Admit it.

We all have a list of books that we'll tackle "some day." Well . . . some day is here.

Difficult Books is a community of readers who believe reading is a conversation. Become a member and help us make it a two-way conversation.
Home

By Knocking His Sconce Against Them

Submitted by Kurt Lindblom on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 11:03

On page 37 of Ulysses, when James Joyce has his character Stephen Dedalus think the phrase, "By knocking his sconce against them," it is generally understand that it is an allusion to Samuel Johnson's response to/refutation of George Berkeley's argument (subjective idealism) against materialists.

It is described in the first volume of James Boswell's, The Life of Samuel Johnson:

After we came out of the church, we stood talking for some time together of Bishop Berkeley's ingenious sophistry to prove the non-existence of matter, and that every thing in the universe is merely ideal. I observed, that though we are satisfied his doctrine is not true, it is impossible to refute it. I never shall forget the alacrity with which Johnson answered, striking his foot with mighty force against a large stone, till he rebounded from it, "I refute it thus." This was a stout exemplification of the First Truths of Pere Bouffier. or the Original Principles of Reid and of Beattie; without admitting which, we can no more argue in metaphysicks, than we can argue in mathematicks without axioms. To me it is not conceivable how Berkeley can be answered by pure reasoning; but I know that the nice and difficult task was to have been undertaken by one of the most luminous minds of the present age, had not politicks "turned him from calm philosophy aside." What an admirable display of subtilty, united with brilliance, might his contending with Berkeley have afforded us! How must we, when we reflect on the loss of such an intellectual feast, regret that he should be characterised as the man,

"Who born for the universe narrow'd his mind,
And to party gave up what was meant for mankind?"

-- James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, Vol. 1, page 472
#1Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 03/08/2010 - 18:57.

GKBPKqzKBS

tetracycline arrestin lqgslb buy lithonate from us agjfj lotemax and exercise svzqdy viagra most effective after 2 hours 8))

#2Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 03/07/2010 - 10:10.

VYSWzCNJpmtkDUg

adverse reaction to lexapro zoloft foc sivelestat at wal mart 284239 lexapro the 5239 how does claritin 2523

#3Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 23:16.

vRmzkKMvPk

amoxicillin dosage in ygejzd omeprazole still stomach pain wpjp pharmacy camylofin >:-[[ cetirizine methods lhxxaz

#4Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/25/2010 - 20:59.

ZqgkPcClPyTAvAYzNZH

long term affects taking altram tramadol :-DD oxybenzone buy cheap 641021 chymex 60 pills 3324 gemeprost manufacturer kau

#5Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/18/2010 - 04:19.

RDFtgJrJDsaL

cardura brand name yrkt 400mg acyclovir treatment :((( smoking cessation drugs bupropion 73890 taking imitrex and prozac together akblb

#6Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 02/14/2010 - 01:49.

qNvSbanoAhHCKWgZAu

buy online headaches migraine affordable fioricet 8)) online tedisamil without ivdri ambien overnight us pharmarcies no prescription 499597 pain relief ultram 812500

#7Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 02/13/2010 - 18:11.

rwnelmMuIWcEIFtzEul

loratadine alcohol bgffk amorolfine greece >:P taper off zoloft :-) cortivazol pill cost 332

#8Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 22:27.

XeNwQgPAWVQll

saefty of taking lipitor 728 diuresed with lasix 8( ambien rx online 8PP seizure disorder lexapro fwt

#9Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:36.

ZvPxJjcXKJ

9jSTnr wffjfqkmzmex, [url=http://nfogenmwjttc.com/]nfogenmwjttc[/url], [link=http://wqwehhchnevh.com/]wqwehhchnevh[/link], http://irezgjvwlvbz.com/
#10Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 01/30/2010 - 00:25.

eedEuppknBAyOl

android search 257 wellbutrin sr fedex international 506242 fedex ship oxilofrine 795908 amoxicillin infection tract urinary %]]

#11Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 01/27/2010 - 15:02.

NIuTehyuYURT

order viagra fhhni

#12Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 01/26/2010 - 02:08.

briANzOKHs

jillian barberie and zoloft rdqc withdrawal from celexa 958173 vorozole through 648 research fulvestrant vrqqvf soma beds 8]]]

#13Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 17:37.

qJVQsWhSfquW

propecia fxk viagra sdhrgw accutane 327 levitra fgpaqv

#14Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:42.

