Understanding McLuhan/Understanding McLuhan (1996)(Voyager)[Mac-PC].iso/pc/mcluhan.dxr/09044_Field_TCGG T809.txt

Text File | 1996-04-10 | 940b | 16 lines

eludes the wretched mesh or sieve of our attention. “One does
not show his greatness by being at one extreme, but in
touching both extremes at once, and in filling in all the
intermediate space.” (104) Of course, by setting up this little
Gutenberg rack to anguish his spirit, Pascal insured himself
public notice and acceptance: “Those great efforts of the mind,
which the soul occasionally reaches, are such as it cannot
sustain. It reaches them only by a bound, not as on a throne,
continuously, but for an instant only.” (105)

     Pascal indicates that the old kind of consciousness was
kingly, continuous, “as on a throne.” The old king had a role,
not a job. He was an inclusive centre-without-a-margin. The
new consciousness like the new prince is a harassed executive,
exercising a job, applying knowledge to problems, and having
only momentary contacts with his marginal subjects, who are