A Language Older Than Words Chapter Summary & Analysis - The Safety of Metaphor and Claims to Virtue Summary

The Safety of Metaphor and Claims to Virtue Summary

In his chapter, "The Safety of Metaphor," Jensen expands on his belief that animals can communicate with humans and vice versa. He argues that this hypothesis cannot be proven scientifically, however, because there is no way to conduct scientific research on the idea of conversations with animals. Jensen speaks of interviewing with Jim Nollman. Although Jensen does not think that Nollman can help him much, Nollman does concur with Jensen that the idea that there could be a communication between the earth, animals and humans, and that the idea of this communication would be a threat to society. He also indicates society cannot think of the Earth of anything but an inanimate object because if they thought of the Earth as animate and as being able to feel pain, they would find themselves unable to continue to hurt the world in the way that they do.

In the chapter, "Claims...
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