Today's Topics:
Eco explains it
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Message-Id: <aaaf46d205021004f930@[198.112.74.146]>
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 1994 12:15:07 -0400
To: subgenius@mc.lcs.mit.edu
From: Steve Strassmann <straz@cambridge.apple.com>
Subject: Eco explains it
From: stoney (Stonewall Ballard)
Subject: Religious Wars
Published in the 30th September issue of the Italian weekly magazine
"Espresso" (same kind of thing as Newsweek or Time), in his regular
column on the last page, called "La bustina di Minerva", Umberto Eco
writes:
[first half of article, about other things, removed]
Insufficient consideration has been given to the new underground religious
war which is modifying the modern world. It's an old idea of mine, but
I find that whenever I tell people about it they immediately agree with
me.
The fact is that the world is divided between users of the Macintosh
computer and users of MS-DOS compatible computers. I am firmly of the
opinion that the Macintosh is Catholic and that Dos is Protestant.
Indeed, the Macintosh is counter-reformist and has been influenced by
the "ratio studiorum" of the Jesuits. It is cheerful, friendly,
conciliatory, it tells the faithful how they must proceed step by
step to reach - if not the kingdom of Heaven - the moment in which
their document is printed. It is catechistic: the essence of
revelation is dealt with via simple formulae and sumptuous icons.
Everyone has a right to salvation.
Dos is Protestant, or even Calvinistic. It allows free interpretation
of scripture, demands difficult personal decisions, imposes a subtle
hermeneutics upon the user, and takes for granted the idea that
not all can reach salvation. To make the system work you need
to interpret the program yourself: a long way from the baroque
community of revellers, the user is closed within the loneliness
of his own inner torment.
You may object that, with the passage to Windows, the Dos universe
has come to resemble more closely the counter-reformist tolerance
of the Macintosh. It's true: Windows represents an Anglican-style
schism, big ceremonies in the cathedral, but there is always the
possibility of a return to Dos to change things in accordance
with bizarre decisions: when it comes down to it, you can decide
to allow women to be priests if you want to.
[not terribly relevant bit removed]
And machine code, which lies beneath both systems (or environments,
if you prefer)? Ah, that is to do with the Old Testament, and is
talmudic and cabalistic...
(L'Espresso's fax number is +39 6 8845167 or +39 6 8550246)
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End of Subgenius Digest
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