In a wonderful little book, published almost a century ago, “Understanding the Sick and the Healthy,” Franz Rosenzweig (1886-1929) names this condition, “acute apoplexia philosophica.” Such “apoplexia” may strike a person, unexpectedly, at any time — “from out of the blue,” as the saying goes.
An helpful metaphor that may provide insight into this condition is the notion of the “stream of life.” This metaphor, with its ancient roots, likens the flow of life, the succession of days and nights, to a continuously flowing “stream” or “river,” the river Time, or Temporal Flow. (Nowadays, the metaphor is a bit faded, as the rivers and streams many encounter surround ghostly cities, brown murky waters, full of pollution and lifeless.) Nevertheless this faded metaphor is what we dimly imagine, like finding a frail pressed flower between the pages of some forgotten book. We hesitate to touch it.
According to Rosenzweig, the “apoplexia” occurs when one forms the illusion, for whatever reason, that it is possible to step out of this stream and so watch it go by without one. Underlying this illusion is a fundamental fear — the fear of life. For where does the River of Life go, if not to Death? So the Fear of Life is the other side of the Coin of the Fear of Death. We think if we step outside Life’s ceaseless flow we may avoid its conclusion. So we stop living to avoid death, and what one is left with is a living death.
The word “apoplexia” is the Latin for our English, “apoplexy” both derived from the Greek, “apoplessein” which means “to cripple by a stroke.” So we have a medical term coupled with an intellectual or spiritual term, “philosophica.” Although Rosenzweig’s little book is a kind of satire or parody of wild philosophy, it is often indistinguishable from literal truth. Imagination and prophecy are sometimes strangely one.
The prognosis of the spiritual doctor interprets the immobility or paralysis of the patient as a result of an over zealous attempt to find the “essence” of things. “Essence” is from the Latin, “essentia,” rooted in “esse” or “to be.” The Latin translation is the Greek, “to ti en einai,” — or literally, “what is it for a thing to be.” The preoccupation with “essence” inspires a plethora of “what is” questions. What is it, really? We are “given” appearances, but what is it, essentially? This search leads into the abyss of Nothingness, making one vulnerable to the attack of “acute apoplexia philosophica.”
How, then, does a patient regain courage, and return into the Stream of life? There are three elements of life, forming as it were a Trinity. These are (1), The World; (2) Man (or “I”); and (3) God. We need but acknowledge them. We need not know what they “are.” We need not attempt to reduce one or two to the remaining one. They are in constant movement, interrelating and changing positions in the Stream. Common Sense is sufficient for us. We are a part of the World apart, for our humanity is something more. Neither are we God. With trust, then, we jump back into the threefold nature of the Stream.
Shortly after the publication of “Understanding,” Franz Rosenzweig came down with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Yet, in spite of this incredible handicap, he continued in his role as a leading innovator in education, philosophy, and religion until the very end. He lived his teachings with an amazing courage, humanity, and affirmation of life. His life and works remain an inspiration for all.
Puzzle
What five digit number has the property that if you put a “1” in front of the number, it is 3 times smaller than if you put the “1” after the number?
Answer to last week’s puzzle
King Harold has 421,200 men. That is 13 squares with 180 per side. Adding Harold we get one huge square with 649 per side.
