TheBanyanTree: Res Ipsa Loquitur

[Tom Smith]

Res Ipsa Loquitur

I first heard the term "res ipsa loquitur" in an
Introduction to Philosophy class my first semester at Kansas
University, way back in '62.  It means "The thing speaks or
stands for itself."  I have been fascinated with that idea
ever since.

Religion was covered in the Philosophy course, and though
there are several significant religions, the focus in my
class was Judeo-Christianity.  I had questions.  What was
the message of The Flood, for instance.  Should I become a
fish?  (Fish were cut a huge break)  Should I learn to
swim?, Is this a joke?   I never did get the answers, but I
came away believing in the questions.  They stood on their
own, spoke for themselves.

One of the reading resources for that philosophy course was
a book by Hospers titled "The relation of Words to Things." 
It's kind of amazing that here we are in a tree, using only
words to go places, paint scenes, describe things, even
share thoughts, values and attitudes.  But when I'm alone,
wanting to understand or absorb or comprehend some thing
before me, I try to bypass words, get underneath words to raw
direct experience.  I prefer to behold a rainbow or the moon
or clouds, wordlessly.  

Images call on prior experience when they speak.  A wagging
tail says to me "Yippie, let's go!"  A ski mask without cold
says "I want to get away with this."  What's really scary to
me is a whole parade of summertime ski-mask-wearers, rifles
held high, marching and chanting.  To others, that same
parade communicates "Yippie, let's go!"   

I can see a star and get all fuddled up with what I know
about it, or have been told.  I can see an integral of
infinite truths or a mysterious twinkling spot of light. It
is what it is.  A moment.

Tom



 
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