The Moral Vision
What Must Be Known Before One Can Understand
~ 157 ~
WHAT MUST BE KNOWN BEFORE
ONE CAN UNDERSTAND
In 1970 a certain Indian politician went to France.
There he met with a French politician who was
associated with the ruling Gaullist party. An extract
from their conversation appeared in
The Times of
India,
July 18, 1983:
“Is there anything in particular you would like to
do in Paris?” asked the Gaullist.
“I am a great admirer of de Gaulle,” replied the
Indian visitor. “I should like to make a courtesy call
on him.”
“But he is dead, sir.”
“What? Nobody told me in India during the
briefing.”
They must have presumed you were aware of it. He
died four years ago.”
From this example we can see that everything
cannot be spelt out in words; there are some things
that one has to know oneself. If one already knows
