The Scorpion and the Frog

+++ Not Gideon +++

A scorpion and a frog meet on the bank of a stream, and the scorpion asks the frog to carry him across on its back. The frog asks, "How do I know you won't sting me?" The scorpion says, "Because if I do, I will die too."

The frog is satisfied, and they set out, but in midstream, the scorpion stings the frog. The frog feels the onset of paralysis and starts to sink, knowing they both will drown, but has just enough time to gasp "Why?"

Replies the scorpion: "Its my nature..."

~Carlos

Perhaps as they drowned together, the frog thought, 'and to carry you was mine.'


- Kuo Kun

And yet the frog chose to carry the scorpion, fully aware of the risks, just as the scorpion chose to sting the frog, full aware of the consequences.

I cannot help but see parallels in some of our current situations, as I am sure was Carlos' intent.

Wotcher,

As Mister Magellan so expertly demonstrated this Saturday: there is no upper limit to the number of ways in which we may interpret a decontextualized parable.

It follows that any interpretation is valid - which sadly means that each interpretation is entirely meaningless, as is the parable itself.

This is the linguistic equivalent of the following fallacy:

1 ÷ 0 = 2 ÷ 0
∴ 1 = 2

Just a bit of reasoning for you to bear in mind while studying the fables of the Kin.

Perhaps they both had death wishes. The Frog for willingly associating and carrying someone over who they knew was no good and the Scorpion for willingly going over though he knew he was unable to resist his natural ways.

The Scorpion truly limited himself by succumbing to his "nature" only those who think they cannot break their nature is stuck fulfilling it all the time.

I had heard a version of this, where the Scorpion manages to get across the river without stinging the frog but then goes to sting a third party and kills them. That puts a very different spin on this parable doesn't it?

-Ava