I don't think one can seriously compare Madame Blavatsky or Stefan George with Einstein or Freud. On poking about a little-Mme Blavatsky died in 1889, having founded the Theosophy Society, which seems to be one of those religions in which the smart people are better than everyone else, and you can tell they are smart because they believe in the religion. Stefan George had something along the same line. I cannot believe Benjamin would fall for the raw aura so to speak-where was the idea between 1905 and 1930, when he wrote about it? Kate Sullivan In a message dated 10/31/08 4:03:48 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> What is a mystery to me is why any sensible man would take seriously > > anything that originated with Madame Blavatsky, and that is leaving > > aside the > > second > > generation -Stefan George who would only publish his poetry > > privately in Very > > Special Typefaces. Benjamin does not come off well. > > I think it's worth taking into account the kinds of ground-shifting > that had occurred from the mid-19th century until the 20s or so, among > them: > > 1. Geologic time was extended back a staggering amount of time before > the literal reading of the Bible. > 2. The relationships among all living things was recodified by Darwin. > 3. Freud described subconscious psychic activity and its operative > effect on conscious behavior. > 4. Einstein described an unrecognizable universe of inexplicable time > and distance relationships. > > All of these belief-breaking developments shared a common feature: > their conclusions were not self-evident and they relied on apparently > hidden connections, which their adherents claimed were recordable and > verifiable. Geologic time, descent of species, subconscious forces, > time-space continuum, all were hard to see--much less to understand > and even believe. But science marched on, pressing its case, > persuading many that these theories were valid and their effects > pervasive. Thus, talking about the aura of objects took on the > character--and persuasiveness--of science. > > > | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | > ************** Plan your next getaway with AOL Travel. Check out Today's Hot 5 Travel Deals! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212416248x1200771803/aol?redir=http ://travel.aol.com/discount-travel?ncid=emlcntustrav00000001)
