Fish and Cave

Gerry Quinn · 24 Dec 2010, 15:37 · from 2010-December.txt.gz

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From: gerryq at indigo.ie (Gerry Quinn)
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2010 15:37:11 -0000
Subject: (urth) Fish and Cave
References: <SNT123-W254579E2401097F0508324CF1D0 at phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <49AD24C205E4448AB4D2C06AF98BEDD5@jill>

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lee Berman" <severiansola at hotmail.com>
>
>>Gerry Quinn: I don't shrink away from ambiguity - in fact I have been 
>>pointing out
>>ambiguities here!  What I don't accept without very strong evidence are
>>theories that are self-contradictory.
>
> Well, yes, what I mean is that by pointing out ambiguities you feel you 
> are disproving
> theories or weakening them perhaps.

In this particular case, I pointed out that either of two possible sea 
goddesses could have been meant - that increases the number of possible 
theories rather than limits them.  Of course by the same token it can 
slightly weaken any theory based on it being a particular one of the two.

It is natural that there should be a tension between the proliferation of 
theories and their strength.  This is precisely why I challenge theories, 
that is to say I investigate how well the fit with the text as a whole.  If 
every possible theory is equally valid, no theory means anything much.

> If self-contradiction really bothers you so much I can understand why you 
> don't believe in God.
> I accept and now much better understand your role in interpreting Gene 
> Wolfe. It is a valuable
> one.

For the record, I think there *is* room for believing in God, that is to say 
I think there are interpretations of the physical universe as we understand 
it that allow for a God in the strong sense.  I do think the universe cannot 
be self-contradictory.  A text can, but preferably should not.  I give it 
the benefit of the doubt until a contradiction is proved.

Anyway I will wish you and everyone a Merry Christmas!

- Gerry Quinn

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