The Attacks
"Alright," Director said. "To start, I suspect someone will complain that love and science are oil and water - not that it's bad to put them together, but that nothing can possibly come of it. They don't mix."
"Let's counter-attack by - "
"Just a minute, Son." Director help up a hand. "We are not 'counter-attacking'. That notion implies that we were under attack. We weren't. Remember, we are not defending the legacy. We are not identifying with the legacy. No, we simply attack - no 'counter'."
"Yes, of course. You're right to clarify. Well, let's attack by going after the basis for the complaint - that love and science are in fact essentially different, that they stand on different grounds. But I think this is hard to do without offering a theory of what ground they do, in fact, stand on."
"We can start by imagining what they will say makes the two different. For instance, the attack we are attacking may be founded on the notion that science is cerebral while love is emotional."
"Yes, so we show that emotion is in fact cerebral."
"Do we do that by building a positive case? I thought attack is about demolition, destruction. What are we attacking? We need to focus."
"This is harder than it seems."
Director nodded.
"What if," Son said, "we attack the idea that science is cerebral?"
"I think that's a nice start."
"They think science is cerebral because they think thought is, essentially, cerebral. We don't have to make the case, but we can suggest that one way to look at it is that the entire body 'thinks'. Or maybe we don't even actively suggest it. Our attack might simply leave this way of thinking open, and people can go that way if they want without any resistance from us."
"It seems you're taking to this nicely, Son. What other attacks do we make?"
"Maybe all we have to do is make this attack then sit back and see what other attacks come in, either against our attack or against my father's legacy."
"Do you think our attack sets that legacy up to be attacked, more so than it would have been otherwise?"
"Oh, yes. I do. People can't help but notice I'm his son. And they can't help but notice that I'm my father's literary executor. And they can't help but notice our attack opens a way toward my father's idea."
"'I'm not sure how many will actively notice all you seem to hope they will."
"Well, the ones who do are those who are likely to launch their own attack, right? I believe there will at least be some of these people. I can't imagine it will all just fall flat, with no effect."
"I see," Director said slowly. "You want attacks!" When Son said nothing he continued. "And so it goes, on and on, attack after attack. Is there no end?" he asked with a faint smile.
"To the attacks, or to the legacy? I think there will be attacks - ours, theirs, or some other sort - as long as the legacy lives. It is the way of the world."
END
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Nick Pappas, pappasnick.typepad.com
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