From: Matt the Enraged Endorphin (mpkundert@students.wisc.edu)
Date: Wed Nov 13 2002 - 00:28:30 GMT
Platt,
I think your picking up of "spirit" (or lackthereof) in Pirsig is a very
good insight. The religiousity of Pirsig is downplayed, but its always
there, very strong. On immortality, though, you offer this prediction:
"I've always felt that a metaphysics that doesn't conclude with (or even
hint at) a similar promise [of life after death] will never capture the
imagination of the world. You can say all you want about Aristotle,
Descartes, Kant, Rorty and Pirsig, but unless and until philosophy gives
some assurances that this is not all there is, it will continue to be
relegated to the backwaters of significance."
I would contrast your prediction with this one: Until people stop looking
for life after death, we won't be able to fully move onto the business of
minimizing cruelty in the world. As long as people think there's something
else "out there" waiting for them, people will pay less attention to the
life they're living here.
Now, this isn't to say that belief in life after death can't be coexistent,
even enabling, of the minimization of cruelty. But, conversely, I don't
think following Aristotle, Descartes, Kant, Rorty, or Pirsig is precluded
to the majority of people if those philosophers don't offer the promise of
life after death. These are simply two contrasting predictions.
Matt
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