The fictitious immortal Hanno meets the real geographer Pytheas who first wrote of Thule. Hanno sounds educated because he has traveled and studied. He mentions a trope, a penteconter and the Pretanic Isles. The Carthaginians are starting a war in Sicily but this cannot be one of the Punic Wars because it is much earlier.
What Hanno And Pytheas Say About Knowledge
Hanno: "'...I want to learn as much as I can about this earth and its peoples while I am still above it.'" (p. 10)
Pytheas: "'A consortium of merchants...want to know the chances and costs of a sea route to the far North, now that the Gauls are making the land dangerous.'" (ibid.)
Hanno: "'I have some acquaintance with [the Gauls]. That should help.'" (p. 11)
Hanno: "'...you are organizing this expedition.'"
Pytheas: "'To follow knowledge...two of the sponsors are more intelligent than most. They value understanding for its own sake.'"
Hanno: "'Knowledge has a trick of paying off in unexpected ways.'" (ibid.)
Hanno: "'...I've learned to pay attention.'" (p. 12)
Hanno: "You'll need sail. Let me counsel you on what ships to buy.'"
Pytheas: "'You claim a great many proficiencies...'"
Hanno: "'I have been through a great many schools...'" ((ibid.)
The dialogue refers to theoretical, experiential, practical and pragmatic knowledge. Hanno wants to learn while he lives. Merchants want to learn for practical reasons but some are intelligent enough to value understanding and its unexpected benefits. Some philosophers never learn to pay attention to politics.
No comments:
Post a Comment