On the Wisdom of the Ancients - Western Tradition, Classics and Interpretations

Author: (English) Bacon
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: In Greek mythology, Hermes is the son of Zeus and Maia, the messenger of the Olympian gods, the god of roads and boundaries, the god of sleep and dreams, the guide of the dead, and the protector of orators, merchants, thieves, travelers, and shepherds—The term "Hermeneutic" comes from the pen of Hermes. Reverence is the condition of learning from a great work written by a great mind, advancing a deep understanding of the great tradition of Western thought, developing towards close reading with interpretive depth, making philosophy a matter of life, and the historian of pure scholarship interpreting classics—In ancient times, wisdom was either great or fortunate. If the creator understands what they are doing and the purpose of their creation is to conceal, then they are great; if they are aimless and merely stumble upon some material, inspiring these outstanding ideas, then they are fortunate. I think, if my efforts are helpful to them, they will be concentrated on one aspect: either revealing the ancient or revealing nature. The methods used by the ancients in their careful and prudent creation may not suit everyone's taste and ability, but they must select their readers. This caution cannot be lost, both to avoid harming those excluded and to enhance the nature of those chosen. According to the poets, Jupiter had no Juno and gave birth to Pallas, which greatly displeased Juno. Juno asked the gods to give her something to produce without Jupiter's help. The gods, tired of Juno's mischief, granted her request. Juno struck the earth with a mighty blow, and the earth trembled and cracked, giving birth to a grotesque and monstrous giant—Typhon. Juno handed him over to serpents to raise. When he grew up, he attacked and captured Jupiter, carrying him to remote and desolate regions, cutting off and taking away his tendons and ligaments, leaving the helpless and dismembered Jupiter. Later, Mercury stole Jupiter's tendons from Typhon and returned them to Jupiter, who regained his strength and fought the monster again. He first struck Typhon with lightning, and the blood flowing from the wound turned into venomous snakes. When Typhon fled in defeat, Jupiter raised Mount Etna and crushed him. This fable seems to be an allegory for the rise and fall of kings and the fate of rebellion, which are common in monarchies. Kings and countries are like Jupiter and Juno, a normal marital relationship. But when a king rules for a long time, he may become corrupt and tyrannical, making all decisions himself without considering the consent of the nobles and the Senate, relying solely on himself to "have children," i.e., governing the government according to his autocratic rule. This is why the suffering people will do their utmost to promote their leaders. Usually, rebels first secretly seek the opinions of the nobles and many important figures, gaining their tacit approval before inciting the masses. Then, the discontent in the country grows increasingly intense, corresponding to the childhood of Typhon. The inherent evil and hostility of the common people to the king are like venomous snakes with ill intentions, adding fuel to the fire. The ever-growing discontent finally erupts into an open rebellion, bringing endless disasters to both the king and the people. The terrifying image of Typhon illustrates this: one hundred heads represent divided authority; the fiery mouth indicates fires; the circles of snakes refer to the spread of plague, especially during sieges; the iron fingers mean slaughter; the eagle talons symbolize plunder; the feathered body represents uninterrupted rumors, news, fear, and the like. Sometimes, these rebels are too powerful, and the king seems to be carried away by them, forced to abandon the capital and major cities, withdraw his army to remote and desolate regions, and his sources of revenue and authority, like his bones and tendons, are also cut off. If he faces his fate squarely, coupled with Mercury's wisdom and effort, he will recover quickly. In other words, he must be kind and approachable, make reasonable laws, and speak in a friendly manner to pacify the people, making them willing to supply provisions and thus restoring his authority. However, one learns from one's mistakes, and cautious kings usually avoid relying solely on luck, so they avoid direct confrontation but first achieve great victories to diminish the rebels' prestige. If successful, the rebels will waver and lose confidence, beginning to act like foxes in the presence of tigers, hissing like venomous snakes. When they realize failure is inevitable, they will scatter like birds and beasts. When they begin to split and disintegrate, the king should lead all his troops, concentrate the nation's strength, and pursue and conquer the rebels as if lifting Mount Etna.