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Monday 7 November 2011

You know the same of me

William James

I know that you, ladies and gentlemen, have a philosophy, each and all of you, and that the most interesting and important thing about you is the way it determines the perspective in your several worlds. You know the same of me. 
William James (1842 - 1910)

This is one of my favourite William James quotes - simple enough yet so neatly expressed. Although he made the comment during one of his public talks I particularly like the way it applies to blogging, but doesn't really apply to print media or television.

Public talks and lectures were popular during the nineteenth century - Dickens gave many. To some extent they were replaced in the twentieth century by radio and TV as a popular source of commentary on a whole range of subjects.

It seems to me that the internet has begun to put this right - allowing us to relearn the desire to understand, contribute and explore possibilities.


4 comments:

James Higham said...

allowing us to relearn the desire to understand, contribute and explore possibilities

In certain people's cases, not all.

A K Haart said...

JH - particularly the elite who don't make the time for it.

rogerh said...

Changing one's mind or outlook is hard to be sure. A 'Change Manager' I knew reckoned there were only three effective change agents - Damascene Conversion, Frontal Lobotomy or a P45.

A K Haart said...

rogerh - and in the public sector that effectively means two change agents.