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Friday, January 20, 2012
Rabbit's Epistemology: If It Says So, Then It Is So
Lyrics:
A map is not a guess
An estimation or a hunch
A feeling or a foolish intuition
A map is a dependable
Unwavering, inarguably accurate
Portrayer, of your position
Never trust your ears
Your nose, your eyes
Putting faith in them
Is most unwise
Here's a phrase you all
Must memorise
In the printed word
Is where truth lies
Never trust your tummies
Tails, or toes
You can't learn a thing
From any of those
Here's another fact
I must disclose
From the mighty pen
True wisdom flows
If it says so
Then it is so
If it is so
Well so it is
A thought's not fit to think
'Til it's printed in ink
Then it says so
So it is
Never trust that thing
Between your ears
Brains will get you nowhere fast
My dears
Haven't had a need
For mine in years
On the page is where
The truth appears
If it says so
Then it is so
If it is so
So it is
A thought's not fit to think
'Til it's printed in ink
Never differ from or doubt it
Or go anywhere without it
Thank goodness we've got this
So we don't need to fret about it
If it says so
So it is
I could have worded or titled this better.
ReplyDeleteIn Rabbit's world, epistemology comes first. "In the written word is where truth lies" is the punch line. This is an epistemology, a theory of knowledge.
Then comes the ontological statement: "If it says so, then it is so." Then redundantly, but in keeping with Rabbit's certainty fetish: "And if it is so, then so it is."
Then back to epistemology: "A thought's not fit to think unless it's written in ink."
And then the summary statement: "Then it says so, so it is!"
Someone really smart and interesting wrote that song. He not only gets Rabbit's personality absolutely perfectly --spot on-- but he articulates a coherent ontological and epistemological framework for him. In an enjoyable little ditty. Disney songwriter, I salute you!