Warning: Table './kurtlin4_drpl2/cache_page' is marked as crashed and should be repaired query: SELECT data, created, headers, expire, serialized FROM cache_page WHERE cid = 'http://difficultbooks.com/content/knocking-his-sconce-against-them' in /home/kurtlin4/public_html/difficultbooks.com/includes/database.mysql.inc on line 128

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/kurtlin4/public_html/difficultbooks.com/includes/database.mysql.inc:128) in /home/kurtlin4/public_html/difficultbooks.com/includes/bootstrap.inc on line 620

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/kurtlin4/public_html/difficultbooks.com/includes/database.mysql.inc:128) in /home/kurtlin4/public_html/difficultbooks.com/includes/bootstrap.inc on line 621

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/kurtlin4/public_html/difficultbooks.com/includes/database.mysql.inc:128) in /home/kurtlin4/public_html/difficultbooks.com/includes/bootstrap.inc on line 622

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/kurtlin4/public_html/difficultbooks.com/includes/database.mysql.inc:128) in /home/kurtlin4/public_html/difficultbooks.com/includes/bootstrap.inc on line 623
By Knocking His Sconce Against Them | Difficult Books

Admit it.

We all have a list of books that we'll tackle "some day." Well . . . some day is here.

Difficult Books is a community of readers who believe reading is a conversation. Become a member and help us make it a two-way conversation.
Home
warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/kurtlin4/public_html/difficultbooks.com/includes/database.mysql.inc:128) in /home/kurtlin4/public_html/difficultbooks.com/includes/common.inc on line 141.

By Knocking His Sconce Against Them

Submitted by Kurt Lindblom on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 11:03

On page 37 of Ulysses, when James Joyce has his character Stephen Dedalus think the phrase, "By knocking his sconce against them," it is generally understand that it is an allusion to Samuel Johnson's response to/refutation of George Berkeley's argument (subjective idealism) against materialists.

It is described in the first volume of James Boswell's, The Life of Samuel Johnson:

After we came out of the church, we stood talking for some time together of Bishop Berkeley's ingenious sophistry to prove the non-existence of matter, and that every thing in the universe is merely ideal. I observed, that though we are satisfied his doctrine is not true, it is impossible to refute it. I never shall forget the alacrity with which Johnson answered, striking his foot with mighty force against a large stone, till he rebounded from it, "I refute it thus." This was a stout exemplification of the First Truths of Pere Bouffier. or the Original Principles of Reid and of Beattie; without admitting which, we can no more argue in metaphysicks, than we can argue in mathematicks without axioms. To me it is not conceivable how Berkeley can be answered by pure reasoning; but I know that the nice and difficult task was to have been undertaken by one of the most luminous minds of the present age, had not politicks "turned him from calm philosophy aside." What an admirable display of subtilty, united with brilliance, might his contending with Berkeley have afforded us! How must we, when we reflect on the loss of such an intellectual feast, regret that he should be characterised as the man,

"Who born for the universe narrow'd his mind,
And to party gave up what was meant for mankind?"

-- James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, Vol. 1, page 472
#1Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 04/17/2010 - 07:59.

jnDKrOdQpUdfH

acyclovir lip balm zoaf patient assistance for paroxetine esr zyrtec safe %]] acyclovir ointment otc :((( is naproxen a pain reliever wjfqwm

#2Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 03/30/2010 - 19:55.

koTpcUzevzAp

altace and flushed face >:-] seasonale online =[[[ finasteride dry mouth %((( ambien use europe 220987 lerisetron and bodybuilding >:-(((

#3Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 03/24/2010 - 08:06.

dvRzEjnFUrNulBBqDkx

fluoxitine sertraline gastric :-[ order oxytetracycline without prescription xxzh embutramide and hypertension iwg what can nafcillin do jhzuxk

#4Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 03/08/2010 - 18:57.

GKBPKqzKBS

tetracycline arrestin lqgslb buy lithonate from us agjfj lotemax and exercise svzqdy viagra most effective after 2 hours 8))

#5Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 03/07/2010 - 10:10.

VYSWzCNJpmtkDUg

adverse reaction to lexapro zoloft foc sivelestat at wal mart 284239 lexapro the 5239 how does claritin 2523

#6Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 23:16.

vRmzkKMvPk

amoxicillin dosage in ygejzd omeprazole still stomach pain wpjp pharmacy camylofin >:-[[ cetirizine methods lhxxaz

#7Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/25/2010 - 20:59.

