Greetings,
RICK:
>Would it not be both correct to say
>that (a) 2 + 2 = 4 is an answer of high Intellectual Integrity, and (b)
>returning a $5 bill that I found in the street is an act of high Social
>Integrity?
I agree completely; with one important change.
a) 2 + 2 = 4 is an answer of high Intellectual Integrity, and
(b)returning a $5 bill that I found in the street is an act of high MORAL Integrity?
I still have the same problem as before. Both involve integrity, but in distinctly differing ways.
The same applies to 'value' (from which you say integrity is derived). A dollar bill has utilitarian
value, but that is of an entirely different order to the value of racial equality. (For the benefit
of others, note that I am not claiming that transactions involving dollar bills cannot have moral
value). Just as there are different ways of using the word good, so there are different ways of
using the word integrity.
JON:
>Struan, I don't understand why you think Pirsig fails to see beyond the
>functional uses of the term "good."
I never did say that. Show me where you think I said that, and I will show you what I meant.
JON:
>To say flatly that 2+2=5 is bad could be considered simplistic and
>restricted.
I didn't say that either, Jon
JON:
>I think it's a matter of common sense; helping humans is
>more Moral than helping animals. .
No Jon, you have missed the point. Helping humans is morally good, as is helping animals and, yes,
the former is better than the latter. My point is that helping humans is of an entirely different
order to my cooking tonight being good. I am not talking about relative moral goods, I am talking
about moral goods as distinct from functional goods. I still find it hard to believe that anyone
(barring someone who rejects morality altogether) would not immediately apprehend the truth of what
I am saying here.
JON:
>I think you are doing the
>same thing by making a big deal over "good utility/good morality."
I think it is vital for the reasons given.
Struan
------------------------------------------
Struan Hellier
< mailto:struan@clara.co.uk>
"All our best activities involve desires which are disciplined and
purified in the process."
(Iris Murdoch)
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