blood
race
nationality
and honour
receive the status of eternal values
the evangelical church is obliged
by the first commandment
to reject this scale of values
when the aryan man is exalted
god's word testifies
to the sinfulness of all men
when in the framework
of national socialist ideology
anti-semitism is imposed
on the christian
obliging him to hate all jews
for him the first commandment
of brotherly love
remains binding'
with the same application
of a basically human approach
a pastoral letter
of the german bishops declared --
'we wish to stress particularly
that we espouse not only religious
and churchly rights
but human rights as such
without their guarentee
the whole structure
of western civilisation
must collapse'"
my point --
the world is in a cusp
judgement day :
---------------
other states
other constitutions
are moving
in self defence
towards self judgement
frames are being drawn
around the key protaginists
of the petro-currency hegamony
depicting them as demons --
they are not demons --
they are people --
just like us --
and the vast majority of them
are men
for us to move on --
and we must
if we are to survive --
these people
need to account for their actions
to the commons --
without learning from our mistakes
we will no doubt repeat them
the home front :
----------------
in war
state principals
state they have principles
based upon their constitutions
that they will not compromise
these dictates
loose their authority always
as their constitutions
become compromised
i have one principle --
i serve the woman and the child
the woman and child
in the infinite
in the multitude
in the commons
i do not live my life through them
i live my life for them --
many moons ago
i stitched together a story
which talked in terms
of species evolution
[ refer ix. below ] --
in hindsight
it has little to do with evolution
and a lot to do with people
growing up and understanding
that we are
one blood
"there is a hand to turn the time
through thy glass today be run
till the light that hath brought the towers low
find the last poor pret'rite one ...
till the riders sleep by ev'ry road
all through our crippl'd zone
with a face on ev'ry mountainside
and a soul in ev'ry stone" -- slothrop
viii. the hydrosphere
---------------------
6 o'clock --
scene nonce unfolds --
[ in vitro riddling ]
i won't be long now i trust
[ parent, other ]
we know that you
we're excited too
where you been faffing
what you been up to
[ in vitro riddling ]
wondering
about the outside
about playing in matter
[ parent, other ]
yes, it is lovely
you like it
squidgy
splashy
[ in vitro riddling ]
oh ...
i do like the feel of splashy
water, my other
[ parent, other ]
the other, the spice
plenty to go around
splish, splashy
water water everywhere
but not enough to drink
splish, splashy
[ in vitro quivering ]
not enough to drink
but water is life
[ parent, other ]
yes,
and life is a struggle
presently
a struggle for water
[ in vitro shuddering ]
i don't like
the feel of that
-- scratchy
is water not abundant
[ parent, other ]
yes, shes' everywhere
and everywhere abducted
bard
as gwenhwyfar --
robbed in antipodean flowers
as her infants starve
stanked in containers
and abused
to secure retainers
shackled, branded
metered sodopolised
but everywhere shes is
in untapped aquifers
tending to roots
as roots tend to her
preparing her release
working for her reign
the other, the spice
plenty to go around
splish, splashy
ix. breach - pain inversions
============================
a constitution is a thing antecedent to a government
a government is only a creature of a constitution
a constitution is not the act of a government
but of a people constituting a government
and government without a constitution
is a power without a right
-- tom paine
[ox-en] a cristmas carol
http://www.oekonux.org/list-en/archive/msg01849.html
9 o'clock --
scene nonce unfolds --
[ in vitro riddling ]
i won't be long now
x. tale of the many dreamers
============================
history --
which
like certain film directors
proceeds by a series
of abrupt images
now puts forward
the image
of a danger filled saloon
located
-- as if on the high seas --
out in the heart
of the all powerful
desert
sits
inside
'andy cap
a character
of sober appearance
drinking steadily
at the central
round bar
the saloon is dimly lit
furnishing totems
interior circular walls
no apparent doors
many windows
many shaped
through looking
hall of mirrors
hall of vdu
sand showing