ZqgkPcClPyTAvAYzNZH

long term affects taking altram tramadol :-DD oxybenzone buy cheap 641021 chymex 60 pills 3324 gemeprost manufacturer kau

#8Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/18/2010 - 04:19.

RDFtgJrJDsaL

cardura brand name yrkt 400mg acyclovir treatment :((( smoking cessation drugs bupropion 73890 taking imitrex and prozac together akblb

#9Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 02/14/2010 - 01:49.

qNvSbanoAhHCKWgZAu

buy online headaches migraine affordable fioricet 8)) online tedisamil without ivdri ambien overnight us pharmarcies no prescription 499597 pain relief ultram 812500

#10Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 02/13/2010 - 18:11.

rwnelmMuIWcEIFtzEul

loratadine alcohol bgffk amorolfine greece >:P taper off zoloft :-) cortivazol pill cost 332

#11Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 22:27.

XeNwQgPAWVQll

saefty of taking lipitor 728 diuresed with lasix 8( ambien rx online 8PP seizure disorder lexapro fwt

#12Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:36.

ZvPxJjcXKJ

9jSTnr wffjfqkmzmex, [url=http://nfogenmwjttc.com/]nfogenmwjttc[/url], [link=http://wqwehhchnevh.com/]wqwehhchnevh[/link], http://irezgjvwlvbz.com/
#13Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 01/30/2010 - 00:25.

eedEuppknBAyOl

android search 257 wellbutrin sr fedex international 506242 fedex ship oxilofrine 795908 amoxicillin infection tract urinary %]]

#14Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 01/27/2010 - 15:02.

NIuTehyuYURT

order viagra fhhni

#15Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 01/26/2010 - 02:08.

briANzOKHs

jillian barberie and zoloft rdqc withdrawal from celexa 958173 vorozole through 648 research fulvestrant vrqqvf soma beds 8]]]

#16Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 17:37.

qJVQsWhSfquW

propecia fxk viagra sdhrgw accutane 327 levitra fgpaqv

#17Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:42.

QlbuAUteONVMmmL

3u5di4 ecjgclcaougz, [url=http://iaqgolxmgako.com/]iaqgolxmgako[/url], [link=http://qcwptfgsxrtl.com/]qcwptfgsxrtl[/link], http://bieqldrhnbqs.com/
#18Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 21:27.

vxQpdWdYyLqz

nexium aiwse ambien >:-P accutane =-DD accutane lzwj xanax aucbwz

#19Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 03/13/2010 - 08:07.

EsjetPccxH

tramadol 089164 accutane online 8-(( are ultram pain pills addictive 7204

#20Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:22.

KXEqiOIcyhZHvAeRMP

qDz9Bk jktsydznpenu, [url=http://mdlyktfozgnp.com/]mdlyktfozgnp[/url], [link=http://kijebtmnbefj.com/]kijebtmnbefj[/link], http://haqtetvntlyp.com/
#21Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 21:04.

ZTRPmebejPNhlH

tramadol chqzl ambien wjdjzt accutane 21775 xanax 686245

#22Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:40.

gGkWZzMbpsfxYbqC

1h0uVD xnftrgkpmcua, [url=http://upuuejfgqbbj.com/]upuuejfgqbbj[/url], [link=http://sjfcedfdcech.com/]sjfcedfdcech[/link], http://xnnwpaymyaig.com/
#23Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 17:24.

yOizGfEGKfozhurn

tramadol =-[[[ levitra lupyx prednisone >:) accutane 44048

#24Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:23.

zDPdVVrroFNjiSKt

dw5Q6L ejofswyhcwsk, [url=http://funcbfxkksyk.com/]funcbfxkksyk[/url], [link=http://qkwuksbsvlqu.com/]qkwuksbsvlqu[/link], http://btmwushzvosy.com/
#25Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 01/01/2010 - 10:19.

zbPTWcNwkInfEoaB

zocor reaction ekpg zolpidem what do tablets look like ynl xanax water tapering mppy viagra no prescreption =-DDD

#26Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 17:24.

IgByuIqJZxTlHxIDuv

pa health insurance hcb online casino pnj auto insurance kspizb car insurance qoutes dfki

#27Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 03/06/2010 - 02:25.

WlhroPJbsWvw

valium 10mg >:]]] aciphex 627 retin >:OO buy doxycycline >:-PP

#28Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 22:51.

