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Cadzao Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
consciousness
"Happy is the people that is without a history," wrote Christopher Dawson, "and thrice happy is the people without a sociology, for as long as we possess a living culture we are unconscious of it, and it is only when we are in danger of losing it or when it is already dead that we begin to realize its existence and to study it scientifically." There are still such happy people among us (...). But those who are cursed by consciousness cannot become unconscious by an effort of will and many have grown unhappier because they know too little history and sociology." (Herbert J. Muller, The Uses of the Past)
The blue sentence seems too hard to understand. Could you please explain what Herbert means by it?
Thank you.
Cadzao
The blue sentence seems too hard to understand. Could you please explain what Herbert means by it?
Thank you.
Cadzao
Top answer
It is a more general statement than the context of its passage. I find it difficult to paraphrase it more simply, but: Those who are cursed by consciousness cannot become unconscious by an effort of will = People who are aware (of something) cannot make themselves become unaware (of it).
- It is a more general statement than the context of its passage.
- I find it difficult to paraphrase it more simply, but: Those who are cursed by consciousness cannot become unconscious by an effort of will = People who are aware (of something) cannot make themselves become unaware (of it).
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1 Answers
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It is a more general statement than the context of its passage. I find it difficult to paraphrase it more simply, but:
Those who are cursed by consciousness cannot become unconscious by an effort of will = People who are aware (of something) cannot make themselves become unaware (of it).
It is a more general statement than the context of its passage. I find it difficult to paraphrase it more simply, but:
Those who are cursed by consciousness cannot become unconscious by an effort of will = People who are aware (of something) cannot make themselves become unaware (of it).
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