Cassandra and Jonah
1. Seers, Death and December, 1987
a) Conversation with the man who had
died earlier that day, and what he experienced was not what he
expected;
b) The tale of the psychic-would you want to be told the future if if
you had an opportunity? [EC]
c) Regarding seers and others who know what is likely to be the
future - when should they speak? Example of the MD who can
tell when meeting you that if you don't have a mole removed it will
likely lead to a fatal cancer.
2. Prophecy which is about an open future (can be change) and
prophecy which is about a closed fixed future that cannot be
changed and the arguments that the future is closed or open:
a) basic determinism argument;
b)basic predestination argument;
c) basic fatalist argument
d) William James' response.
Post scripts:
1. Talk about Lisa Goldstein's "Cassandra's Photographs" and
those who like to plan and those who prefer spontaneity and surprise.
Which is better and for whom? [EC]
2. One edge of prophecy is that sometimes it only works when what it
predicts does not come to pass.
a) But if it does not happen, how do
you know it worked?
b) And the other side (if good - for the one who sees potential where
others do not) only works if it works otherwise one wonders...
Michael Kagan
November 16, 2004 (revised 11/19/04)
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