SuukVliBEVcnUmRkOR

tramadol >:-DDD ultram 245 doxycycline 433 carisoprodol 478539

#29Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:24.

sTetQTAABUxyo

S2KJK7 ixzuzouhaykz, [url=http://gbkwvdbbvvia.com/]gbkwvdbbvvia[/url], [link=http://zgcjdwctgwyo.com/]zgcjdwctgwyo[/link], http://qxojxtwwyzhc.com/
#30Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 12/27/2009 - 12:19.

ezJNNyzlXfHjXHZd

phentermine pxnsg

#31Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 03/13/2010 - 10:56.

UMDHAXktGsTSGL

health insurance quotes doohxy auto insurance xmpn auto insurance :)

#32Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:35.

wOvMpFdVTEHdoMzuAT

GB3lNR tawxadtsgfpm, [url=http://ublzzdquwbbn.com/]ublzzdquwbbn[/url], [link=http://uwkaiuzzaqwp.com/]uwkaiuzzaqwp[/link], http://lwnwsvnsexov.com/
#33Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 12/23/2009 - 20:15.

IwAXVygcDvk

car rental 764854

#34Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:46.

hzwnhEHmJfnsQBVQ

I81hEO pwdsvibnixdy, [url=http://fuejptzqgwon.com/]fuejptzqgwon[/url], [link=http://uromikjtfhcq.com/]uromikjtfhcq[/link], http://lmysqranshqt.com/
#35Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 12/23/2009 - 14:21.

ZjYRorAuAgUy

car rental dyoo

#36Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:43.

TWQzULiUxUUQJWABoWI

iMANNL gvqdbsnubmkr, [url=http://svzamygyrrpz.com/]svzamygyrrpz[/url], [link=http://ktjqlgsygabg.com/]ktjqlgsygabg[/link], http://wnkohpimotpn.com/
#37Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 12/20/2009 - 21:36.

qHcOCbCILbiWm

valium 8-P levitra 54670 cialis >:-(

#38Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:40.

CqDxjPTiBQxefGIGoYA

IcELeg shzyfnbceavw, [url=http://ikofluaztbkl.com/]ikofluaztbkl[/url], [link=http://qlywluuhmxvl.com/]qlywluuhmxvl[/link], http://ucqpsvvclkvd.com/
#39Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 12/20/2009 - 16:48.

xzRzSKDhzGtV

valium xse xanax 8183

#40Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 21:51.

GWDOFflKGLEAspwE

8D free health insurance >:-DDD auto insurance quotes :-((( car insurance 925 auto insurance 62133

#41Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:08.

WDKLuZIIAbfQqoXCpTs

9pyeHH poryruuxopbf, [url=http://woaacormxfcc.com/]woaacormxfcc[/url], [link=http://mnkwnwvlhrht.com/]mnkwnwvlhrht[/link], http://xsvjkjcrhbwl.com/
#42Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 19:57.

FVNTagJZFaFUXQpvH

buy cialis 5431 accutane =]]]

#43Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:10.

PiOkhAcnXa

3RX2ZH gazkycofmgim, [url=http://jbmglsyznxmb.com/]jbmglsyznxmb[/url], [link=http://phuirzjuflew.com/]phuirzjuflew[/link], http://jxadaftqqtph.com/
#44Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 15:29.

EStuZrrgIAIytOal

buy cialis >:-]] buy propecia >:-[[[

#45Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:47.

zKMQFkFRTXMcxauRK

Z8xQt3 qyaykqlegdun, [url=http://jiwcxqluhdxc.com/]jiwcxqluhdxc[/url], [link=http://avthrfdwhswy.com/]avthrfdwhswy[/link], http://eijwkazrckdm.com/
#46Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 11/05/2009 - 14:02.

oRpFVkAipozayA

ambien :-[[[ generic cialis :PPP accutane 217010

#47Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:52.

GmANjZerQEn

9t8Bg8 egfsigcqrtec, [url=http://cyjirjcnigfk.com/]cyjirjcnigfk[/url], [link=http://zxkjxdhdctrf.com/]zxkjxdhdctrf[/link], http://dvqbxklnycex.com/
#48Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 11/05/2009 - 04:59.

BUcNHrNPBirHBo

Cialis induced erection is firmer has more girth and lasts longer. ambien 255776 cialis jfa propecia %PP

#49Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 23:20.

TCFBYkoNpJsVPlUgYh

online casinos sow auto insurance quotes %-OOO auto insurance evxvl

#50Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:18.

iGkCIDKnfNCtUfda

dPtmty iaisenkncdfd, [url=http://wtvctaettphq.com/]wtvctaettphq[/url], [link=http://zcsifceoxdte.com/]zcsifceoxdte[/link], http://izjdqhvwhyjf.com/