Ben vs. Sam

Russ Hunt (HUNT who-is-at academic.stu.StThomasU.ca)
Sat, 25 May 1996 09:43:06 AST

A footnote on this powerfully fascinating discussion.

It was, as Jay points out, Dr. Sam. Here's the passage from Boswell:

After we came out of the church, we stood talking for some time
together of Bishop Berkeley's ingenious sophistry to prove the
non-existence of matter, and that every thing in the universe
is merely ideal. I observed, that though we are satisfied his
doctrine is not true, it is impossible to refute it. I never
shall forget the alacrity with which Johnson answered, striking
his foot with mighty force against a large stone, till he
rebounded from it, "I refute it _thus_." (6 August 1763).

And then there's Richard Wilbur:

Kick at the rock, Sam Johnson, break your bones:
But cloudy, cloudy is the stuff of stones.

-- Russ
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