Man’s position in the universe is temporal; man can never fully understand their relation to the universe, thus, they will inevitably destroy themselves. Temporal can be defined as something that is limited, usually by the measurement of time. In Jorge Luis Borges’ “The library of Babel” humans search the incomprehensibly large library for books which will explain their existence. “Like all men of the library, I have traveled in my youth. I have journeyed in search of a book, perhaps of the catalogue of catalogues” (80). Borges shows that man is curious, and motivated to learn. Man has a tendency to want to figure things out in order to classify them so that they may be understood. The books in the library are symbolic; they represent aspects
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In attempting to understand their position, man looks beyond the books, and the library. Considering that the library existed before man, something must have existed that created the library. Man looks to god to rationalize their existence, as well as the universe and the finite number of books in the library. While it does not provide answers to all the questions, it sheds some light on areas previously unknown. In addition, grasping the concept of god is not enough as man’s lack of knowledge leads to negative consequences, “The uncommon hope was followed, naturally enough, by deep depression. The certainty that some shelf in some hexagon contained precious books and that these books were inaccessible seemed almost intolerable” (84). Man is curious by nature, and with limitations put in front, their education is stunned. There is no incentive to remain motivated, considering all things cannot be known. Subsequent to depression setting in, man becomes destructive. “Epidemics, heretical disagreements, the pilgrimages which inevitably degenerate into banditry, have decimated the
In attempting to understand their position, man looks beyond the books, and the library. Considering that the library existed before man, something must have existed that created the library. Man looks to god to rationalize their existence, as well as the universe and the finite number of books in the library. While it does not provide answers to all the questions, it sheds some light on areas previously unknown. In addition, grasping the concept of god is not enough as man’s lack of knowledge leads to negative consequences, “The uncommon hope was followed, naturally enough, by deep depression. The certainty that some shelf in some hexagon contained precious books and that these books were inaccessible seemed almost intolerable” (84). Man is curious by nature, and with limitations put in front, their education is stunned. There is no incentive to remain motivated, considering all things cannot be known. Subsequent to depression setting in, man becomes destructive. “Epidemics, heretical disagreements, the pilgrimages which inevitably degenerate into banditry, have decimated the