How is Iago able to drive Othello mad? Explain your answer it terms of the skeptical problem of knowing another person. If Othello had read (and understood) Cavell, would he still fall prey to the deceiving Iago? How would Othello view the problem of knowing another person (Desdemona) differently after reading Cavell?
This post should be at least 3 paragraphs in length.
12/21/2007
Othello's Skeptical Problem
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Iago is able to drive othello mad by preying on his inability to be numerically the same person as Desdemona. Iago points this out to Othello and then shows him what he may not 'know' about Desdemona. He then goes on to point out different occurences that might show how his previous beliefs might be wrong and that Desdemona might be unfaithful to him or not love him but love Casio. This drives hiom mad as because Othello shares the skeptic's need to know exactly what desdemona feels moreso if she loves him or Casio. He cannot be sure of this without having experienced what is in her mind.
After reading Cavell Othello would probably have viewed the situation differently. He would have understood that even having numerically the same feelings would not have guaranteed his full understanding and 'knowledge' of Desdemona. He would realize as Cavell pointed out that numerically the same feelings are not necessary for being able to help someone or understand them. The problem with having tthe samme feelings is that one still has to figure out what to do about it
Had he understood Cavell, Othello would not have placed so much importance on knowing exactly what Desdemona was doing. He would intead just trust her and accept that knowing her does not mean knowing everything about her. Even if he were able to know everything about her still could not be satisfied. Iago would not have been able to brainwash him into killing his wife. Because had he understood Cavell he would have been able to think more rationally even in not knowing.
By Beheen Razawi 12.31.07
Iago drove Othello mad by presenting the problem of knowing a person in the numerical terms. Iago showed Othello that it was impossible to know Desdemona numerically. Once Othello began to feel that human intercation was only defined by numerical understanding of those around you, he began to think that he knew no one. He felt that the knoweldge he possessed about other people was too small to compare the amount of knoweldge that he was unable to possess about Desdemona.
Iago was basically playing as an Evil Descartes. He was presenting the skeptic problem to Othello in a way that not only made him feel as though it was impossible to know someone, but impossible to even think you know someone; showing how unreasonable it would be to say that you knew how a certain person felt.
Now, if Othello had read Cavell's work, maybe he'd feel different. Cavell would have made Othello feel alright with not knowing Desdemona wholely, entirely, and numerically. Othello would have seen that love and all human interaction cannot be based off of numerical understanding of one another. He would have seen that all the things that he didn't know about Desdemona were the reason why they were in love. If he did numerically "know" her, there would be no reason to talk or say, "I love you" to one another or any of the other things that couples do because he would have already known those things. He would have already understood that she loved him and that she felt a certain way about this or that. If Othello did know her numerically, there love would be reduced to two people sitting in a room, "knowing" one another. If Othello had read Cavell he would have known life is not numerical understanding; he would have known that life was much more then that, filled with a somewhat "lack of knoweldge" and mystery to another person.
I believe that Lago is able to drive Othello mad because he makes Othello believe that he can never "literally" know if Desdemona actually loves him and is not cheating on him with Casio. Because of Lago, Othello feels like he can’t really know Desdemona’s true feelings toward him which drives him crazy to the point where he kills his wife.
If Othello had read Cavell I think it would have been less likely that he would have fell prey to Lago. He would have understood that even if you can’t numerically know and feel the same things that someone else feels; you can still trust or understand what they are feeling. Thus we may not be able to know exactly how some one feels but we can still find some sort of understanding about what they are feeling, like doctors do with their patients.
I think after reading Cavell, Othello would not be so interested on knowing numerically if she was indeed cheating on him because he would trust what his wife had told him and find truth in that. It would not have driven him crazy to find out about Desdemona, but believe in her love toward him and not kill her.
Iago is able to drive Othello mad by causing him the same worry that the skeptic is plagued by. The worry of the skeptic is that he cannot know another’s pain, and therefore he cannot “acknowledge” (266) it. Iago is able to make Othello doubt Desdemona’s love by asking him to attest with certainty that she is “honest”. This affirmation would require Othello to acknowledge Desdemona’s love for him, and by calling upon him to make it, Iago reveals to Othello his own inability to do so.
Once he has planted this doubt, Iago exploits it through the elements by which we seek to quell doubt. These elements are observable criteria, which the skeptic dismisses as qualifying knowledge of pain as “descriptively the same” (246), and not numerically identical (246). The case of Othello justifies this dismissal, because in it all the descriptive criteria against Desdemona’s love are provided. If he were able to feel her love numerically these elements could not sway him from the knowledge of it, but because the love she actually feels for him is being descriptively contradicted, it is cast into doubt.
Had Othello read Cavell, he would endeavor to resolve the problem with Desdemona. As Cavell recognizes that the more useful question is not whether we can know someone is in pain, but what it is to know, Othello would recognize that the more productive action would be to establish with Desdemona what it is for them to love one another. He would then find a way to know whether this loving was occurring or not, rather than falling prey to Iago’s manipulation. This process would free him from the sway of Iago because the only two people involved in the love are Othello and Desdemona, giving Iago no part or influence.
