Proximity Searches and Logos

Maurice A. O'Sullivan mauros at iol.ie
Fri Sep 24 19:20:03 EDT 1999


At 10:27 24/09/99 -0500, you wrote:
>You'll remember the piece several
>years back by Umberto Eco on theological perspectives and preferred
>computer platforms, fascinating but surely composed with a good sense of
>humor.

Here it is again, Carl, for those who have joined the list in the last 
couple of years..

Enjoy!
Maurice

The following excerpts are from an English translation of Umberto Eco's 
back-page column, "La bustina di Minerva," in the Italian news 
weekly  "Espresso," September 30, 1994.

   ..."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 innter 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 and 
gays to be  ministers if you want to.  ...

  "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..."



Maurice A. O'Sullivan  [ Bray, Ireland ]
mauros at iol.ie

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