Summary of text [comment] page 29

St. Thomas Aquinas claimed that angels and the first couple (Adam and Eve) were unable to commit mortal sins because they were granted immunity from concupiscence.

[Now, I will expand on the vignette that closed the previous blog by asking:

Why do modern Public Cults appeal for a return to the Lebenswelt containing hand (speech) talk, that is, the world where we all belonged, were equal, were in material poverty, and did not know any different?

Jacques Rousseau, in his second discourse, informed us that the key feature of this more ancient than ‘ancient’ world was the lack of private property.  Once the habit of private property entered the scene, that monstrosity called “civilization” started.

The resonance between “what Rousseau described as human before civilization” and “the Lebenswelt of hand speech talking cultures” is striking.

What does “private property” mean?  It means “that belongs to me”.  It also means that “I belong to that”.  “That” speaks of a differentiated world, instead of “the undifferentiated world that humans evolved in”.

Can you convey the concept of “property” through pantomime (manual brachial gesture)?

Well, you can grab onto some thing and not let go.  But then what happens when you fall asleep or cannot carry it everywhere?  You cannot articulate: This is my “property”.  You have to act out your desires so convincingly that the thing is there when you wake up.  Sure, things were dear, but the people in your band were more dear.

Even though our ancestors held onto some things and let others go, the term “property” was undefined in the Lebenswelt of hand speech talk.  Yet, that lack of definition does not mean that “the holding onto some things and letting other things go” was not lived every day.  This drama was personal and collective, since, time and time again, everyone in the band had to move to a new location.]