“Mere perception—perception without imagination—is the sword thrust between spirit and matter.” It was what enabled Descartes to divide the world into thinking substance and extended substance. But something more than mere perception occurs when we look at or listen to a fellow being: whatever our philosophical predispositions, we in fact read his body and voice as expressing something immaterial. We can, moreover, attend to nature in the same way, although such a reading of nature has been progressively eliminated from our habits during the past few hundred years. Strengthening the activity of imagination is the only way to heal the Cartesian sword-thrust. (“Matter, Imagination, and Spirit,” in Owen Barfield, The Rediscovery of Meaning and Other Essays)
Owen Barfield is the thinker who most influenced me. I first found his book Poetic Diction in 1971, I think, and it led me to Steiner, Anthroposophy, and eventually, marriage and motherhood. In other words, a life!
To me the work of owen Barfield and that of Robert Pirsig are in some sense complementary. It is interesting that Barfield, the Englishman, found a following in America; and Pirsig, the American, has a following in England. I am sure one could find some esoteric “folk-soul” explanation for this curious phenomenon.
I agree with you that Pirsig has a long of integrity about not letting Hollywood exploit his book. He is a true person, a genuine creative teacher, I think.
I have an essay on Barfield’s “Saving the Appearances” which I can dig up and send if you’re interested. I consider that his most brilliant book, and absolutely indispensable in trying to understand the thought of human beings who lived prior to about 1600 AD.
Best on your voyage, wherever it is.
I’d like to post it, if you don’t mind…
I’m leaving for Malaysia in December
Lila
I’ll shorten it a bit and send it to you tomorrow.
Lila – what’s your e-mail address? I’d like to send the article soon – today or tomorrow.
or should I just copy and paste into the box?
Caryl –
It’s on the media contacts page…
or you can paste and I will move it to a post.
Lila