Sphinx as Allusion to [Real] Science
Mood:  bright
Topic: Mysteries of the World

The fable of the Sphinx is useful as an allusion, or analogue or analog(y), for Science -- that is, Real Science, not pseudoscience, fringe science, alternative science, parascience, voodoo science, pathological science, bogus science, bad science, weird science, crank science, and the like.

 

The Story of the Sphinx

Sphinx was a monster combining many shapes in one, including the following:

 

• Face & voice of a virgin;
• Wings of a bird; and
• Claws of a griffin.

 

She dwelt on a mountain near Thebes.

She would lie in ambush for travellers on the roads, attack them and kidnap them.

Then she would pose them riddles.

If the captives failed to solve the riddles, she would tear them to pieces.

The Thebans offered to anyone who could solve the Sphinx's riddles, the kingship of Thebes as a reward.

A man of wisdom and courage, known as Oedipus, who was also lame (due to wounds in his feet), accepted the challenge, and presented himself before the Sphinx.

The Sphinx asked Oedipus this question: "What kind ofanimal was born four-footed, then became two-footed, then three-footed, and at last four-footed again?"

Oedipus thought a little while, then gave the correct answer -- "Man".

He then slayed the Sphinx and claimed the reward by becoming the King of Thebes.

 

Allusion / Analog(y)

The fable of the Sphinx is an allusion to Science, which is the wonder of the ignorant and unskilful, definitely a sort of monster to these. Science is multi-shaped and multi-faceted. It deals with an immense variety of subject matter and topics.

In its beauty, Science is like the face and voice of a gentle and beautiful woman.

It has wings, for Science spreads far and wide, across the lands (space) and even across the generations (time).

It has claws. The axioms and arguments of Science penetrate and hold fast the mind, so that escape into illogic, superstition and pseudoscience is impossible. Says the ancient proverb, "The words of the wise are as nails driven deep in."

Science inhabits -- sublime and lofty -- on the heights of hard-won mountains of fear, ignorance and superstition.

Along the roads of life's journey and pilgrimage, Science can be used to pounce on and attack any unwary subject-matter or topic, and subject them as captives.

And like the Sphinx, Science proposes and poses a variety of difficult riddles, enigmas, conundrums, puzzles, and questions. If the inquirer, explorer, investigator or researcher fails to find the answers, he or she may be figuratively 'torn to shreds' -- that is, mentally lacerated, obsfucated, absent-minded, and psychologically tormented, if not traumatised.

The riddles posed by the Sphinx and Science are of two types: those concerning the nature of things, and those concerning the nature of man. And, thus, the rewards are also of two kinds: command-and-control over either nature or man.

 

This post is taken from the Mysteries of the World website -- specifically:

 

• Sphinx as Science (regular version)



• Sphinx as Science (alternate version)
  
  
  

Have fun!

Cheers!

Halleluyah (Praise "the LORD our God" / Praise "YAHWEH our Father")!

-- Paul Quek
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