Section = 004_4c
Use / Silence
(see Zerzan, 2008c)
Human(e) use of simple, plastic materials in conviviality is language-becoming-silence. Mass society and radical monopoly banishes autonomy but the truest society approaches solitude and the most excellent speech is that which falls into silence (Thoreau in Zerzan, 2008c) reaching back to presence and original community – the Latin root for silence, silere, to say nothing , is related to sinere, to allow to be in a place. It is in this silence that we finally can “listen” to the differences between no-place and our place, between dwelling and non-dwelling[1]; and in doing so find peace[2].
Speech which must limit itself to speaking clearly is bypassed and explicitly ordered and regulated discourse fades (Boomkens, 2008:12). But silence here does not consist of ‘mute edifices’. This silence ‘sings’ as a home – being entirely immersed in it, living in it, and belonging to it[3]in the vocabulary of everyday use and experience (Boomkens, 2008:12)
[1] Stephen Sartarelli discussing Cacciari (1980). Dwelling..the basic character of Being in keeping with which mortals exist (Heidegger, 1971).
[2] The essence of dwelling – “remaining”, “staying on” – Dwelling is being-in-peace (Cacciari, 1980:3).
[3] Cacciari (1980:4-5)