Is it possible that each of us is genetically predisposed to either mysticism or rationalism? As a case in point, here’s a conversation I recently overheard between my two daughters (aged 3 and 5) – a clear case of unflinchingly nihilistic rationalism versus unwaveringly optimistic mysticism:
Younger sister: I would love to see a shooting star.
Older sister: Why?
Younger sister: So I could make a wish.
Older sister: What would you wish for?
Younger sister: A pony!
Older sister: But, you know, there aren’t any real shooting stars.
Younger sister: Yes there are!
Older sister: No, there aren’t. We call them shooting stars, but they’re just little pieces of space-rock coming through the atmosphere. [Gleefully] Just ugly pieces of rock.
Younger sister: Oh. [Long pause] Well, I will wish for a shooting star then.
"Disenchantment" at five. O tempora, O mores!
ReplyDeleteThis is what Derrida would call the "infinite deferral of the wish".
ReplyDeleteBen,
ReplyDeleteI see you've been feeding your older daughter Bultmann! She's already using science to demythologize children's wishful dreams.
Though I have to ask: is this a redacted account or did your daughter really talk about "little pieces of space rock?" If so, impressive!
"A redacted account"
ReplyDelete-That is hilarious!
"A redacted account" -- yeah, that's a typical rationalist thing to say....
ReplyDelete;-)
Reminds me of an exchange between my son and his little sister a while back.
ReplyDeleteBig bro: Anyway, Father Christmas doesn't exist!
Lil' sis: Yeah, but Santa Claus does!