Lord of the
Metaphysical
Metaphysical
Derived from the
Greek meta ta physika
("after the things of nature");
referring to an idea of a reality
outside of human sense
perception.
Metaphysical Cont.
In modern terminology,
metaphysics refers to the
studies of what cannot be
reached through objective
studies of material reality
The Problem with Metaphysics
The problem of validating
metaphysical claims is most
readily seen in all of the "proofs"
for the existence of God or the
existence of a "soul" or "spirit" or
nonhuman realities is seemingly
impossible.
Problems Continued
The difficulty arises out of the
attempt to scientifically study
and objectify something which,
by its very nature, cannot
become an object of our
scientific studies
What Do You Believe In?
What from the metaphysical
world do you believe in?
Simon As Conduit to
Metaphysical World
In the British Museum in London there is a chapter
from a Babylonian textbook of medicine
comprising 40 tablets dating as far back as
2000BC. The tablet accurately records many of
the different seizure types we recognize today.
It emphasizes the supernatural nature of
epilepsy, with each seizure type associated
with the name of a spirit or god - usually evil.
Treatment was, therefore, largely a spiritual
matter.
Epilepsy - "the sacred disease"
The intervening 2,000 years were dominated
by many supernatural views.
Throughout this time people with epilepsy
were viewed with fear, suspicion and
misunderstanding and were subjected to
enormous social stigma. People with
epilepsy were treated as outcasts and
punished.
Simon Chap. 3
"Then, amid the roar of bees in the afternoon
sunlight, Simon found for the fruit they could not
reach... passed them back down to the endless,
outstretched hands."
-Ch. 3, pg. 56
“He came at last….The candle-buds opened
their wide white flowers... Their scent spilled out
into the air and took possession of the island."
-Ch.3, pg. 56-57
Simon Chap. 4
“What I mean is… maybe it’s only us.”
Chp. 4, pg. 89
The Sign You Requested?
“If only they could get a message to us”
chp. 5, pg 94
“The figure fell and crumpled…”
chp. 6, pg 95
Simon Chapter 7
"'You'll get back to where you came from.'"
- William Golding, Lord of the Flies, Ch. 7
pg. 111
Simon Chapter 8
“Simon Stayed where he was…began to
beat on the brain.” pg. 137-138
“You are a silly….and lost consciousness”
pg. 143-144
Simon
“The beast was harmless….as soon as
possible.” pg.147
“Toward midnight the rain…the open sea.”
pg. 153-154
Simon Imagery
"The water rose farther and dressed Simon's
coarse hair with brightness. The line of his cheek
silvered and the turn of his shoulder became
sculptured marble."
“The body lifted a fraction of an inch from the
sand”
"surrounded by a fringe of inquisitive bright
creatures, itself a silver shape beneath the
steadfast constellations, Simon's dead body
moved out toward the open sea."