Some of you have questioned the reality of Jasper Montgomery and have even suggested he might be a cartoon.
Concerning Jasper’s reality or ontological status, I often question this myself. Certainly, there appears to be a hairy creature basking in the sun and nibbling plums at my feet. While he does usually answer to that name, can I say with any degree of certainty that he is really Jasper? Can I be quite sure?
When we got him as a small puppy, we thought that was probably his name - he had a Jasperish look - and have called him that ever since … but we might be entirely wrong. He has never expressed any objection in our hearing although that might be due to natural diffidence. Whatever the creature might be, it is extraordinarily well-mannered.
I guess this uncertainty goes for humans as well. Many decades ago, my late parents decided I was ‘Mark’ and called me that throughout their lives with, perhaps, unwarranted confidence. As a teen, I did suspect that I might actually be Caratacus or even Wolfgang, but all my family insisted this was a profound mistake and that if I persisted in the matter I should be disinherited forthwith.
Is Jasper Montgomery a ‘cartoon’? Well, to the extent that we anthropomorphize the unfortunate creature, ascribing feelings, thoughts and profound sensibilities to him, then I guess he is. But then, we do that to people too so perhaps everyone aside from myself is a cartoon? This is probably better than being described as a philosophical zombie.
I would write more but I must take the creature formally known as Jasper for a walk.
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