Human, All Too Human, Part 126 summary
Part 126 of 152 · 1 min to read the part
In 126, the speaker treats saints’ extraordinary experiences as symptoms of sickness and suggests that Socrates’ demon may have a similar bodily explanation. The argument shifts attention from these experiences to their interpreters, whose abilities and misunderstandings give the experiences significance and, the speaker claims, benefit mankind.
What happens
- The speaker describes the saint’s visions, fears, exhaustion and delight as sickness interpreted through religious and psychological delusions.
- He suggests that Socrates’ demon may be an ear disorder interpreted according to Socrates’ moral theory.
- He applies the same account to the frenzy and speech of prophets and oracle priests.
- He credits interpreters’ qualities with producing meaning and presents their misunderstanding of geniuses and saints as beneficial to mankind.
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What possible explanation does the speaker offer for Socrates’ demon?
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