"The purpose of words is to convey ideas. When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten. Where can I find the man who has forgotten words? He is the one I would like to talk to."
Chuang Tzu
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I'm interested in your opinion and your personal interpretation. Seriously answers only, please. Thank you!
2006-07-26 08:59:42 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I like that quote. After reading it a couple of times, I think I understand it. Basically, you use words to convey ideas. Once the idea is grasped, the words no longer matter and aren't needed. Since the guy is looking for "the man who has forgotten words," he is saying he would like to find the man who has attained & grasped all ideas and wisdom.
2006-07-26 09:07:53 · answer #1 · answered by Pumpkin 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
nice quote i kind of get why you would talk to the man who has forgotten words because he has grasped the idea and has a full understanding of it but at the same time if he has forgotten the words to convey the idea to someone else what purpose would it serve to talk to him
2006-07-26 16:07:49 · answer #2 · answered by osirissk8rboy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a reference to the belief that since our lives are limited and the scope for learning is unlimited we often have to draw on the experiences of others to compensate for the natural logistics of life. It's Taoism in the sense that there is a recognition of the fact - and it is a fact - that if each of us is to have any chance of learning we must seek out those who have something to teach and take on board what they, themselves have learned. A rough translation of that in to more holistic modes of western thinking is the question about whether or not we should believe the world is round just because an astronaut says so when he returns from a higher point of perspective; it would make no sense to ask the astronaut why we should believe him because he has nothing to prove to the people on the ground and nothing to gain by trying to convince them that what he knows he knows. Instead, we should be grateful that he deigns to tell us what he knows.
As an aside, your quote is beautifully representative of the arrogance of the wannabe Literati. One has to ask why a man who has transcended the question might give his time to the man who has to ask the question. It may well be that the Taoist who never knew he was a Taoist would want to learn from one who lives in a higher plane of comprehension but it doesn't address the puzzle about why the elevated would "dumb down" in order to help the unenlightened.
2006-07-26 17:07:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately the man who has forgotten words cannot convey his ideas (see the first sentence). Thus there would be nothing to gain from talking to him.
2006-07-26 16:04:22 · answer #4 · answered by 1,1,2,3,3,4, 5,5,6,6,6, 8,8,8,10 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He wants someone who can not only tell him things but also explain them in their own words instead of just repeating something that person memorized.
2006-07-26 16:03:18 · answer #5 · answered by mad1badbadger 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's nice
check mine
"LIFE WITHOUT FRIENDSHIP IS LIKE THE SKY WITHOUT SUN"
2006-07-26 16:03:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think he is saying we all talk, yet do we really understand.
2006-07-26 16:06:05 · answer #7 · answered by Nneave 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its cool
2006-07-26 16:03:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its good
2006-07-26 16:03:58 · answer #9 · answered by Ibrar 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