Travel Rogue

September 14, 2005

Conscious Little Rock

So I'm in the midst of Tom Wolfe's new(ish) book, I Am Charlotte Simmons. It doesn't read like a classic, as Bonfire of the Vanities did, but signature Wolfe style, there are moments of intellectual hilarity. For example, there's a scene where Charlotte is in some class discussing Darwin and evolution. The question is whether or not we self-define our own existence. Says Wolfe's professor:

"I'll just tell you what one very interesting young neuroscientist e-mailed me last week. She said, 'Let's say you pick up a rock and you throw it. And in mid-flight you give that rock consciousness and a rational mind. That little rock will think it has free will and will give you a highly rational account of why it has decided to take the route it's taking.' So later on we will get to 'the conscious little rock,' and you will be able to decide for yourself: 'Am I really...merely...a conscious little rock?'"

I read this as I was sitting at the bus stop on the way to work. That one paragraph put such a grin on my face that when I looked up, some guy smiled back at me and winked. He must've been reading the same book.

Posted by carolyn at September 14, 2005 10:21 AM

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Posted by: Brady at September 15, 2005 10:31 AM

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