Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Raftel. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
In The Land Of The Blind, The One-eyed Man Is King
Topic Started: Mar 31 2010, 09:30 PM (658 Views)
Huzzah
Member Avatar
broke through Heaven... who the hell do you think he is!?
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Is a relatively popular quote from Desiderius Erasmus.

I'm not actually sure of its context, so I don't know which way to take it.
Does it mean that the person with an eye will be a visionary? Or maybe it just means that the person has such an advantage that he'll rise above everyone else.

Usually when I hear this quote, people are referring to the former of the two takes. And I think that the concept is off base. A man who is the only person that can see the truth in a world where everyone else is blinded would not be a king, he would be a pariah... right? Revolutionaries and progressives are always faced with stiff opposition, and very few of their movements ever actually happen.

So what I'm here for now, is just to get some other people's opinions on the phrase.
"Won't it be dull, when we rid ourselves of all these demons haunting us to keep us company?"
Posted Image
sXe since 10/22/07
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
xenogears96720
Member Avatar
1st Mate
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
It's the demo-man's badass family motto, although I think in that case, the usage is significantly more obvious. :P

To me, it evokes the thought that somebody who is more intelligent, or powerful, or charismatic, even if it's not by a great margin, will still be the "Ruler". To modify the quote, in the land of the stupid, the one average man will be king. That interpretation might be incorrect, but it's my thought. I'll look into it more later.

EDIT: Another usage that occurs to me is that the person who controls the information will be the ruler. Thus, the only man who can see controls what everyone else sees, making him the king. From a philosophical perspective, again, it can come back to intelligence.

Are you familiar with Plato's allegory of the cave? This quote strikes me as a more optimistic interpretation of that. The man who comes out of the cave, sees reality, and returns is not misunderstood, but understands better how to control others.
Posted Image
Most Random, Quick Wit and Queen of the C-Box 2009.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Huzzah
Member Avatar
broke through Heaven... who the hell do you think he is!?
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
xenogears96720,Mar 31 2010
05:38 PM
Are you familiar with Plato's allegory of the cave? This quote strikes me as a more optimistic interpretation of that. The man who comes out of the cave, sees reality, and returns is not misunderstood, but understands better how to control others.

Oh.

This is a connection that hadn't occured to me. Ty, exactly the input I was hoping for.
"Won't it be dull, when we rid ourselves of all these demons haunting us to keep us company?"
Posted Image
sXe since 10/22/07
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Pierrot
Member Avatar
Is casting a spell
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Oh Jeez, I thought this was about Patterson.

Either way, the quote in my opinion means exactly what it says; as the one eyed man is on a different level than those who can't visualize; even if he can't see the full picture.
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
« Previous Topic · Debates · Next Topic »
Add Reply