man?In Chapter 6 on page 96 Ishmael says: By studying the universe you have learned how to fly, split atoms, send messages to the stars at the speed of light, and so on, but theres no way of studying the universe to acquire the most basic and needful knowledge of all: the knowledge of how you ought to live. Of course during this Ishmael is saying that there is a law ought there but most takers refuse to realize it. I have to admit when Ishmael first began to talk about how there is a law I refused to believe it myself but I decided to read on seeing as everything else in the book seemed to have validity to it and made since so far. I feel that one of the reasons I didnt want to believe it at first is because I am atheist. By the end of chapter it hit all at once. As soon as I realized that this supposed law had nothing to do with religion or god I was able to put my ignorance behind me and move on. This moment is when the book really made me think. It now seems very probably that there is or even has to be some law that governs the existence life, just as gravity keeps us on this planet. The law of how we ought to live is not just some ethical perspective but an actual law that governs how we have to live in order to survive. One quote from the book I thought was very interesting was the one on the sign which read With man gone will there be hope for gorilla? With gorilla gone will there be hope for man? This particular quote meant nothing to me when I began reading the book but when I finished and the other side of the sign was revealed it was almost shocking. The one that says With gorilla gone will there be hope for man? almost makes you saddened at the end of the book. I think this is when you realize that Ishmael is not coming back. It is also at this point when you remember the original sign and it actually has meaning to it. I am still not sure why Daniel Quinn picked a gorilla. I think one possibility might be to...