sand blowing
[ seated character ]
cai passes
another grouse
would ya
and
the huffa duffa
[ cai -- a beautiful androgynous character appears
out of the central shadows
past a cow eyeing
carrying
a bottle
a remote
the appearance of concern
smoking themselves
cai leans over
close waits
seated character ]
[ seated character ]
ah go on
pass them over
let me play it again cai
[ cai fills glass
passes over remote
smooth shakes shimmers
central shadows retreats
heals tapping chequed
concentric tiles
radiating below ]
[ seated character
turns bar perpendicular
points remote distant window
scene once
-- at 3 o'clock : other windows turn to sand ]
once :
------
3 o'clock --
scene once unfolds --
window moves
close up face closer
fish bowl hair youthful
smiling minded absent character
unabsent resembling
seated other
freck l e s b u t --
blue black
giant f reck l es
-- one eye
tear
evidence
opening zooming
exposing wider angle
sits an other --
green trench coat giant
paul geologist
categorising --
cleaves faults thrusts
between beer sups --
various lais slants --
sedimentary deposits
slates
out takes
6 o'clock --
zoom out scene once unfolds --
in an other desert bar --
nest of tattooed youths
larking around --
friday night session
drink bird fight
paul slewed --
vodka on cornflakes
conversations gets no better
blue giant stands
states --
i need to squirt
then lets get from here
9 o'clock --
cuts outside scene once unfolds --
moonlight
a platonic form --
a park bench
characters sitting talking chatting
laughing happy giggling
paul laughing
lagging
unfolds from trench coat
taken
ship in bottle
saloon window sill
missing
[ green man ]
do you like
[ blue giant ]
yes --
but no --
it not ours
to keep --
take it back
let larks sleep
[ green man laughing ]
i'll get done
[ green man throws bottle
nonchalently towards a
nearby cut, navigation
canel spinning darkness ]
[ scene once
freezes still
dark women cuts
checks in
round saloon
opposite square
seated
character
white diagonals
accompanied
either side
storm -- -- troopers ]
[ cai ]
drinks
[ dark women ]
do you have water
[ cai ]
yes --
on tap
[ dark women ]
thank you --
put it there
[ seated character
pours another
grouse ]
[ dark women ]
would you
like water
in that
[ seated character ]
thanks
but no thanks
i prefer to
keep them
cleaved
[ dark women ]
why have you
spelled me
here
merlin
[ seated character : merlin ]
ap a naming
ap ap
appy birthday me --
i want to show you something
a steel fan
its through a known window
-- fletch
if you sit
and you troopers remain stationary
you may move out of the frame
the circle
when i draw
the image near
through the window
over there
same deal
whom ever
would after
come through me
to get to you
[ dark women
sits
remotes
to scene twice ]
[ other windows turn to clay ]
twice :
-------
6 o'clock --
scene twice unfolds --
a student corridor
fletch walking one way
a character named june
walking the other
fletch catches june's eye
and smiles --
june cries
lowers head
runs away ]
[ dark women cuts ]
you appear
to have that effect
on lots of women
[ fletch refolds
scene twice to common
corridor
phone ringing
picking up phone
fletch asked
by parent-junes
to pass june message --
grandma dead
don't ya wanna
tella yoursen --
fletch response
hangup parent-junes
fletch message delivery
june crying --
which grandma
fletch
dunno ]
[ dark women ]
is that all
[ fletch ]
dunno
there was this as well
[ fletch refolds
scene twice to common
corridor
phone ringing
picking up phone
fletch asked
by parent-junes
to pass june message --
grandma dead
don't ya wanna
tella yoursen --
fletch response
hangup parent-junes
fletch message delivery
june crying --
which grandma
fletch
dunno
guess
both ]
[ fletch ]
don't laugh
look back --
june clothes darken
more wears suffering icon
each passing gran
[ dark women ]
your point
9 o'clock --
scene twice unfolds --
[ speedy still ]
fletch ...
june's bike is disappeared
have you seen it
do you know who's got it
[ fletch ]
i can guess
is she ok
[ speedy ]
yes,
i mean no
can you sort the bike out please
[ fletch ]
sure sweetie
still hawaii 9 o' --
scene twice unfolds --
to phoenician ali
[ fletch ]
hey ali
have you took
june's bike again
[ ali ]
err ...
you know ...
it is like this ...
you see ...
zher june ...
she is, how do you say ...
she is so beautiful
i can not bear to see her harmed
[ fletch ]
where you put the bike ali
[ ali ]
err ...
don't be like this ...
you see ...
my dream ...
i dream ...
