All throughout class on Monday, I could only think about the Fresh Prince of Bel Air because the word “swerve” was used. I find it so interesting that the meaning of the word has changed since the time of the philosopher, Lucretius.
The Oxford Dictionary defines “swerve” as the change or cause to change direction abruptly. We have all heard this terminology before when talking about everyday events such a driving. However, the word “swerve” has turned into more of a slang word in the English language. The slag for “swerve” can from the song “Mercy” by Kayne West. It implies dodging (or avoiding) someone. Urban dictionary gives an example of the slag use of the word “swerve”:
*first day of school*
Girl: “OMG I missed you!”
Boy: “Bitch SWERVE, you aint HMU all summer”
Lucretius has a different definition of the word “swerve” meaning clinamen, or the accounts for free will. As a practicer of Epicureanism, Lucretius did not believe that the gods had any role in our life. Simply, we measure good and bad by pleasure and pain. This usage of the word “swerve” is far different than our modern interpretation. The different definitions caused me to question the motives behind both uses of the word “swerve.”
In the modern day, I can think of a few motives for using the word “swerve.” The first, very obvious reason is to describe the movement of something (a car, a person, a bike). The second reason is to avoid someone that you do not want to talk to. The modern motives differ from what I think Lucretius thought of the word “swerve.” I believe that Lucretius used clinamen or “swerve” in order to push away the role of gods in his life. This coincides with another Epicureanist idea: determinism. In my opinion, however, the word “swerve” seems to be the easy way out because they can seek pleasure (in whatever way they want) without having to worry about the gods role in their life. This idea differs from our modern idea of the word “swerve.” However, in the slag term of “swerve” a similarity can be seen. By dodging someone, that can be seen as taking the easy way out and that is similar to what the Lucretius followers were doing.
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ReplyDeleteI do not think that Lucretius meant 'swerve' as an easy way out. I think that he meant it as a way to explain free will in a world where they (the philosophers) were atomists. The movement of atoms explains everything in the universe. In order to factor in free will they had to have an explanation. This explanation was clinamen. The ability to choose your own course of action is the swerve.
ReplyDeleteI also found the use of the word swerve really interesting. I think we do have some sort of free will when it comes to decisions, especially when deciding what is pleasurable and what is painful. the world can't decide that for us so we need the swerve to describe that specific act of deciding what is or is not pleasurable. Also, I would like to say I love the memes you used for this post, they are so sassy.
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