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From: O'Connor (Kerri)
Date: 11/5/99
Time: 1:45:36 AM
Remote Name: 205.188.197.32
I don't think people,especially students, question the validity and source of the knowledge that we are taught. I agree in the way that we tend to take things at face value and accept the things taught to us as being relevant and true. As far as the passages that Abbe Vallet didn't find reason to translate, I think that happens very frequently in today's society. We are not made aware of everything. Certain things must be kept hidden from us for political reasons, for protection or simply to prevent further enhancement of knowledge, knowledge that may threaten the government and its power over its people. Knowlege is a powerful weapon that threatens weakness, and that threat is too strong and powerful for everyone to possess.
I also have to agree about your comment concerning history. How do we know that history books were not censured or rewritten to keep us in the dark about the actual history that took place. We would never know if a supposed fact about history was true, exaggerated or made up to cover the actual events. While studying history, I often find myself asking how the authors of history books obtained their information. The majority of the authors were not at a particular place and time in history that they write of.They, too, get their information from second hand sources. How do we distinguish an orignal source from a second hand source? THe answer is simple-we can't and that is the intention behind keeping literary works,reports,interpretations,etc.confidential and very difficult if not virtually impossible to obtain. Eco reveals this frustration through the preface and reveals how one must question a works validity and authenticity. He says that he is full of doubts and even though this is extreme, one must wonder and doubt as Eco has.