i can not
see her harmed
[ fletch ]
i know you dream ali
you've told me
but it's june's bike
and she needs it back
[ dark women cuts ]
freeze twice scene
still you switch
check merlin
switch you
drinks
to tea
[ merlin ]
i
yes
think
likesit
twice
tea
u
you
water
cleaner
other
one
i
[ dark women ]
me
thoughts
could cook
teaman
- -
known me
mens
as
solo man
- -
brake fast
thrice
9 of clock
begin again
- -
[ water bar ]
scene
un moving
at 9 o'clock
unfolds
cai
hot
variety
finger food
rice vine
wrapped
leafs
colds
figs roll
fresh fruit
wipped canopy
[ other windows turn to forest ]
thrice :
--------
9 o'clock --
scene thrice unfolds
site state civil cabin --
final claims meeting --
hydrology works --
second riding
city contract
forked river
shaping city
three valleys
catchments three
dendretic forking
seven hilling
first riding contract --
complete
way back when
third riding contract --
sketched only
second riding contract --
final claims meeting --
contention --
time and money --
many seated suited
awaiting engineers
[ david character unfolds
through cabin door --
small bearded
barrel chested
vocally operatic
hard hat removing
unfolds handkerchief
thin A4 contract
sleeve pocket --
the 5th edition
book puts
small david table top
sits blows nose
dark mucus
unfolds opium drips
top tweed pocket
two drops --
left eye ]
right eye glass
no need
drops
[ david to seated suited ]
gentlemen
[ unfolds another country man
through cabin door --
character bearded gwil --
works inspector
shakes rain off
blue wax coat
passing observing
hat remaining ]
[ gwil to seated suited ]
gentlemen
it is wetter on-top
the back-grouting is now complete
[ unfolds through cabin door
character montford --
city man
resident engineer
hat removing
chapel hair
appendix g coat
hat peg ]
[ montford to seated suited ]
gentlemen
is there tea
[ unfolds through cabin door
character engineer
peripatetic city-country
hat remaining ]
[ engineer to seated suited ]
gentlemen
[ david stares at engineer ]
[ engineer offers ]
minutes chief
[ david ]
no notes necessary
stay and listen
by all means
[ tea bar mashed --
gwil latent diabetic
3 spoons left stir
montford pudgy
2 spoons right stir
engineer like mate
1 spoons like mate
david no spoon
drop drip drop ]
[ david to seated suited ]
the works are complete
you may now turn the flows
[ contractors rep ]
do you deem today
to be the completion-date
[ david ]
possibly
i shall grant you either
extra-time
or extra-monies
i shall not grant you extra both
you are not due extra both
[ contractors rep ]
but without the extra-time
we have no heads remaining
-- no claim routes
to justify
the extra-monies
the material works
are measured and agreed
the records are complete
no gaps exist
[ david ]
''profit''
label the head of claim
''profit''
[ contractors rep ]
there has been no profit
in this works
there can be no profit
in this works
[ david ]
then
''loss''
label the head of claim
''loss''
[ dark women cuts ]
check now
freeze thrice
grouts merlin
-- --
tunnel shield
scene unscene
maintain skip
bike twice
tocsin
[ merlin ]
daisy
- -
daisy
[ tea bar ]
fletch
fast brake
-- sisters
ali unfreeze
twice scene
make it
at
12 o'clock
which hours
[ other windows turn to orchard ]
twice :
-------
12 o'clock --
scene twice unfolds --
[ fletch ]
knock knock
[ ali ]
come in
come in
[ fletch nods
to other occupants ]
alright lads
[ fletch to ali ]
you've had me tied-up for a hour
or i'd have been here sooner
[ ali appears concerned ]
the bike
[ fletch ]
yes --
and then some
[ ackram giggles ]
sit sit drink eat --
break fast
tell us
[ fletch sits ]
cheers --
one spoon please --
