Knowing Thyself: The Parable of the Caveman with the Atom Bomb
Jackpine said to Werbinox:
“Many Council members gathered here do not approve of the part I am playing in the strategy to defeat the Destroyer, or the way I am playing it. You are a part of my particular plan, so some of that hostility towards me is also directed towards you. Plus, your presence here frightens them.”
“Why?” Werbinox asked.
“Two tribes of cavemen go to war with each other”, Jackpine said. “One side has clubs, and the other side has a nuclear weapon. Which side is the most powerful?”
“The one with the nuclear weapon?” Werbinox said, wondering if it was a trick question.
“No!” Jackpine roared. “They are just more dangerous and destructive to themselves and others. A caveman with an atom bomb is still a caveman. His capacity for death and destruction has been extended, and that is all. His power over himself has not by a single wit been increased, and has most likely been diminished. The history of your planet should come to mind. Am I speaking to you here?”
‘Yes”, Werbinox answered, somewhat taken aback by the vehemence of the old man’s tone. “But I am not stupid or violent. Why do you compare me to a caveman?”
“Because you do not know yourself.”
Werbinox stopped walking, and stood still for a moment of silence. “I don’t understand how you can say such a thing to me.” Anger crept into his voice. “After all we’ve been thru to get here? I know myself.”
“Since when?” Jackpine asked, turning to face his young protégé. “Since the moment you ate the mushrooms? Since you rocketed thru space faster than the speed of light? Since this moment right now? Do you think that what you know now is all there is?”
“No. But I know a hell of a lot more about myself than I did a few days ago when I bashed that creep’s head in with a baseball bat!”
“You know enough to get yourself deep into trouble, but not enough to get out.” Jackpine said, turning back to the trail before him to resume the climb. “Knowing what you can do is not the same as knowing yourself.”
“How do I get to know myself?” Werbinox asked, following him.
“Get over the idea that you already do. Discover the fact that you are a machine."
“Many Council members gathered here do not approve of the part I am playing in the strategy to defeat the Destroyer, or the way I am playing it. You are a part of my particular plan, so some of that hostility towards me is also directed towards you. Plus, your presence here frightens them.”
“Why?” Werbinox asked.
“Two tribes of cavemen go to war with each other”, Jackpine said. “One side has clubs, and the other side has a nuclear weapon. Which side is the most powerful?”
“The one with the nuclear weapon?” Werbinox said, wondering if it was a trick question.
“No!” Jackpine roared. “They are just more dangerous and destructive to themselves and others. A caveman with an atom bomb is still a caveman. His capacity for death and destruction has been extended, and that is all. His power over himself has not by a single wit been increased, and has most likely been diminished. The history of your planet should come to mind. Am I speaking to you here?”
‘Yes”, Werbinox answered, somewhat taken aback by the vehemence of the old man’s tone. “But I am not stupid or violent. Why do you compare me to a caveman?”
“Because you do not know yourself.”
Werbinox stopped walking, and stood still for a moment of silence. “I don’t understand how you can say such a thing to me.” Anger crept into his voice. “After all we’ve been thru to get here? I know myself.”
“Since when?” Jackpine asked, turning to face his young protégé. “Since the moment you ate the mushrooms? Since you rocketed thru space faster than the speed of light? Since this moment right now? Do you think that what you know now is all there is?”
“No. But I know a hell of a lot more about myself than I did a few days ago when I bashed that creep’s head in with a baseball bat!”
“You know enough to get yourself deep into trouble, but not enough to get out.” Jackpine said, turning back to the trail before him to resume the climb. “Knowing what you can do is not the same as knowing yourself.”
“How do I get to know myself?” Werbinox asked, following him.
“Get over the idea that you already do. Discover the fact that you are a machine."
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home