Great Books Ep 64. Aeschylus - Agamemnon, Part 4. The Eternal Journey towards the Boundless Quest for Knowledge
Do we acknowledge the inherent limitlessness of human curiosity and ambition or despair at the hopelessness of not being able to grasp and understand the universe or be able to never understand?
“Now I've no hope to unwind, The clew of Heart's desire. To think is pain when thought is blind, The smoke of a soul on fire.”
~ ‘Agamemnon’ by Aeschylus (G. M. Cookson translation. p63. line 1043)
Brief Summary (Lines 933 - 1249):
Though Agamemnon is ashamed at the lavish entry his wife set up, he yields, and walks on the purple robes laid out and goes into the palace. Clytemnestra asks Cassandra to come out, but she doesn’t. She doesn’t even talk. Clytemnestra grows impatient and leaves. The Chorus sympathizes with Cassandra, thinking that she is sad for being brought in as a slave and tries to talk to her. Cassandra cries out to Apollo.
In the long exchange that follows between the Chorus and Cassandra, we get to know some backstory of Agamemnon’s father, Atreus and Cassandra herself. Cassandra calls the house a horrible dungeon, a house of sin with stones drenched in the blood of kin. She says that an infant was killed and fed to the father. Later, she says it was because of incest. Atreus’s brother had slept with his wife, and as a punishment, he killed his brother’s infant son. She describes the bloodshed and the horrors of the past and the future vividly, but the Chorus is not able to comprehend the gravity of the situation fully. About her own backstory, Cassandra says Apollo wooed her, and she agreed if she got a gift, but after getting the gift of prophecy, she went back on her promise. Apollo got upset and cursed her saying that even if she prophesied no one would understand her.
My Thoughts:
The lines - “Now I've no hope to unwind, The clew of Heart's desire. To think is pain when thought is blind” caught my attention and made me think of the human condition. Is there any limit to human thoughts and desires? With every generation, humans are able to understand the world better. James Webb telescope has enabled people to see images of distant galaxies much clearer than the Hubble telescope; Alphafold is able to predict protein structure in days in comparison to years in the past; SpaceX and similar companies have made it easier to transport things and people to space and back; improvements in computer vision accuracy has led to breakthroughs in self-driving cars and medical image analysis; CRISPR gene editing helped create Covid-19 vaccine faster and prevented deaths of millions of people; Neuralink brain-interface chip was able to help a paralyzed man to move things on a computer screen just by thinking, and so forth.
Progress is accelerating, and even after people are able to set up bases on the moon, Mars, and beyond, there will be more things, things that will be revealed only once we reach there. The more we learn about the universe, the more we realize how much there is still to discover. No matter how much we achieve or how far we progress, there will always be new horizons to explore and new desires to pursue. It is like being on a journey with the goal post of destination constantly changing. So, do we acknowledge the inherent limitlessness of human curiosity and ambition or despair at the hopelessness of not being able to grasp and understand the universe?
I think the practical path is to acknowledge and keep working towards progress in the most meaningful way possible, abiding by some core values. Because thinking too much leads to nowhere. We might end up asking the wrong questions and forming wrong conclusions based on faulty assumptions. Aeschylus put it beautifully when the Chorus says - “To think is pain when thought is blind”. Predicting the future is hard. Preventing the future by fear-mongering only stops one section of people from progressing; other groups of people from other parts of the world will take things forward.
Other Thoughts:
1. Will the fortunate be always envied?
“Good Lack!
Unenvied never yet was fortunate!”
Clytemnestra says who are truly fortunate or successful will always be envied by others. She also implies that if you’re not envied by others, you’re probably not that successful.
Is that true? Some cultures stress on always being confident and tooting one’s horn while some others caution people against pride and ask them to be humble. But most cultures that ask people to be humble seem to be operating out of fear of retaliation from the less fortunate and not out of genuine humility. Genuine humility is when one recognizes that in addition to one’s hard work, luck plays a role in one’s success.
I also think the envy causes the destruction of many celebrities. Once you’re in the limelight, people in your circle and outside could actively sabotage you because of envy. Fame and success is a crown of thorns.
2. On Giving up on one's values during confrontation
“I am heartily ashamed to waste my stuff,
Walking on wealth and woof good money buys.
But I'll waste no more words.”
Agamemnon gives up arguing with his wife and says “Have thine own way, Since nothing else contents thee”. He is ashamed of walking on the lavish purple robes but still does that since he doesn't want to argue. Most people give in when confronted with someone who argues or is persistent and then later regret for having not lived up to one's values. I feel confrontation is better in the long run but I also feel that confrontation can lead to the situation to escalate and get out of hand.
3. Misery can strike anytime
“Though calm the winds and smooth the wake
And Fortune's ship sail free,
There are Rocks she shall strike where no seas break,
There are shoals of Misery.”
Even when the winds are calm and the ship of fortune sails smoothly, it might still suddenly strike hidden rocks and go under. Was reminded of Titanic here.
4. Perceptions of happiness
“Ah, happy nightingale!
Sweet singer; little, frail
Form God gave wings to—sweet to live—sans tears! “
The Chorus feels sad for the nightingale saying that it is a bird that mourns endlessly and is sad all the time. But Cassandra says that the nightingale is happy, that it is a sweet singer with frail wings, living sweetly without tears. Goes to show that the same expression can be interpreted differently by different people. People in the developed world could be looking at people in the third world thinking that they are living a life of misery while in fact they might be happier in their lack of luxury.
When things go well, we're nice
“We are nice When Fortune's kind,
'tis nothing singular.”
