In the gospel there is the instance where the poor old widow puts in two pence and Jesus cites her as the one who gave the most.
It now strikes me that there is a very strange affinity with what I'm researching: human meanings (those felt by us) and life meanings (those labelled). In the instance of the old widow, she put in the least, in comparison with the others. But she was most generous, again in comparison to others. Or it could also be said that she contributed the most, again in simple logical mathematical ratio comparison. Two different standards: in comparison to others and in comparison to mathematical ratio. Two contradictory results.
If speaking in terms of quantity and quality, then quantity wise she contributed practically nothing. But qualitatively she contributed everything. But again, quantity is in terms of cash; quality is in terms of generosity.
Two different standards of measurement and the resulting two conclusions can either be treated as contradictory or complementary. Viewed from either side, the result of the other perspective is contradictory (even if we don't call it 'false'). But if viewed holistically. both the views are valid and compatible with one another - none truer than the other.
Only when we introduce criteria external to the woman and her action, be it either Jesus or the rich men and their subsequent critique of her and her action, do comparative words like 'little', 'much'... and all the other vocabulary flow in. She put in two pence!
It now strikes me that there is a very strange affinity with what I'm researching: human meanings (those felt by us) and life meanings (those labelled). In the instance of the old widow, she put in the least, in comparison with the others. But she was most generous, again in comparison to others. Or it could also be said that she contributed the most, again in simple logical mathematical ratio comparison. Two different standards: in comparison to others and in comparison to mathematical ratio. Two contradictory results.
If speaking in terms of quantity and quality, then quantity wise she contributed practically nothing. But qualitatively she contributed everything. But again, quantity is in terms of cash; quality is in terms of generosity.
Two different standards of measurement and the resulting two conclusions can either be treated as contradictory or complementary. Viewed from either side, the result of the other perspective is contradictory (even if we don't call it 'false'). But if viewed holistically. both the views are valid and compatible with one another - none truer than the other.
Only when we introduce criteria external to the woman and her action, be it either Jesus or the rich men and their subsequent critique of her and her action, do comparative words like 'little', 'much'... and all the other vocabulary flow in. She put in two pence!
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