December 11, 2014 | 1 Comment

Semantic dementia

by Rey Foret

The human being is cast in two parts, visible and invisible. It is not my purpose to tell of the visible one, except when it is needed to serve as a likeness. For what could possibly better serve as a likeness than things that are alike? However, I will have more to say about the invisible, about which first of all the following example should be heeded. The visible body has an effect on all things; and all of its motions and actions are seen by the human being. But all of this is only half of the action performed; it is only that which we see. The other half is seen by no one. It is performed by the invisible body.

The nature of signs is deceitful and false, like a word that passes from the tongue without seriousness or heartfelt sincerity. Hence the mere fact of colors in things should not induce you to make a judgment and to submit to it; for neither the heavens nor the earth will stand by you: it is above all these things. But you should not think nor be assured of anything but that all things are in the image. That is, all things are formed. In this formation lies their anatomy. The human being is formed: his image is his anatomy.

There is a recurring structure in our (human) nature.
The way we feel, the way we move, our posture- all has an origin and counterpart in the wild.
Some coherences are hidden, some obvious while others must be guessed from what is left out.
There are patterns resembling the line of a poem. Sometimes they tell us about ourselves.
Like signatures.

(First two paragraphs quoted from the 2nd and 3rd book of Paracelsus, written around 1530)