In Meditations in a Toolshed, Lewis writes of gazing along a ray of light versus gazing at the ray, and asks which experience is the more valid of the two. He comments that in today's society we are prone to look "at" a subject and discredit looking "along" anything. Lewis states that one cannot look logically at a situation without first having been subject to that situation oneself. Indeed, one can never completely be outside of one's own experiences. He comes to the conclusion that we must all abandon our previous prejudices and look both "along" and "at" everything in order to surmise which is the best way to view any individual situation, stating that it is possible to have both or one view and be correct depending on the subject.
I found it intruiging that Lewis was able to point out that Western society often talks about and judges situations in complete objectivity without ever once having been in the situation it is judging. Thus, it's thinking, talking, and debating is actually about nothing! I think it's true that we as Westerners are quick to judge the Other. Perhaps that fact is due to our society's tendancy to value independence and individualism. I think we all would do well to judge less and learn more.
As for my beliefs on whether we should look "at" or "along," I agree with Lewis, for the most part. However, the way we tell others about our lives is through stories, and stories can be a way of living vicariously through another's personal experience. We as humans have the ability to understand a situation without experiencing it ourselves. This is why reading and watching movies are compelling to many of us. Thus, I would add to Lewis's essay the fact that there are gray areas too; that the world is not all black and white and we can visualize looking "along" that ray of sunlight as another describes it to us and be able to understand, albeit imperfectly, what the other is seeing.
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I would agree with you on your main point (Lewis is correct). However I would add that the gray areas would be acknowledged as gray by Lewis if you were to sit down and talk with him. His argument in this particular piece is that one should do both in order to reach true understanding. The flip side to that argument must be inferenced. If you cannot do one or the other, you do not truly understand and shouldn't pretend to.
ReplyDeleteThis is only my two cents and the way I interpret what Lewis is saying. No one can deny that there are exceptions to every rule, but this argument is for understanding the rule itself, and not the exceptions.
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ReplyDeleteI like the first paragraph discussion about which position is more valid. It clearly summarizes Lewis' thoughts and affirms them. I agree with the statement that we should judge less and learn more, because judgements are often filled with flaws and not based on truths. Also i think that Lewis would accept that there are gray areas.
ReplyDeleteI agree that many people are too quick to give their opinions on something that they know nothing about. Americans have lots to say and sing about love, but most of them have no idea of what love actually is (as defined in I Corinthians 13). People are scared of or bitter about love because they have no knowledge of it. Therefore, they are actually averse to lust or passion or some other concept mistaken for love.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your first points, especially the point about us as Westerners. I am not sure I agree with your statements that humans have the ability to understand a situation without experiencing it. I think that we identify with books and movies because the texts themselves give us the illusion that we are experiencing it. In some ways, we can grasp the experience or think of how it may have affected a person, but I do not think we can truly understand the profound impact of the experience unless we have felt it or something similar to it. For example, I can't understand what it would be like to run a marathon because I have not done it. I can imagine it because I have run long distances and been physically exhausted, but not to that point. And as much as people who have run marathons tell me stories, I cannot FULLY understand something like that until I experience it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point that humans have the ability to visualize looking along a situation but I believe that the only way to truly look along a situation is to first look at the situation. Otherwise, you have a very compelling point and very great post.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the second paragraph. I agree that looking at is not only the more impersonal approach, but one that is rather selfish.
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