notes

PHILOSOPHICAL/RHETORICAL
Socrates [Wikipedia]-internal nature is more important than external nature; man > world
the knowledge that affects us is worthy of possessing
1) Know thyself. 2) Virtue is knowledge. 3) Virtue is happiness
spiritual degradation is mental degradation
Socratic questioning: To solve a problem, it would be broken down into a series of questions, the answers to which gradually distill the answer you seek. The influence of this approach is most strongly felt today in the use of the Scientific Method, in which hypothesis is the first stage. The development and practice of this method is one of Socrates' most enduring contributions, and is a key factor in earning his mantle as the father of political philosophy, ethics or moral philosophy, and as a figurehead of all the central themes in Western philosophy.
To illustrate the use of the Socratic method; a series of questions are posed to help a person or group to determine their underlying beliefs and the extent of their knowledge. The Socratic method is a negative method of hypothesis elimination, in that better hypotheses are found by steadily identifying and eliminating those which lead to contradictions. It was designed to force one to examine one's own beliefs and the validity of such beliefs. In fact, Socrates once said, "I know you won't believe me, but the highest form of Human Excellence is to question oneself and others."

POLITICAL
-need for environmental education; save the world one student at a time; we need to be retaught and learn to listen to nature (Derrick Jensen); BUT world can’t accept such a ‘revolutionary’ idea
-revisit the past to see mistakes made; consequences of those mistakes that we must live with
-need new perspectives/counterarguments
-imperialism, colonialism of zoos (domestication-curing primitivism; education-curing ignorance)
-man vs. beast, we marvel at how animals can communicate, i.e. Koko the ‘talking’ gorilla, sign language
-anthropomorphism – when we relate to animals, we apply human characteristics to them (imperialistic?) , i.e. Dog Whisperer
-need for (cultural?) diversity (that includes animals?), philosophy, and culture

QUINN/ISHMAEL
Story elements
-magical realism
-spiritual tone (Zen or Buddhist?)
-“Teacher seeks pupil, must have an earnest desire to save the world” – newspaper ad
-Socratic dialogue
-leavers vs. takers
-talking gorilla-strange and ungodly yet less disturbing than a telepathic gorilla but telepathic is more realistic. All about finding the connection/s between man and beast.

Characters
-erudite gorilla [spokesperson/representative for animals? silverback gorilla-closest to humans, easier to communicate with them] endangered animal – victim of poaching (gorilla head, feet, paws [ashtrays]), bushmeat, commercial hunting, killed for no reason-sport, habitat destruction, Ebola
can't speak but he's telepathic, learned human language and culture from benefactor, bend rules of science/possibility, wild --> zoo --> raised by benefactor-civilized--> omniscient (student has surpassed the master?) narrator sees him as gorilla first and 'person' (teacher/ friend) later

Questions:
-Why the name ‘Ishmael?’ Moby Dick’s narrator, tell it like it is, voice of reason? Watch Ahab destroy himself
-Why is Ishmael a gorilla? Why is he male? :P Why Socrates?
-Has Ishmael 'evolved?' or 'gone through evolution?'
-Why does Ishmael only ask for one student in the ad? How many did he expect—only one?
-Do animals have the capacity to teach us? (communication)

Need to find out:
-Is Ishmael literate? (read and write?)
-Does he employ positive listening rhetoric or dominate the convo like Socrates does?