person
1058–1111
Medieval Arab Islamic philosopher and theologian, cited by Cameron for a paradox at the heart of the cul-de-sac: "if you are looking for something that's already there, then it becomes lost and can never be found." For Cameron that is "the situation with McLuhan" — what people seek is already present, and the way out is always already underway.
Across the dialogues
05
The paradox of the already-there — Al-Ghazali on why what is sought becomes lost in the seeking
Al-Ghazali's paradox — what is sought, if it is already there, becomes lost in the very seeking and can never be found.
"I have a quotation in one of my essays from Al-Ghazali, the Arab philosopher, and what he says is: if you are looking for something that's already there, then it becomes lost and can never be found."
Cameron applies the paradox to McLuhan — what people try to find is already there; the exit from the cul-de-sac is always already taking place.
"That's the situation with McLuhan."
Connections
connects toCul-de-Sac
Cameron cites Al-Ghazali for the paradox at the heart of the cul-de-sac — the way out is always already taking place.