thanks
well i took june's bike back
and she asks me to talk
to two of her mates --
born-agains
she went for a walk
to me she can't talk --
she thinks i'm a johna --
er ... unlucky --
she cries
[ ackram giggles ]
[ fariq ]
it is not funny
[ ackram ]
no
[ fariq ]
continue
[ fletch ]
it was difficult to explain --
her mates had not really kopped
why ali had took the bike --
they thought it was just
to get june's attention --
like the jewelry pledged
if they should marry --
they didn't like that one either really --
they thought ali was trying to lure her
in to some kind of promiscuity --
hyped by tabloid fiction --
peach and pruned characters
either side of the
eighteen-to-thirty market
[ fariq ]
and did you explain it
[ fletch ]
kind of --
i told them it was like
a reverse dowry --
but they didn't like that
and i don't really --
but it took the edge of
sir lancelot here --
i didn't get round
to talking about
the broken stick metaphor
[ fariq ]
ali talks of things
both known and unknown to him --
when he marries
he will speak of marriage
maturely
tell me --
what don't you like
about the gifts
[ fletch ]
i prefer
to keep love
and
money separate
[ fariq ]
yes --
but this is not love --
it is marriage
[ ali ]
it is love
[ fariq ]
yes --
it may grow to be love
but whatever it is
at the moment
it is one sided
do men not consider
these things here --
in your state --
valuable offerings
upon marriage
[ fletch ]
yes --
rings commonly
sometimes joint-tenancies
sometimes not,
some men consider themselves
to be the gift alone
as a provider
[ ali ]
i am a good provider
[ ackram giggles ]
yes --
but the provisions
are all one sided
[ fariq ]
so it appears --
so it appears
that gifts upon marriage
are common to many cultures --
maybe every culture
[ fletch ]
i suppose
[ fariq ]
eat
eat
[ fletch eats ]
cheers
[ fariq ]
and the bike --
is ali in trouble
[ fletch ]
not if ali
leaves it alone --
and leaves june alone also
[ ali ]
no
[ fletch ]
yes --
she's fed up with you ali --
she's told her mates
she feels like quitting college
[ ali ]
no
[ fletch ]
yes --
she's upset ali --
she's grieving
[ fariq ]
she needs time and space --
can you give her that ali
[ ali ]
yes --
but the bike will brake her
[ fletch ]
ali --
you ought to have seen the look
on the younger chap's face
when i told them why
you took the bike
[ ali ]
her friends ...
her friends are men
[ ackram giggles ]
[ fletch ]
yes --
and when i told them
you took the bike
because it may take her virginity
-- nincompoop --
the young one
didn't know where to look --
he was making notes
and i don't think
he liked writing
the word
[ fariq ]
making notes
[ fletch ]
yes --
he is being trained
by the older one --
the older one has quite a flock
he's a good singer --
i heard him a few years ago
[ ali ]
no
[ fariq ]
is she with them now
[ fletch ]
i think she's by herself --
but she's attracted to them --
she's drawn to jesus
[ ali stands ]
i love jesus also
i am devout muslim --
i must go to her
she is so pure
[ ackram ]
no
[ fariq ]
sit sit --
if you can't give her
time and space --
six months at least --
you must leave here
[ ackram nods ]
[ ali ]
no
[ fariq ]
yes
these notes --
are they going to file a report
[ fletch ]
their own files i think --
it will go no further
as long as ali stays cool
[ fariq ]
nincompoop --
what is this
[ fletch ]
oh, i mean ali's being a dafty
about the bike
[ fariq ]
do you not think
it is correct
for a women
to be a virgin
on marriage
[ fletch ]
whatever --
if you love someone
you love someone whatever
whatever their state
and position
[ ackram nods ]
[ fariq ]
ah ...
