Friday, November 10, 2006

Golden Chain

Vain images possess the sensual mind,
To real agents and true causes blind.
But soon as intellect's bright sun displays
O'er the benighted orb his fulgent rays,
Delusive phantoms fly before the light,
Nature and truth lie open at the sight:
Causes connect with effects supply
A golden chain, whose radiant links on high
Fix'd to the sovereign throne from thence depend
And reach e'en down to tar the nether end.


From George Berkeley's poem, "On Tar," which can be read in full here. The poem describes the reasoning of his important but little-read philosophical work, Siris. It also is the source of the subtitle of this weblog, of course. I pointed out the source of the image of the golden chain here -- too cautiously, since there's no real doubt that that passage in the Iliad is the source. The same passage in the Iliad is the source of the motto I put on the Seal of Siris: Seiren Chruseien Kremesantes, Hang a Chain of Gold.
M ↓   Markdown
L
Larry Bailey
0 points
24 months ago

Thankfully the kid was in a child seat in that van.

T
Troggy
0 points
24 months ago

happy ending

B
bulwinkle
0 points
24 months ago

the wheels on the bus go round and round...

T
theymusthatetesla
0 points
24 months ago

....I'll say it again!....they ALWAYS hit their target!....ALWAYS!

H
Htos1av
0 points
24 months ago

When there are BILLIONS, the millions to one odds fall quickly...

G
George Spelvin
0 points
24 months ago

I'm gonna use that and claim it as my own.

H
Harold Flax
0 points
24 months ago

It wus undiedentified flywing slosser.

S
SloppyJoe
0 points
24 months ago

The lyrics to the song are:
"Rollin' along. Chingin' a chong. Hittin' up the waterpipe, ringin' the gong".

P
Plato
0 points
24 months ago

Someone has got to tell these stupid Chinamen that it is RIGHTY TIGHTY, LEFTY LOOSEY and find a way to make it stick!

P
Plato
0 points
24 months ago

Nah the Theme from Born Free would be cooler.