Elephant Principle - Great Philosophers Search for God
The Elephant Principle and the Great Philosophers Search for God.
What did the great philosophers of the past think about the idea of God? Many of the great musicians, scientists, and leaders in history professed some belief in an all-powerful God. What about the great thinkers of philosophy? Just as in science, music, the arts, and culture, there are a large number of respected philosophers who made clear statements about their faith. Some expressed strong belief. Some expressed doubt. Others just asked questions. Looking at some of historys most famous philosophers provides a great deal of insight into the perception of God in the world of philosophy.
Randall Niles looks at the ancient story of the Blind Men and their Limited Perspective of God.
The Blind Men and the Elephant --
John Godfrey Saxe's (1816-1887) version of the famous Indian legend:
It was six men of Indostan,
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.
The First approach'd the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
"God bless me! but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!"
The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, -"Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me 'tis mighty clear,
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!"
The Third approach'd the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
"I see," quoth he "the Elephant
Is very like a snake!"
The Fourth reached out an eager hand,
And felt about the knee:
"What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain," quoth he,
"'Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!"
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said- "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!"
The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Then, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a rope!"
And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!
MORAL,
So, oft in theologic wars
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean;
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!
***
Please visit http://www.AllAboutPhilosophy.org/gre... to see how the great philosophers of the past reconciled their ideas of God.
Also, go to http://www.RandallNiles.com/videos.htm to watch more videos presenting the Elephant Principle and other illustrations of God and religion!
Watch video Elephant Principle - Great Philosophers Search for God online without registration, duration hours minute second in high quality. This video was added by user Randall Christopher Niles 13 October 2007, don't forget to share it with your friends and acquaintances, it has been viewed on our site 3,75 once and liked it 1 people.