In a message dated 1/31/01 7:44:48 AM Central Standard Time,
pholden@cbvnol.net writes:
> Hi Jon:
>
> You wrote:
>
> > For the record, here's what I think about "postmodernism." I would agree
> with
> > its tenet that there is no such thing as Absolute Truth. But I'm totally
> > *against* using that tenet to support immorality or "anything goes."
>
> I cannot agree with a tenet based on a logical absurdity. The tenet
> posits an absolute truth that denies an absolute truth. It’s a self-
> contradiction , similar to statements like “all generalizations are false”
> and “no one can be certain of anything.” My reaction to postmodern
> relativists was neatly summed up by British philosopher Roger Scruton
> who said: “A man who tells you truth doesn’t exist is asking you not to
> believe him. So don’t.”
>
>
Hi Platt
You and Elephant both pointed out the same thing. Is it and Absolute Truth
that there is no Absolute Truth? But remember this is not only a tenet of
postmodernism, it is also one of the basic tenets of Science itself. That's
why I've said in so many posts in the past that Science is the search for
something it says can't exist.
I think you can deny the "idea" of Absolute Truth and still value temporary,
high value intellectual Quality truths (such as the latest medical knowledge
for treating the sick), thus leaving the door open for new evidence that
might possibly alter or cause old definitions to be proven false. I don't
think it's fair to say someone who rejects the idea of Absolute Truth is
inherently dishonest, or doesn't value telling the truth.
Perhaps it's just a problem with the limitations of language (or my own
intellectual limitations) that confuses me on this issue sometimes. For
example, I believe it's absolutely true that Quality exists, and that it's
synonymous with Morality as Pirsig says, yet at the same time I deny Absolute
Truth. Inherent contradictions abound in that view, it seems. It all confuses
me sometimes.
But I think it's unfair to characterize (not that you are doing this) all
those who reject the idea of Absolute Truth as sneaky sophists who manipulate
the nature of language for their own greedy gain or for the proliferation of
depravity.
Jon
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