In Bronowski’s second chapter, he displays that human language is separated into words that shape and define perceptions of the physical world. Not only do these words simply describe and define human perceptions, but they also limit them. Rather than having an innate understanding of spirituality, humans must alter their perceptions by manipulating words and applying them to a realm that is far beyond the physical. For example, before language came about, it can be assumed that people had individual understandings of the way the world worked and their existence. It was an understanding without words of their souls. They didn’t question what humans, today, call God or Religion. But language gave birth to the word God, which is now assigned to be a name to describe the Creator. Now that the word has been conceived, one asks, God? Who is that? Where did He come from? What does He do? In order to define the word, more words must be used. So, now, we have words that describe a word, which, in turn, shall bring up more questions. When caught in a cycle of descriptions, we steer further from, what Kant (the very philosopher that Bronowski bases his lectures on) may call, an innate (Kant would actually have called it a priori), understood truth. It is impossible to give an accurate definition encompassing all the aspects of God with simple words and descriptions. In order to truly understand religion and God one must transcend, search beyond the human senses, and surpass human language (maybe through meditation or some other practice that leads to a median between the physical world and spiritual world).
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 18:17:53 +0000
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