Constructions

by Michael Frayn

First published in 1974 and republished following the success of Frayn's masterly work of philosophy, The Human Touch, Constructions is a dazzling, thought-provoking and fascinating book which explores some of the great problems in philosophy and of everyday life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Philosophy

Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Michael Frayn is an English playwright and novelist. He is best known as the author of the farce Noises Off and the dramas Copenhagen and Democracy. His novels, such as Towards the End of the Morning, Headlong and Spies, have also been critical and commercial successes, making him one of the handful of writers in the English language to succeed in both drama and prose fiction. His works often raise philosophical questions in a humorous context. Frayn's wife is Claire Tomalin, the biographer and literary journalist.

Reviews

[Tom Leland]

"By the time we've reached the 'w' of 'now' the 'n' is ancient history."

"Our trouble is not that people in our society are less happy than formerly, or that less people are happy, or that more people are less happy. Our trouble is that, because happiness is now so commonly the goal, and because this goal is a chimerical one, more people are conscious of a failure to reach their goal in life."

Varying from the deeply analytical to the obvious to the profound and back again. Things I might think of when stoned, but later say, "Okay, that was damn brilliant of me, but what can I do with it?"

[Gavin]

Book of aphorisms, glorifying unanalysed practice and the majority of the world which is beyond theory. Self-consciously Wittgensteinian (PI), as he declares repeatedly in the preface. This declaration is a shame, because it means that his nice-enough notes on perception, knowledge and emotion are vastly, vastly overshadowed by the giant spectre he has called up; it's PI without the thought experiments and devastating reductios. But a nice supplement to it:

Look at your hand. Its structure does not match the structure of assertions, the structure of facts. Your hand is continuous. Assertions and facts are discontinuous.... You lift your index finger half an inch; it passes through a million facts. Look at the way your hand goes on and on, while the clock ticks, and the sun moves a little further across the sky.

(The brutal conservative relativism underpinning PI is, needless to say, not addressed either.)

[Cal Davie]

Inspired by Wittgenstein's Tractatus, this is a brilliant reflection on the limits of our knowledge of the world.

[Anna]

I think the phrase from 'Constructions' that sums it up best is, 'The metaphorability of the universe is bottomless'. Frayn dwells on the preponderance and importance of metaphors, which he describes as modes of perception. This short, fascinating book is concerned with how human beings perceive the universe.

I found it a lot easier to read than I expect philosophy to be, and also oddly calming. Frayn handles huge metaphysical questions with gentleness, so as to provoke contemplation without causing pain or confusion to the brain of the layman. I particularly liked the sections on dreaming, which captured the combination of ambiguity and certainty associated with remembering dreams more effectively than anything else I've read on the subject. For instance, 'The dream disappears not only as we put it into words, but even as we attempt to recall it inside our own heads.'

What struck me during the section of the book that discusses the role of metaphor in language was the link to China Miéville's novel 'Embassytown'. In that, a race of aliens speak only a language that is utterly literal and precludes lying. During the novel this race is introduced to the concept of metaphors, which fundamentally and irreversibly changes their nature. Miéville seems to be effectively operationalising Frayn's point of view, although I have no idea whether 'Constructions' was in fact an influence.

I would describe this book as exploratory. It wends its way obliquely through a series of points, illustrating with anecdotes as it goes. I very much like the starting point that by perceiving the world around us we read it; bibliophiles like me are easily swayed by reading metaphors. 'Constructions' is definitely worth reading if you wish to contemplate your relationship to the universe. I also recommend it if you wish to be distracted from a headache.

[John]

literary philosophy / brain candy of the highest order

"By our inmost animal nature we are readers. We read the world around us continuously, obsessively, necessarily. Reading our notations is a late specialization of a general skill."

308 more of these tasty morsels.

Do yourself a favor and dig in!

[Sev]

I'll quote from the author himself "random musings....which seem as insubstantial as eclairs to readers brought up on the solid fruit cake of most English literature" [ix]

Interesting idea to put 309 tidbits of philosophical thought into a collection..the first hundred or so were a treat to read...but for me,I would have left it there.

[Chris]

I enjoyed this book, but it's a hard to take seriously. It felt like the author was hedging his bets, insulating himself from too harsh criticism by reiterating his amateur status, while trying hard to say 'meaningful things' worthy of professional praise.