a poet's love --
love that is need and desire
sacrifice and patient acceptance --
love as strong as death
but my question is not about love
it is about marriage
[ fletch ]
they have been known
to come together
[ fariq ]
yes --
but a person's virginity
is a mark of their health --
a gift of their health
on marriage
[ ali nods ]
i am virgin
[ ackram nods ]
me too
[ fletch giggles ]
yes ackram --
but me and you
are still young
[ fariq ]
i am virgin also
[ ackram ]
i will remain virgin
[ fletch looks at ackram ]
[ ackram ]
i love some one
as strong as death
and she is dead
[ fletch ]
sorry mate
[ ackram stands moves to window ]
[ fariq ]
eat some more please
there is plenty
[ fletch ]
thanks
[ fariq ]
do you think june's friends
will be able to help her
[ fletch ]
dunno --
as bishops
they appear to be converts
newly baptised
with little reputation
outside their own clique
for instance --
the younger chap
had no idea about jesus' role
in islam --
he mistook ali to be heathen
[ ali ]
heathen --
what is this
[ fletch ]
unenlightened
irreligious
[ ali ]
but i love god devoutly
[ fletch ]
i know
i told them --
i told them that you are a virgin
because of your faith --
i think that's what swung it
with respect to the bike
the younger one didn't kop it
but the older one did --
i said --
ali's not your enemy --
he doesn't put pleasure
in the place of god
he's not arrogant
boastful or abusive
he is not implacable
in his hatreds
he is not a scandal-monger
traitor or adventurer
swollen with self-importance
and he doesn't wear
the outward form of religion
and stand in denial
of its reality
[ ali ]
thank you
[ fletch ]
de nada
[ ali ]
de nada --
what is this
[ fletch ]
maleesh
[ ackram giggles
at the window ]
[ ash bar one mashed : the characters are silent for several minutes ]
[ fariq begins again ]
tell me --
abortion --
it is a common practice
here --
why does your state
sanction abortion
[ fletch ]
many reasons --
rape for instance
[ fariq ]
yes --
rape is evil
do many women suffer this
[ fletch ]
yes --
many many
[ ali ]
no
[ fletch ]
yes --
many many
[ fariq ]
but there are hundreds
of thousands
of abortions each year --
is rape always the cause
[ fletch ]
no --
it rarely is
[ fariq ]
so --
why does your state
sanction abortion
[ fletch ]
it is deemed a right
of the individual
[ fariq ]
why would an individual
want this right
[ fletch ]
sometimes because
contraception has failed
and the parents
aren't happy with the accident
[ ali ]
but the child is not an accident --
it is a product of intercourse
[ fletch ]
yes i know
[ fariq ]
then why
would a parent choose
to terminate
[ fletch ]
sometimes because
they don't believe
they have enough money
or believe themselves too young
or too unready
or not suited
or for health reasons
or as a preference
[ ali ]
no
[ fariq ]
i understand
how health reasons
can be important --
but why does your state
sanctify so many abortions
for the young and unready
or as a preference
[ fletch ]
it is deemed a right
of the individual
[ ackram ]
they kill their children
and feel no crime --
what hope has palestine
[ dark women cut ] [ ash bar one ]
freeze twice freeze twice
man merlin man merlin
know not know not
thee thee
pain pain
of womens kind
speak thy
own pains
talk once
now thy
own man
minds
[ other windows turn to mist ]
once :
------
12 o'clock --
scene once unfolds --
dark street
[ youth ]
hey you
[ blue giant ]
yes me
[ youth ]
did you throw that bottle
at my mates
[ blue giant ]
no
[ second youth ]
he's the other one alright
[ third youth ]
yeah, i recognise him too
[ forth youth ]
come on then
are we having him or what
[ blue giant ]
i don't fight
[ fifth youth ]
fuck off cunt --
'ave seen thee
at rugby --
knocking
seven shades of shit
out o'other rugga cunts
[ blue giant ]
yes --
but that is a game
and without my gnashers
i am extreamly myopic --
i make mistakes
and i say sorry
[ forth youth punches
giants spectacles ]
[ blue giant ]
what did you do to paul
[ second youth jumping on giants back ]
there wasn't enough of us then
[ the beating begins
bones braking
head kickings --
a maintained
full chakra beating --
minutes pass ]
[ dark women ]
he's not going to make it
[ merlin ]
oh he does --
for a bit anyway
he's very strong
[ the beating continues
never stopping --
the youths have the giant
at the centre of a rook --
head now ball --
they appear to be trying
to rip it off ]
[ dark women ]
he's not going to make it
[ cai ]
fast forward
merlin
use remote
[ an aerial shot now
sodium darkness
maul pulling
ripping
scream
one of
the youths
is up and away
running in darkness
screaming screaming
the other youths
leave their victim
stamping good measure
wander in search of their mate
the broken giant is convulsing
slowly he makes it to his knees
one hand on a half wall
he pulls up bent --
staggering
falling
convulsing ]
[ dark women ]
he's not going
to make it
[ cai ]
fast forward
freer
amadan mor
scene once
seen nonce
forever
mor
[ amadan mor ]
what's up wi' thee
gwenddolau
[ blue giant gasping
unable to speak --
raises hand in mouth
pulls out a severed finger ]
[ blue giant ]
i am sorry
i just wanted it to stop
[ amadan mor ]
tha din't feight did tha --
tha not gonna mek it chab
[ blue giant straightens ]
make what
[ amadan mor ]
life
[ blue giant red raw
roars red,
grabs shakes merlin ]
what do you think
i am doing now
[ amadan mor ]
i wish i could have been there
[ blue giant still roaring red ]
oh wish when where adman
wish when where
tha here nah arn't tha --
mek us
a cup o' cha
chaba khan
[ tetley bar one mashed ]
[ dark women cuts bars ]
freezing
once scene
merl instil
you switch
check mabon four
getme knots smoke
teas leve switch you
what sons days these
violin nonce sense resin cure
own disease unfreeze
[ merlin ]
women
that is your horn to blow
Foreword
========
I will now let my claims
for a decent life stand
as I have made them ...