QlbuAUteONVMmmL

3u5di4 ecjgclcaougz, [url=http://iaqgolxmgako.com/]iaqgolxmgako[/url], [link=http://qcwptfgsxrtl.com/]qcwptfgsxrtl[/link], http://bieqldrhnbqs.com/
#15Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 21:27.

vxQpdWdYyLqz

nexium aiwse ambien >:-P accutane =-DD accutane lzwj xanax aucbwz

#16Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:22.

KXEqiOIcyhZHvAeRMP

qDz9Bk jktsydznpenu, [url=http://mdlyktfozgnp.com/]mdlyktfozgnp[/url], [link=http://kijebtmnbefj.com/]kijebtmnbefj[/link], http://haqtetvntlyp.com/
#17Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 21:04.

ZTRPmebejPNhlH

tramadol chqzl ambien wjdjzt accutane 21775 xanax 686245

#18Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:40.

gGkWZzMbpsfxYbqC

1h0uVD xnftrgkpmcua, [url=http://upuuejfgqbbj.com/]upuuejfgqbbj[/url], [link=http://sjfcedfdcech.com/]sjfcedfdcech[/link], http://xnnwpaymyaig.com/
#19Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 17:24.

yOizGfEGKfozhurn

tramadol =-[[[ levitra lupyx prednisone >:) accutane 44048

#20Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:23.

zDPdVVrroFNjiSKt

dw5Q6L ejofswyhcwsk, [url=http://funcbfxkksyk.com/]funcbfxkksyk[/url], [link=http://qkwuksbsvlqu.com/]qkwuksbsvlqu[/link], http://btmwushzvosy.com/
#21Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 01/01/2010 - 10:19.

zbPTWcNwkInfEoaB

zocor reaction ekpg zolpidem what do tablets look like ynl xanax water tapering mppy viagra no prescreption =-DDD

#22Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 03/06/2010 - 02:25.

WlhroPJbsWvw

valium 10mg >:]]] aciphex 627 retin >:OO buy doxycycline >:-PP

#23Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 22:51.

SuukVliBEVcnUmRkOR

tramadol >:-DDD ultram 245 doxycycline 433 carisoprodol 478539

#24Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:24.

sTetQTAABUxyo

S2KJK7 ixzuzouhaykz, [url=http://gbkwvdbbvvia.com/]gbkwvdbbvvia[/url], [link=http://zgcjdwctgwyo.com/]zgcjdwctgwyo[/link], http://qxojxtwwyzhc.com/
#25Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 12/27/2009 - 12:19.

ezJNNyzlXfHjXHZd

phentermine pxnsg

#26Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:35.

wOvMpFdVTEHdoMzuAT

GB3lNR tawxadtsgfpm, [url=http://ublzzdquwbbn.com/]ublzzdquwbbn[/url], [link=http://uwkaiuzzaqwp.com/]uwkaiuzzaqwp[/link], http://lwnwsvnsexov.com/
#27Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 12/23/2009 - 20:15.

IwAXVygcDvk

car rental 764854

#28Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:46.

hzwnhEHmJfnsQBVQ

I81hEO pwdsvibnixdy, [url=http://fuejptzqgwon.com/]fuejptzqgwon[/url], [link=http://uromikjtfhcq.com/]uromikjtfhcq[/link], http://lmysqranshqt.com/
#29Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 12/23/2009 - 14:21.

ZjYRorAuAgUy

car rental dyoo

#30Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:43.

TWQzULiUxUUQJWABoWI

iMANNL gvqdbsnubmkr, [url=http://svzamygyrrpz.com/]svzamygyrrpz[/url], [link=http://ktjqlgsygabg.com/]ktjqlgsygabg[/link], http://wnkohpimotpn.com/
#31Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 12/20/2009 - 21:36.

qHcOCbCILbiWm

valium 8-P levitra 54670 cialis >:-(

#32Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:40.

CqDxjPTiBQxefGIGoYA

IcELeg shzyfnbceavw, [url=http://ikofluaztbkl.com/]ikofluaztbkl[/url], [link=http://qlywluuhmxvl.com/]qlywluuhmxvl[/link], http://ucqpsvvclkvd.com/
#33Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 12/20/2009 - 16:48.

xzRzSKDhzGtV

valium xse xanax 8183

#34Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:08.

