PRESENTATION OUTLINE
“Talk” by Courlander and Herzog-Critical Thinking p. 580
1. They added to the humour because each finds himself in the difficulty as the previous one.
2. (a) He plans to use it to beat the dog.
2. (b) He doesn’t like the dog’s tone of voice.
3. (a) At first, the fisherman acts casual, as if it’s not unusual that animals and things can talk.
3. (b) He probably thinks the farmer is exaggerating.
3. (c) He probably wonders what else can talk and what else these objects can do.
4. (a) He scoffs at their stories and tells them to get back to work. He thinks they’re making it all up.
4. (b) He probably was as startled as everyone else and ran from the stool.
The Big Question: Is knowledge the same as understanding?
(a) The message is that the strong should not mistreat the weak, because such treatment is wrong even if the weak are unable to say so.
(b) People might pay more attention to a message delivered with humour rather than one delivered as a lecture.