First, a healthy body
Second, an active mind
in sympathy with
the past,
present,
and the future;
Thirdly, occupation fit
for a healthy body
and an active mind; and
Fourthly,
a beautiful world
to live in
-- how we live and how we might live : w. morris
Philosophers distinguish
phenomenological
from
theoretical laws.
Phenomenological laws are about appearances;
theoretical ones are about the reality behind appearances --
The distinction is rooted in epistemology.
Phenomenological laws
are about things which
we can at least in principle observe directly,
whereas
theoretical laws
can be known only
by indirect inference.
Normally for philosophers
''phenomenological'' and ''theoretical''
mark the distinction between
the observable and the unobservable.
Physicists also use the terms
''theoretical'' and ''phenomenological''.
But their usage makes a different distinction --
Physicists contrast
''phenomenological'' with ''fundamental''.
For example,
Pergamon Press's
Encyclopaedic Dictionary
of Physics says
'A phenomenological theory
relates observed phenomena
by postulating certain equations
but does not enquire too deeply
into their fundamental significance.'
...
In modern physics,
and I think in other exact sciences as well,
phenomenological laws are meant to describe,
and they often succeed
reasonably well.
But fundamental equations
are meant to explain,
and paradoxically enough
the cost of explanatory power
is descriptive adequacy.
Really powerful explanatory laws
of the sort found in theoretical physics
do not state the truth.
I begin from the assumption
that we have an immense number
of very highly confirmed
phenomenological laws --
Spectra-physics Incorporated
continuously runs
a quarter of a million
dollar's worth of lasers
to death
to test their
performance characteristics --
Nothing
could be better confirmation
than that.
But how do the fundamental laws
of quantum mechanics,
which are supposed to explain
the detailed behaviour of lasers,
get their confirmation ?
Only indirectly,
by their ability
to give true accounts of lasers,
or of benzine rings,
or of electron diffraction patterns.
I will argue that
the accounts they give
are generally not true,
patently not true
by the same practical standards
that admit an indefinite number
of commonplace
phenomenological laws.
We have detailed expertise
for testing the claim of physics
about what happens
in concrete situations.
When we look to the real implications
of our fundamental laws,
they do not meet these ordinary standards.
Realists are inclined to believe
that if theoretical laws are false
and inaccurate,
then phenomenological laws are more so --
I urge just the reverse.
When it comes to the test,
fundamental laws are far worse off
than the phenomenological laws
they are supposed to explain.
The essays collected in this volume
may be grouped around
three different
but interrelated arguments
for this paradoxical conclusion --
1. The manifest explanatory power
of fundamental laws
does not argue for their truth.
2. In fact
the way they are used
in explanation
argues for their falsehood.
3. The appearance of truth
comes from a bad model of explanation,
a model that ties laws directly to reality.
As an alternative
to the conventional picture
I propose a ''simulacrum'' account
of explanation.
The route
from theory
to reality
is
from theory
to model,
and then
from model
to phenomenological law.
The phenomenological laws
are indeed true
of the objects in reality
[ the subjects ]
-- or might be;
but the fundamental laws
are true only
of objects in the model.
-- how the laws of physics lie : n cartwright
...
[ According to the second entry
in the Oxford English Dictionary,
a ''simulacrum'' is
'something having merely the form
or appearance of a certain thing,
without possessing its substance
or proper qualities.'
On the simulacrum account,
to explain a phenomenon
is to construct a model
which fits the phenomenon
into a theory.
The fundamental laws
of a theory
are true of the objects in the model,
and they are used to derive
a specific account
of how these objects behave.
But the objects of the model
have only 'the form of appearances of things'
and,
in a strong sense,
not their 'substance of proper qualities'. ]
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