Friday, April 4, 2008
What is being said here...Locke
“If anyone pretends to be so skeptical as to deny his own existence (for really to doubt of it is manifestly impossible), let him, for me, enjoy this beloved happiness of being nothing, until hunger or some other pain convince him of the contrary” (Book IV Chapter X Pg.528) This quote of Locke really confuses me. So apparently he doesn’t doubt God, he knows he exists, and he lives happily and peaceful because of this. Then he says to the one who does not believe, shame one you and you will realize one day that he does exists. What is Locke implying here though? What does he mean “until some other pain convince him of the contrary”? Is he saying that the person would be punished by God for not believing and put to slow painful death? Or maybe is he implying that at his last breathe he would come to his senses and beg for the mercy of God? Why does he think that at this point in someone’s life, if a person has not believed thus far, all of the sudden that he is dying or in pain and will automatically change his feelings on God? I don’t understand this way of thinking…what is Locke really getting at here?
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1 comment:
Its funny you mentioned this because i read that part too... I didnt really know what he ment. Well i think what he means is if people dont believe, and when they are starving they use the power of prayer, but that is praying to a higher power (God) i guess this is what he means, but who doesnt believe in some sort of higher existence.. I was kind of skeptical on this too!
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