Samantha Brown
Iago is able to drive othello mad by preying on his inability to be numerically the same person as Desdemona. Iago points this out to Othello and then shows him what he may not 'know' about Desdemona. He then goes on to point out different occurences that might show how his previous beliefs might be wrong and that Desdemona might be unfaithful to him or not love him but love Casio.This drives hiom mad as because Othello shares the skeptic's need to know exactly what desdemona feels moreso if she loves him or Casio. He cannot be sure of this without having experienced what is in her mind.
After reading Cavell Othello would probably have viewed the situation differently. He would have understood that even having numerically the same feelings would not have guaranteed his full understanding and 'knowledge' of Desdemona. He would realize as Cavell pointed out that numerically the same feelings are not necessary for being able to help someone or understand them. The problem with having tthe samme feelings is that one still has to figure out what to do about it
Had he understood Cavell, Othello would not have placed so much importance on knowing exactly what Desdemona was doing. He would intead just trust her and accept that knowing her does not mean knowing everything about her. And also that not knowing her was also important because it gave them reason for communication. Iago would not have been able to brainwash him into killing his wife. Because had he understood Cavell he would have been able to think more rationally even in not knowing.
Ben Shavitz
Iago is able to drive Othello mad by making him doubt. He points out that Othello does not numerically know Desdemona. Iago then gives Othello false evidence that suggests that she is cheating on him.
If Othello had read and understood Cavell he would not have fallen prey to Iago. By reading Cavell, Othello would have gained an understanding of the "problem of knowing another person." This understanding would have caused him to view the problem differently.
After reading Cavell, Othello would have viewed the problem of knowing Desdemona numerically unsolveable. This would have caused him to realize that searching for an answer to the problem would lead him to insanity. If Othello had viewed the problem of knowing Desdemona in this way, Iago's plan to destroy him would have failed.
Iago is able to make Othello mad by telling him that he does not numerically know Desdemona. Othello first has disbelief in this but as Iago continues to change Othello's thought of Desdemona, Othello himself starts to question his own wife. He himself has no way of truly knowing Desdemona and that is the situation that Iago brings up.
If Othello had read and understood Cavell, he most likely would not have fallen into Iago's trap. This is because Cavell says that you can't numerically know someone so Othello would have realized that you can never truly know something and what they're intentions are.
Using this knowledge that Othello would have gained, he would have a reason to believe that Iago has spoken lies about Desdemona. If Othello doesn't numerically know Desdemona, then he shouldn't be able to rely on the thoughts of Iago then. If Othello knew his wife numberically enough, then Iago would have nothing to say but because he doesn't Iago can say any lie he wishes to Othello that sounds reasonably truthful. Since Othello doesn't know his wife completely though, Iago would use this to change Othello's thought of Desdemona so due to this, Othello would have to choose who to believe.
Iago is able to drive Othello mad by making him doubt Desdemona. Doing so, Othello questions Desdemona love for him and is unable to understand her. When he was unable to know Desdemona, Othello had followed Iago and his false evidence provided to try and know Desdemona.
If Othello read and understood Cavell, he would’ve been less likely to be driven mad by Iago. Cavell presents a situation where one is unable to feel exactly the same pain but one can relate to it and understand it. If this was understood by Othello, he would have been more likely to trust Desdemona and not the deceiving Iago.
If Othello had read Cavell, he would’ve understood if Desdemona’s love had existed and not base it off a false assumption or false facts. Cavell presents the hypothetical situation and as it is explained it leads to how you can know someone but not understand every detail of them. Othello probably would’ve followed the same and would try to understand the situation at hand and not jump into conclusion.
Rahmina Begum
Iago is able to drive Othello mad by taking advantage of the fact that nobody can fully know anybody. Simply by planting this thought into Othello’s head in a negative view, he begins to plant doubts into Othello’s head concerning Desdemona. Othello feels powerless after hearing about his inability to feel numerically the same pain as Desdemona, or any other feeling for that matter. He feels he will never be able to know her with respect to knowing her every numerical feeling. This powerlessness inspires a feeling of paranoia and insecurity such that is so overwhelming, it makes him go mad.
If Othello had had a conversation with Cavell, he would have been more accepting about not knowing Desdemona. He would still know that he may never fully know Desdemona and the feelings of doubt and paranoia would still be there, but it would not affect him in such a negative way. He would not give the fact that he cannot know Desdemona such importance, or view it as such a danger. Othello would understand that even if he did know Desdemona exactly, fully, and numerically, it would not help his relationship with her that much. He would know that in fact, it is more of the understanding and relation, and less of the knowing that holds the bond between two people valid, or strong. So in short, if Iago’s INTENTIONS were to make Othello go mad and paranoid about his wife, and not just to state facts, then he would not have been successful (if Othello spoke to Cavell beforehand).
In fact, Othello would see the situation as a mere fact, which, according to Cavell, is what it is. It would not be so important to numerically know Desdemona. It would actually be an incentive to draw Othello closer to her, and bask in their differences. Othello would not come to the conclusion that he must kill Desdemona... he would never reach that point. Neither would Othello go mad, nor would he kill his wife, nor would this fact have such a haunting impact on his life. Not having the ability to know anyone would be an insignificant fact to him.
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