People are nice when fortune is kind and things go well. On the contrary, people may not be nice when things don't go well, though the degree of not being nice might vary. Some people might be more nasty than others. Was reminded of the quote from Anna Karenina - “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way”
AI Chatbot Responses
Prompt: I’m currently reading Aeschylus’ play named ‘Agamemnon’. Here is a brief summary of lines 933 to 1249 and my thoughts on a specific quote that caught my attention. The quote is “Now I've no hope to unwind, The clew of Heart's desire. To think is pain when thought is blind”. Provide a response to my thoughts, giving argument and counter arguments with examples relating them to contemporary issues. Brief Summary (Lines 933 - 1249): <copy-paste>. My Thoughts: <copy-paste>.
1. ChatGPT
Your reflections on the quote from Aeschylus' Agamemnon offer a deep philosophical inquiry into the nature of human ambition and the pursuit of knowledge. The lines capture a moment of despair and futility, resonating with contemporary issues surrounding progress, ambition, and the limitations of human understanding.
Argument: Limitlessness of Human Curiosity
Human curiosity and ambition have driven remarkable progress across centuries. From exploring distant galaxies with the James Webb Telescope to groundbreaking advancements in genetics with CRISPR, these achievements reflect an innate desire to push boundaries and expand our understanding of the universe. The inherent limitlessness of human curiosity has led to innovations that have profoundly impacted society, improving quality of life, extending life expectancy, and deepening our understanding of the natural world.
This limitless pursuit of knowledge aligns with the ethos of continuous improvement and exploration, epitomized by the exponential advancements in technology and science. The drive to explore Mars and beyond exemplifies humanity's unyielding spirit of exploration, suggesting that as long as there are mysteries to unravel, human ambition will propel us forward.
Counterargument: The Pain of Blind Thought
However, the quote also highlights the existential dilemma of pursuing knowledge without understanding or direction ("To think is pain when thought is blind"). This reflects the potential downsides of unchecked ambition and progress without reflection. For instance, advancements in technology, while beneficial, also raise ethical questions and unforeseen consequences, such as privacy concerns with AI and the potential misuse of gene editing. The rapid pace of progress can outstrip our capacity for ethical deliberation, leading to societal and moral dilemmas that we may not be equipped to resolve.
Moreover, the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, without grounding in ethical or philosophical frameworks, may lead to a Sisyphean cycle of discovery without fulfillment. The existential risks associated with technologies like AI and genetic engineering illustrate how progress can lead to outcomes that challenge our core values and ethical boundaries.
Synthesis
The practical path, as you suggest, is to embrace the limitlessness of human curiosity while adhering to core values that guide this ambition. This involves a balanced approach that recognizes the potential for progress to improve human lives while being mindful of the ethical implications and existential risks associated with new technologies. It calls for a collective effort to ensure that progress is aligned with human welfare and the sustainable development of our planet.
In conclusion, the quote from Agamemnon serves as a poignant reminder of the double-edged nature of human ambition and the pursuit of knowledge. It underscores the importance of reflection, ethical consideration, and the responsible stewardship of technological advancements. As we stand on the precipice of new frontiers in science and exploration, the wisdom of the past, like that of Aeschylus, remains ever relevant, guiding us to navigate the future with caution, curiosity, and compassion.
2. Gemini
Your thoughts on the quote from Agamemnon offer fascinating parallels to contemporary issues about ambition, limitations, and the human condition. Let's delve into a response, offering arguments, counterarguments, and contemporary connections:
Argument: It's wiser to acknowledge limitations and focus on meaningful progress
The Infinite Pursuit: You're correct that discovery and innovation have an ever-shifting horizon. Each breakthrough reveals more questions. This aligns with Cassandra's despair: "Now I've no hope to unwind/ The clew of Heart's desire…"
Meaningful Work: Perhaps the answer lies not in achieving some final "destination" but in the value of the journey. We can find fulfillment in the process of contributing meaningfully to progress while acknowledging the inherent limits of our knowledge.
Example: Medical Research: Cancer research offers a great example. While a definitive cure is elusive, each innovation saves lives and improves their quality. The drive to discover is coupled with the compassion to make today better.
Counterargument: Ambition, even if impossible to fully realize, still drives progress
Visionaries and Disruptors: Often, it's the "blind" ambition, those who ignore the supposed limitations, who push boundaries the furthest. Think of Elon Musk with his goals of Mars colonization. While there are doubts and obstacles, those bold aims drive innovation at unprecedented speeds.
The Desire to Transcend: Some might argue that yearning for the unreachable is a core part of being human. It fuels our greatest art, literature, and scientific endeavors. Without reaching for the impossible, we stagnate in the merely possible.
Example: AI Development: Concerns exist about AI surpassing human intelligence, yet relentless pursuit creates advances beneficial to society. The full scope may be unknown, but the quest itself pushes the limits of what's possible.
Finding Balance: Acknowledging Limitations but Fueling Progress
Practical Idealism: Perhaps a middle ground exists. We can embrace a healthy ambition tempered by ethical considerations and the understanding of potential unintended consequences.
The Importance of "Blind Thought": While despair can paralyze, the Chorus's "blind thought" could be seen as a necessary first step of exploration, even if answers don't emerge immediately.
Values Matter: As you rightly point out, progress must have a moral compass. Unfettered ambition, as seen in Atreus's family, leads to destruction. A blend of innovation and core values is crucial for sustainable progress.
In Conclusion:
Your analysis highlights the ongoing tension between human ambition and limitations. There's no easy solution. Rather, it's an ongoing conversation crucial to the direction of our technological and societal development.