¶ Human beings & Complex Universe (3)
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Index Entry
Human beings & Complex Universe:
"The point of it is that you came to it from biology. Studying the controls of the design of this equipment, you said life is the equipment. Because you came in from there you are assuming that this is somehow still animate, whereas everything that you have found is inanimate. What is inanimate has become clearer and clearer; and what is animate has become less and less clear. So we finally get to where you find that we consist completely of atoms–and that atoms are completely inanimate, and so that whatever you are sumtotally is completely inanimate.
“This brings me around to the error man made thinking that life was the equipment used. I have developed an analogy where we have a friend who says ‘I have this other friend who you would like very much. I would like the two of you to meet.’ So our friend introduces you over the telephone… You get to know each other very well, but you have never met: it is always over the telephone… This begins to be the oldest friend you have, but you have never seen him… All you ever know about Joe is over the telephone. We have been misidentifying ourselves. Obviously, the telephone is not Joe.”
¶ Citations
- RJF taping by Dr. Michael Bruwer; Chicago, IL; 16 Feb’78
