can you please explain the double paradox here in the last two sentences?
Can we keep our heads in a world
with its yankee wit so lost
that the woods are a cry for fire
and minding the fire is frost?
See if the explanations here help make it clear:
http://www.thelogician.net/2_future_logic/2_chapter_32.htm
Let us know what you think.
In order to understand the double paradox in these last two sentences, let's break them down and analyze the individual statements:
1. "Can we keep our heads in a world with its yankee wit so lost that the woods are a cry for fire?"
In this sentence, the phrase "keep our heads" implies maintaining composure or staying level-headed. The phrase "yankee wit" refers to the cleverness or intelligence typically associated with Americans. The phrase "so lost" suggests a state of confusion or disarray.
The paradox arises from the idea that the "woods" are "a cry for fire." Typically, when someone sees or hears a cry for help, they react by trying to put out the fire or assist in some way. However, in this context, the "woods" themselves are the cry for fire. This implies a situation where helping or intervening in the woods may actually be counterproductive or detrimental in some way.
Therefore, the paradox lies in the conflict between the rational response of extinguishing fire and the notion that the woods themselves are calling for fire, creating a contradiction and confusion about what action should be taken.
2. "And minding the fire is frost."
This sentence reinforces the paradoxical nature of the previous line. The phrase "minding the fire" refers to paying attention to or taking care of the fire, while "frost" typically refers to freezing temperatures or icy conditions. Conceptually, fire and frost are opposites - fire produces heat, while frost represents extreme cold.
By stating that "minding the fire is frost," another paradox emerges. It suggests that the very act of tending to the fire, which should generate warmth, instead brings about a chilling or freezing effect, as if the actions that are supposed to provide comfort or aid have unintended and contradictory consequences.
Overall, these two sentences present a double paradox by juxtaposing conflicting ideas: the woods as a cry for fire and minding the fire causing frost. Both paradoxes challenge our typical expectations and create a sense of conceptual tension.