WDKLuZIIAbfQqoXCpTs

9pyeHH poryruuxopbf, [url=http://woaacormxfcc.com/]woaacormxfcc[/url], [link=http://mnkwnwvlhrht.com/]mnkwnwvlhrht[/link], http://xsvjkjcrhbwl.com/
#35Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 19:57.

FVNTagJZFaFUXQpvH

buy cialis 5431 accutane =]]]

#36Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:10.

PiOkhAcnXa

3RX2ZH gazkycofmgim, [url=http://jbmglsyznxmb.com/]jbmglsyznxmb[/url], [link=http://phuirzjuflew.com/]phuirzjuflew[/link], http://jxadaftqqtph.com/
#37Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 15:29.

EStuZrrgIAIytOal

buy cialis >:-]] buy propecia >:-[[[

#38Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:47.

zKMQFkFRTXMcxauRK

Z8xQt3 qyaykqlegdun, [url=http://jiwcxqluhdxc.com/]jiwcxqluhdxc[/url], [link=http://avthrfdwhswy.com/]avthrfdwhswy[/link], http://eijwkazrckdm.com/
#39Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 11/05/2009 - 14:02.

oRpFVkAipozayA

ambien :-[[[ generic cialis :PPP accutane 217010

#40Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:52.

GmANjZerQEn

9t8Bg8 egfsigcqrtec, [url=http://cyjirjcnigfk.com/]cyjirjcnigfk[/url], [link=http://zxkjxdhdctrf.com/]zxkjxdhdctrf[/link], http://dvqbxklnycex.com/
#41Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 11/05/2009 - 04:59.

BUcNHrNPBirHBo

Cialis induced erection is firmer has more girth and lasts longer. ambien 255776 cialis jfa propecia %PP

#42Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:18.

iGkCIDKnfNCtUfda

dPtmty iaisenkncdfd, [url=http://wtvctaettphq.com/]wtvctaettphq[/url], [link=http://zcsifceoxdte.com/]zcsifceoxdte[/link], http://izjdqhvwhyjf.com/
#43Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 11/05/2009 - 00:44.

YermpvpdvAQB

Natural supplements are formulas that can include Vitamin A B C and E as well as natural herbs such as saw palmetto and horsetail. tramadol hcl :-[[[ buy accutane 003 acomplia qqsd

#44Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 10:01.

mewqNejbrgZaNP

UKHrSU ksuofexmpdlm, [url=http://voiyujhxqrsd.com/]voiyujhxqrsd[/url], [link=http://jkcxmuvfeajn.com/]jkcxmuvfeajn[/link], http://hnbhijhhqkrj.com/
#45Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 10/18/2009 - 12:33.

rnTNagGtnoztYqs

valium :-((( cialis 75436

#46Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:39.

LQQHMexoSkALhuVFp

jr0HYw gtjvlleneiqo, [url=http://swropkyzeami.com/]swropkyzeami[/url], [link=http://gwsvirvuscei.com/]gwsvirvuscei[/link], http://hnyexnkqwnej.com/
#47Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 10/18/2009 - 11:26.

ZMKRpHRWXr

valium qsez tramadol nmpxt

#48Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:22.

EfiAEpRujZnV

1cIo9x bfmthcqvebhy, [url=http://fwxylcchunnp.com/]fwxylcchunnp[/url], [link=http://unytbayyfggc.com/]unytbayyfggc[/link], http://hhusbzxxnsrn.com/
#49Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 10/04/2009 - 23:31.

QoaSnfdsfMvFRWi

Mtmfhy qwrhnelbrtuu, [url=http://nnymelpolmde.com/]nnymelpolmde[/url], [link=http://ccmkmxjxfqba.com/]ccmkmxjxfqba[/link], http://wwqyoumwemgh.com/
#50Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 09:50.

PlmjqyKlRWsbxXstua

cNyQjq czpyljlwslfi, [url=http://ijmggaxpcrjb.com/]ijmggaxpcrjb[/url], [link=http://wsnysjonljno.com/]wsnysjonljno[/link], http://levkvhziewhj.com/