Why moussaka? asked Pliny the Elder.
Well, Greeks like moussaka, Aristotle is a Greek, therefore Aristotle likes moussaka, I replied.
I see you are practicing your syllogisms, said Pliny. But there are one or two complications you have not taken into account in your reasoning. One, that Greeks in Aristotle's time knew nothing of moussaka. It was only after the eggplant was introduced into Greece by the Arabs in the thirteenth century that moussaka became a popular dish.
Gosh! How do you know that, Pliny? I asked admiringly. Moussaka must have been unknown in your time too.
Google, said Pliny. I looked it up because I didn't know what it was. This brings me to complication number two.
What is that? I asked.
The main ingredient in moussaka is minced lamb, he said.
And so?
Aristotle is a vegetarian.
You don't say. Well, never mind, I can make a vegetarian version. Eggplant, tomato, zucchini, bechamel sauce and grated cheese on the top. He'll love it.
Mmm. Am I having it too?
Yes, we're all going to have it.
Then would you mind leaving out the tomato?
Showing posts with label moussaka. Show all posts
Showing posts with label moussaka. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Preserving the Unities
Aristotle was right, observed Pliny the Elder. It is good to preserve the unities of action, time and space.
These are postmodern times I replied. I suppose you are referring to the orang-utan.
Yes, he answered. You did not go to the zoo.
It was the best thing that happened that day, I countered. And I saw it on the news.
That would cut no mustard with Aristotle, said Pliny.
Did you know him? I asked.
Not until after the volcano, said Pliny. But then we became quite good friends. He was about 350 years older than me. He was said to be the last man to know everything that was currently known about everything.
Really, I said. That is pretty amazing.
Yes, he said, but untrue. He once wrote that men had more teeth than women. Something very easy to disprove. But on the whole his ideas are much to be admired. He singlehandedly invented logic, did you know?
No, I didn't. I would very much like to meet him, but I suppose that's out of the question.
Not at all. I will invite him round to dinner if you wish.
Perfect! A fig for the unities! Do you think he might be partial to moussaka?
These are postmodern times I replied. I suppose you are referring to the orang-utan.
Yes, he answered. You did not go to the zoo.
It was the best thing that happened that day, I countered. And I saw it on the news.
That would cut no mustard with Aristotle, said Pliny.
Did you know him? I asked.
Not until after the volcano, said Pliny. But then we became quite good friends. He was about 350 years older than me. He was said to be the last man to know everything that was currently known about everything.
Really, I said. That is pretty amazing.
Yes, he said, but untrue. He once wrote that men had more teeth than women. Something very easy to disprove. But on the whole his ideas are much to be admired. He singlehandedly invented logic, did you know?
No, I didn't. I would very much like to meet him, but I suppose that's out of the question.
Not at all. I will invite him round to dinner if you wish.
Perfect! A fig for the unities! Do you think he might be partial to moussaka?
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