From: Mari (mld2001@adelphia.net)
Date: Thu Jan 09 2003 - 13:42:53 GMT
Matt wrote:
> As an additional thought on Kevin's coming to the Rortyan affirmation of
> the public/private split (which is as old as classical liberalism),
> particularly for those who may not know what he's refering to, the
> public/private split affirms that we need to have enough relevent beliefs
> in common to be able to interact socially and to be able to have public
> discourse (such as discussing good public policy). The point of the
split,
> and of why Kevin said, "Yet another argument for the keeping metaphysics
> out of the public policy making and keeping it in the realm of private
> self-actualization," is that all we need to make progress politically are
> shared beliefs. It doesn't matter how we got to those beliefs, just that
> we have them. So that's why Christians, atheistic metaphysicians,
> Buddhists, and ironists can come together and agree that we should have a
> "Clean Air Act" or "Civil Right Act." They all agree that those things
are
> good and it doesn't matter whether they got the sentiment from God,
Reason,
> meditation, or reading some good books. That's the essence of why Rorty
> maintains that we need the public/private split. To save our freedom to
> believe in God, Reason, the Nothingness, and good books while being able
to
> spend time haggling about good policy, rather then spending time on the
> Senate floor arguing about philosophy or religion. Its a pratical split
> meant to faciliate our desire for personal freedom and our desire to
> alleviate the cruelty done to others.
Matt, Does this mean that Person A, an Atheist, and Person B a Buddhist, and
Person C a Christian all have a ".....desire for personal freedom and our
desire to
> alleviate the cruelty done to others." so we leave our "private" beliefs
at the door in order to "publicly" agree on an "Act" which enables us to
live in peace and practice our private philosophies and religious beliefs as
we wish? If so isn't that the so called "American Way"? Ironically it's
what the other guys hate about us.
i think at some point those so called "public/private split" falls apart.
Compromises and concessions clash when ego fed ideologies take on their own
social ego (collective/accumulative). Everything we do is "out there" almost
instantly for the world to see. judge and plot against. ( while they
formulate plans to annihilate us we're discussing the meaning of
absolute...it's almost poetic )
If we do not like what is happening now we should have handled our affairs
differently years ago. Now it may be too late. One solution that works
always is to kill the opposition. "Kill the filthy bastids!!" We know there
are many who believe: " if we can't have it our way, no one gets to have it
their way".
Sad but true!
i imagine that there is a way to avoid the darkest scenario. i thought that
this discussion group might be a good place to find others with whom to
formulate a plan while the air is still safe. My experience has fallen short
of my expectation so far. That said i do not think of my time spent here as
a waste of time. In fact quite the opposite. i am seeing and hearling things
that are indeed improving my so called "plan", as well as effecting my art
and for that i am grateful!
Keep up the good work MoQers while the power is still on and the air and
water is still safe.
Mari
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