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Ishmael Discussion Questions

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chapter 8 through 13

1. What is the “law of life,” according to Quinn? Do you think his interpretation is accurate?  Can you think of examples that support or disprove evidence of such a law?

2. What does the law of life promote?  Why is this important?

3. What does Ishmael say about over population and population control?  What do you think about this approach?

4. Summarize Ishmael's interpretation of the agricultural revolution and the book of Genesis.  What do you think about this interpretation?  How does it compare to what you believe?

5. What is culture, according to Ishmael?  What are the fundamental differences between Taker and Leaver cultures?

6. What is the premise of the Leaver story?  What does Ishmael say are common misconceptions about Leaver culture?

7. Takers halt what by not “living in the hands of the gods?”  If this is true, what is the end of the Taker story?  Do you agree or disagree?  Why?

8. What is Ishmael’s program to save the world?  Do you think this will work?

9. What does Ishmael mean by saying we need to destroy the prison, not redistribute the wealth within it?  What do you think about this perspective?

10. What do the two sides of Ishmael's koan (poster) mean?

11. What is the relevance of this story for our class?  Would you recommend it to others?  Why or why not?
 

chapter 1 through chapter 7

1. Why does Quinn use a gorilla for the character Ishmael?

2. What do the images of captivity mean?

3. Who are the Takers and Leavers?  Explain both theoretically and with examples.

4. What is the beginning of the Taker story (the creation myth)?

5. What is the middle of the Taker story?

6. Do Takers think they have knowledge about how they ought to live?

7. What are laws?  What is their significance in Ishmael?

8. What does the pedaling airman story mean?