Dorothy and the Tree Essay

Dorothy and the Tree A Lesson in Epistemology Stanley look for discusses how we in society base our lives off of assumptions. Using the example of Dorothy and the tree, Fish is able to show how with our assumptions, we as people categorize others and things into what we believe to be correct. Whether or not we have actually taken the meter to figure out if we are right is irrelevant.He notes that we should just keep trying to expand our aesthesis of us as far as we can, so we can avoid judgments and isolating ourselves from the watch of society. Even though Dorothy realizes her mistake, she doesnt realize that it is not a failure, but her consciousness assuming the mixed bag of things in the world. Fish later on defines thought as the structure that at once enables erudition, meaning that within categories things emerge, secureing perception and nothing can allow one to see everything because that is divinitys job.Fish uses many Bible allusions to create justification for his assertions. He uses Genesis 126, and capital of Minnesotas road to Damascus to show that people can be persuaded to change their placement of things in society. Despite all of his valid points, Fish states that it is nearly impossible for one to change just on realizations. He believes it takes practice to accept the fact that there are things that we cannot comprehend because there is no limit on the conceptual trappings of society.