"They talked about the nature of history for hours, and it was under the impact of his deep skepticism, or materialism, that she finally completed the shift in the emphasis of her study from history to archaeology, from texts to things - convinced, in part, by his argument that texts were always just people's impressions, while objects had a certain unchangeable reality to them. Of course, the objects led directly to more impressions, and meshed with them in the mesh of proofs that any student of the past had to present in order to make a case; but to start with the tools and buildings rather than the words of the past was indeed a comfort to Budur."
From The Years of Rice and Salt, by Kim Stanley Robinson
8 comments:
Lovely blog. I'm down in New Mexico---how did you acquire an interest in our offbeat & unusual place? (I have some contact with 2 other Canadian ladies via blogger.) Also, love the clouds thing---loved the pix on the previous posting. My dad lived in Michigan awhile after I was grown---big puffy cloud formations would roll in in summer & bend the light into beautiful rays. You in eastern Canada somewhere relatively north of MI??? Also, love The Chronicles of Narnia. They are also, indirectly "The Chronicles of Nature."
Your quote - very phenomenological. (See Edmund Husserl)
BPG,
Well, I'm impressed. This book is a must read! Any reference to dark chocolate? :)
The Bach
That's a nice passage. I guess there will always be tension between facts and interpretation, esp. when our brains can only go as far as they can go. Reminds me of the time I saw an astrolabe hat had the Earth at the center of the universe. ;)
Are you enjoying this book, BPG? Doesn't it have to do with what the world would be like without the influence of Christianity? Intriguing.
Good stuff!
C. Marie: thanks for visiting! I visited NM in 2001, and just fell in love with it. I hope to visit it again soon before long!
Bill: I'm heading off to dictionary.com. :)
Bach: No dark chocolate, but you can eat dark chocolate as you read!
Dave: You mean we're not at the centre of the universe? What can you mean sir? ;)
Willow: the book supposes that the Black Death wiped out 99% of Christian Europe, and what would have happened in the intervening centuries. Religion is a major player in the story in a most intriguing way. It's a fascinating read! And odd when one's ancestors are referred to basically as a footnote in history!
Capt. Luke: Have you read it? If not, I recommend!
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