ABSTRACT
In the last chapter, we saw how correct sentence structure in European languages calls forth a notion of an actor and an acted-upon, or an ‘undergoer’ as some might say, when the verb is transitive. We also saw that really to reflect agency in what we say, or even to subscribe to it at all, is hard. It is often possible, and at times even startlingly easy, to reverse the subject-object polarity without compromising any veracity a proposition may contain. We referred to Merleau-Ponty’s efforts to seek out activity on the part of supposed objects while scrutinizing the subjects for signs of passivity.2 Earlier, we looked at Kierkegaard’s experiments with the idea of mood, his presentation of it as something that controls and also as something that can be controlled.3 Then, in Chapter 6, we took account of Kierkegaard’s elaboration of the Apostle James’s captivating though problematic thought that all gifts can be good gifts if they are received with thankfulness.
