Sweet is the lore which Nature brings;
Our meddling intellect
Mis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:–
We murder to dissect. William Wordsworth, “The Tables Turned”
In one of my favorite undergrad classes, Dr. James Benton's "American Culture" (which was really a fascinating and rigorous introduction to intellectual history in the tradition of Kulturgeschichte and Geistesgeschichte), Wordsworth's "The Tables Turned" was our introduction to the revolt against the Enlightenment. I can still recite parts of it these [mumble mumble] years later; it’s interesting what glimmering gems are left after the tides of too much education have receded.
We’re off at the campground this weekend–back to William O’Brien State Park for two nights–so don’t be offended if I don’t respond to your much-appreciated comments for a few days. [Hide the verbosity]
