David T and Gang: Yes, well written fiction tells a lot of truth. Two
novels spring to mind; Zen and the Art and Lila. But I really have to
object to your dismissive attitude toward history. Voltaire was a
historian and was among the first to insist that facts matter in the
writing of history. His criticism resembles Rousseau's because they both
lived at a time when history as we think of it today was being invented.
(They both died in 1778.)
The framers of the U.S. constitution 1776-1789 were among the first
intellectual historians and used the experiences of the ancients as a
guide to the formation of our society, which has worked pretty well in
predicting and preventing the pitfalls of democracy. In other words,
when properly used history is a valuable and valid field of inquiry. It
works, even if there are still problems to overcome.
History is basically everything that everbody ever did, so it is rich
enough to prove just about any point. But that flaw only rears its ugly
head when the point maker is being dishonest. And that can usually be
discovered by others in the field. Its hard to get away with that kind
of deception for very long. Liars get busted because smart people are
watching.
But more to the point, history as a legitimate academic disipline,
historically speaking, is a new thing. You probably know that
sociology, psychology and anthropology are even newer, and historically
speaking, were only born yesterday. Criticism of these young field is
totally valid, but to dismiss them outright does a huge dis-service to
everyone.
I really don't get this tendency to destroy everything that seems
imperfect. I mean, what do you expect? Total omniscience? Also you seem
to suggest that historical perspectives are merely subjective and only
depend on the "passion and power of the individual espousing" that
perspective. I say fooey to that.
Doesn't everyone agree with the old saying that those who fail to learn
from the mistakes of the past are destined to repeat them? If historical
events don't matter then why do we have all those fireworks on the
fourth of July? Because the declaration of independence was signed on
that date, right? You're not suggesting there is anything ambiguous
about that historical fact, are you?
There are a series of rhetorical escape hatches that people are glad to
use when they get into intellectual trouble. When all else fails one can
open the door to radical skepticism and respond to any threat by simply
saying that human knowledge is fallable and so we can be certain of
nothing. This line can be used to refute any assertion, but it doesn't
really have much meaning. Another is nihilism, which is usually
disguised as Zen or some other tready misconception. The dismissive
attitude taken toward history strikes me as just another of these
illegitimate debating tactics. These tricks never really defeat any
arguements, they just throw a wrench into the gears and put a stop to
the whole conversation. Its a buzz killer and a drag. They are verbal
parachutes used by those who are about to crash and die.
To ignore our history and its lessons is very much like forgeting one's
childhood and its lessons. Either way, you'll only end up making a fool
of yourself, or worse.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David L Thomas [SMTP:dlt44@ipa.net]
> Sent: Saturday, July 03, 1999 10:10 PM
> To: moq_discuss@moq.org
> Subject: Re: MD The reason for Reason
>
> Ken & David B
>
> " History is after all nothing but a bag of tricks we play on the
> dead." Voltaire
>
> " History is the art of choosing, from among many lies, that one which
> most
> resembles the truth" Rousseau
>
> "Here's what I think the bottom line is: if you're looking for truth,
> try
> fiction." ... I've always believed that the lies we use to make our
> fictions
> reveal the truth with far more honesty than any history ..."Charles de
> Lint
> Memory & Dream Tor Books 1994.
>
> The MoQ says essentially the same thing. Histories that we, at times
> fervently, believe to be absolute are in fact just static patterns of
> values
> whose only relationship to the experience is the passion and the power
> of the
> individual espousing the POV.
>
>
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