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When you polish a boot, accept that this will only be understood by those in closer proximity. Who polishes boots these days anyways, am i right ;-0 —This is you. #relatabel
This article appears in Feb 19-25, 2015.
11 Comments
Guys in the Forces? Their parade boots?
THE PARABLE OF POLISHING THE BOOT
“When you polish a boot, accept that this will only be understood by those in close proximity.”
Clearly, the activity of polishing the boot is to be understood as a metaphor for any purposive human activity but especially for reflective, structured and sustained thought. It is a universal metaphor and thereby rises to the level of a parable, not unlike that of the loaves and fishes. And how true it is, for only those “in close proximity ” i.e., only those who are themselves capable of such thought, will understand it. I have learned to accept this. An excellent bitch.
A pleasure as always,
Cheerio!
Those wanting decent looking boots, and for the boots to last longer as well.
The question is whether OB is using the tried and true but somewhat boring “spit shine” method or the more daring and glorious “fire shine” to achieve the high lustre she or he desires.
^^^ and I mean that in both the literal and metaphorical sense.
RSVP
The Pussy (11:12AM)
VIOLATING ARISTOTLE’S LAW OF NON-CONTRADICTION
But it can’t be both literal and metaphorical at the same time and under the same aspect. To do so would violate Aristotle’s second law of logic, The Law of Non-Contradiction, i.e., “A cannot be both A and non-A at the same time and under the same aspect.” Write back soon.
A pleasure as always,
Cheerio!
^^^ Aristotle’s second law of logic, The Law of Non-Contradiction, i.e., “A cannot be both A and non-A at the same time and under the same aspect.”
Laws must be proven. What was his proof of that “law”?
And besides, even if it is true, an aspect is a way of seeing something so literal and metaphorical meaning ARE different aspects and the “law” doesn’t apply..
The Pussy (3:33PM)
A CATEGORY MISTAKE
Aristotle’s Law of Non-Contradiction was the second law of his LOGIC and therefore follows NECESSARILY from its premises. To demand proof of a law of logic to misconceive what logic is. It is to commit a “category mistake,” i.e., to apply empirical “proofs” to that which is not empirical. It’s like the tourist who, having been shown around the colleges of Oxford, then demanded to know where the university was. It betrays a profound confusion.
Your last sentence is incoherent. While the first part is true – literal and metaphorical aspects are indeed different (it is what Aristotle in fact said) – your conclusion that the law doesn’t apply is false. The law applies BECAUSE the aspects are different. I realize that this will be difficult for you to grasp but these things take time.
A pleasure as always,
Cheerio!
Apparently your bitch will only be understood by people in close proximity as well.
Nylons. Use nylons and a skim coat of wax to dhine your boots. Easy, fast, simple. The shine won’t last over the long-term but it works in a pinch!
Vaseline on patent