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THE_ABSTRACTION_GAME

                                      May 31 2004 

   "Following long definitions of vague words such as
   _spirit_, _will_, _freedom_, _substance_, and     
   deliberately entering the verbal trap set for him 
   by the philosophers, or by himself, he seemed to  
   begin to understand something.  But he had only   
   to forget that artificial line of thought, and to 
   return direct from real life to what had appeared 
   satisfactory so long as he kept to the given line 
   of thought -- and suddenly the whole artificial   
   edifice tumbled down like a house of cards, and   
   it was evident that the edifice has been          
   constructed of those same words differently       
   arranged, and without regard for something in     
   life more important than reason."
                                                    
           -- part VIII, Ch IX, p713                
              (Levin)                               
                                                    
              ANNA_KARENINA 


   This passage continues
   in more detail,       
   suggesting a word     
   substitution exercise:
                              
      In Schopenhauer    
      replace the word   
      _will_ with _love_.
                         
           
           A similar exercise can be applied
           to the closing religious epiphany
           of this novel.
                               
                            The epiphany in brief:
                            isn't it amazing that 
                            we think we know what 
                            we're talking         
                            about when we say     
                            "God", even though    
                            there ain't no way    
                            we could know?  Why,  
                            it must be a miracle. 
                            
                                              
                                 Now try:
                                 will/love/thought/beauty   
                                 for god.
                                              





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