Hello.

In reading "the Derelict" by William Hope Hodgson one can come across the phrase "a material framework." Can anybody explain to me what it means? A physical body?

And, anyway, the thing I'm going to
tell you won't explain the mystery of life, but only give you one of
my pegs on which I hang my feeling that life is as I have said, a
force made manifest through conditions--that is to say, natural
chemistry--and that it can take for its purpose and need, the most
incredible and unlikely matter; for without matter it cannot come into
existence--it cannot become manifest--"

"I don't agree with you, doctor," I interrupted. "Your theory would
destroy all belief in life after death. It would--"

"Hush, sonny," said the old man, with a quiet little smile of
comprehension. "Hark to what I've to say first; and, anyway, what
objection have you to material life after death? And if you object to
a material framework, I would still have you remember that I am
speaking of life, as we understand the word in this our life.

Quote:

...anyway, what objection have you to material life after death? And if you object to a material framework, I would still have you remember that I am speaking of life, as we understand the word in this our life.

I take it to mean the concept of materialism, as a philosophy.

The passage itself seems to be that the old boy considers that survival of the material that composed a living, thinking being is, in itself, a sort of life after death, but devoid of any spiritual component.

But that the constituent material that made up the organism survives death.

The last passage:

"...I am speaking of life, as we understand the word in this our life."

He seems to imply that the surviving material that made up the previous organism then rearranges itself into another entity or entities with the characteristics of what we call "life".

Just my guess...

--Sawfish

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"The food at the new restaurant is awful, but at least the portions are large."
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Thank you for the answer.

The Doctor says life requires matter to make itself manifest. The Narrator, who believes in life after death on religious grounds, objects, as it seems to him that the Doctor is challenging the idea that the soul survives the death of the body. The Doctor retorts "Why should you object to a material framework after death?", which is a fair theological retort, as Christianity does teach the Resurrection of the Body. But the Doctor then goes on that he is not actually trying to talk theology at all, but is merely discussing life in the Present World as we mere mortals understand it.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 6 May 21 | 03:52PM by Platypus.

Thak you for your answer.