Given your knowledge of dualism, choose the best interpretation of presence of dualism in this excerpt from an Emily Dickinson poem:
The brain is wider than the sky,
For, put them side by side,
The one the other will include
With ease, and you beside.
A.The poem suggests that the person’s physical body is connected to the brain and the sky.
B.Dualism is not present at all in this poem.
C.The poem suggests that the brain and the sky work together.
D By placing the “you” beside the brain, the poem suggests that the physical person is separate and distinct from the mental capacities of the brain.
Thinking the answer is D. But it could also be B, not 100% sure. Thanks for the help!
Since one includes the other, this does not fit the definition of dualism. Although it is hard for me to interpret what Dickinson means, it does not seem to fit the definition below.
du·al·ism (d-lzm, dy-)
n.
1. The condition of being double; duality.
2. Philosophy The view that the world consists of or is explicable as two fundamental entities, such as mind and matter.
3. Psychology The view that the mind and body function separately, without interchange.
4. Theology
a. The concept that the world is ruled by the antagonistic forces of good and evil.
b. The concept that humans have two basic natures, the physical and the spiritual.
To choose the best interpretation of the presence of dualism in the excerpt from the Emily Dickinson poem, let's go through the options and analyze the possibilities:
A. The poem suggests that the person’s physical body is connected to the brain and the sky.
This option does not directly involve dualism, as it implies a physical connection rather than addressing the mind-body relationship.
B. Dualism is not present at all in this poem.
This option suggests that the poem does not contain any elements related to dualism. It means that the poem does not explore the concept of separation between the mind and the body or any related ideas.
C. The poem suggests that the brain and the sky work together.
This option establishes a sense of collaboration between the brain and the sky, but it does not directly address dualism, which focuses on the separation of the mind and body.
D. By placing the “you” beside the brain, the poem suggests that the physical person is separate and distinct from the mental capacities of the brain.
This option involves dualism as it implies a separation between the person (you) and the mental faculties associated with the brain. It suggests that the person is not entirely defined by their physical body but also possesses distinct mental capacities.
Considering these options, option D is the most appropriate interpretation of the presence of dualism in the excerpt. It suggests that the poem implies a separation between the physical person and the mental capabilities associated with the brain.
However, it's important to note that interpreting poetry can often be subjective, so other valid interpretations may also exist.