Only so much do I know, as I have lived.

Question

They are often virtually disfranchised; and, indeed, there are advocates for their celibacy. As far as this is true of the studious classes, it is not just and wise. Action is with the scholar subordinate, but it is essential. Without it, he is not yet man. Without it, thought can never ripen into truth. Whilst the world hangs before the eye as a cloud of beauty, we cannot even see its beauty. Inaction is cowardice, but there can be no scholar without the heroic mind. The preamble of thought, the transition through which it passes from the unconscious to the conscious, is action. Only so much do I know, as I have lived. Instantly we know whose words are loaded with life, and whose not.

http://www.bartleby.com/268/8/33.html

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Ralph Waldo Emerson's "The American Scholar"

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

> Only so much do I know, as I have lived..
I know only those things/events that I have lived
I know (I have knowledge) only to the extent that I have lived
This may be a play on:
Cogito, ergo sum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cogito_ergo_sum

Marius Hancu · Answer

1. The preamble of thought, the transition through which it passes from the unconscious to the conscious, is action.
It: Always look for the previous noun which makes sense

Tanit · Answer

Marius HancuOnly so much do I know, as I have lived..
...

This may be a play on:
Cogito, ergo sum

Hi,

May I ask you to expand on this? I really don't see the link between the two.

Thanks.

Pructus · Answer

Thanks a lot, Marius !!

Marius Hancu · Answer

>>May I ask you to expand on this? I really don't see the link between
the two.

Cogito, ergo sum
I think, thus I am
can be perhaps changed, if we play with words:
I live(d), thus I am [which may be seen as self-evident!)(meaning I've experienced life, thus I am, I am the result of my life experience)
which, in turn, can be extended, in a broad sense, IMO, to:
I am what I have lived

Only so much do I know, as I have lived..
I know only those things/events that I have lived
can be extended, IMO, to:
I know/am only what I've lived
Many would perhaps not agree, but ... this is a play, as I mentioned.

Tanit · Answer

Marius HancuCogito, ergo sum
I live, thus I am
can be inverted/extended, in a broad sense, IMO, to:
I am what I have lived

Hi,

Thanks for answering. You can safely include me among those who strongly disagree.

Cogito ergo sum means "I think, thus I am/ I exist".
A rough explanation would be: the very fact that I am able to think and I am wondering whether I exist or not proves that I exist.
It has nothing to do with experiencing and getting to know things.

I studied philosophy back in my school years. Not because I loved it, but because I had to.

Marius Hancu · Answer

I know very well what it means.
I edited my posting, I missed yesterday one line in the play.

Tanit · Answer

Hi,

Yes, I can see you've added two lines (the ones I'm highlighting below) which were not there prior to my reply.

TODAY

Cogito, ergo sum
I think, thus I am
can be perhaps changed to
I live, thus I am
which, in turn, can be inverted/extended, in a broad sense, IMO, to:
I am what I have lived

YESTERDAY

Cogito, ergo sum
I live, thus I am
which, in turn, can be inverted/extended, in a broad sense, IMO, to:
I am what I have lived

There must be a bug ... one should not be allowed to edit his/her post after it's been answered. It makes the replies seem meaningless.
I'm out of here, now.

Only so much do I know, as I have lived.

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