Edgar Allan Poe
The Imp Of The Perverse is a metaphor for the common tendency, particularly among children or even adults , to do exactly the wrong thing in a given situation. The conceit is that the misbehavior is due to an “imp” (a little demon) leading an otherwise decent person, into an embarrassment or discomfitures position.One major trait scientists have overlooked in perversity. Men often do things for no better reason than that it will hurt themselves or others.
The story begins with a philosophical discussion about how science (especially phrenology) understands human beings. It is the narrator's contention that science develops a priori. One first decides on the basic needs of humankind, then ascribes to certain organs the role of satisfying those needs. The narrator thinks this is backwards: "It would have been wiser, it would have been safer to classify . . . upon the basis of what man usually or occasionally did, and was always occasionally doing, rather than upon the basis of what we took for granted what the Diety intended him to do.
" We stand upon the brink of the abyss. We peer into the abyss . We grow sick and dizzy. Our first impulse is to shrink away from the danger. Unaccountably we remain…" it is but a thought, although a fearful one, and one which chills the very marrow of our bones with the fierceness of the delight of its horror. It is simply the idea of what would be our sensations during the sweeping precipitancy of a fall from such a height... for this very cause do we now the most vividly desire it.
How much of human existence does science not recognize because its sight is limited by its presuppositions?
“Telling lies and believing false truths is more common than you may think.”
Think at that, and theh feel free to ask yuorself questions...Or not.
