From: Platt Holden (pholden@sc.rr.com)
Date: Tue Feb 04 2003 - 21:25:16 GMT
Matt,
> Platt said:
> So I take it that "practicality" is not the standard by which you judge
> "betterness" since you ignored my follow up question, "If 'practicality' is
> the answer who decides that ladder 1 is more practical than ladder 2 and
> how many must agree?" Did you not answer the question for another reason?
>
> Matt:
> I've never really been fond of using the word "practicality." I kinda'
> agree with Pirsig on that point. However, I don't see anything wrong with
> using that word either. In pragmatist usage, the word gets stretched out a
> bit, just as in Pirsigian usage the words "Quality" and "morality" get
> stretched out a bit.
Since you've chosen to avoid answering my questions about "who
decides?" and "how many must agree?" I can only assume you don't
want to answer for reasons of your own. I'm somewhat surprised,
though, because I don't recall in the past that you found it necessary to
duck questions about your philosophy. After all, there isn't a whole lot of
difference between "practicality" and "useful," the latter being a term
you use with some frequency.
> Platt said:
> I'm puzzled by your phrase, "a better way to do things." Can you give us
> some examples of how Rorty's philosophy has provided you with a better way
> to do things?
>
> Matt:
> I'm kinda' puzzled by your puzzlement. It seems to me that you're trying
> to again gain a dialectical hold over my position, but I keep resisting by
> not letting you gain any purchase. Shouldn't the meaning of "a better way
> of doing things" be pretty obvious for a Pirsigian? If you want examples
> of how Rorty's philosophy has provided me with a better way to do things,
> look at all of my post-"Confessions" writings.
What I saw in your Confession writings was much talk about your views
but no description of your actually doing anything other than changing
your mind about Pirsig. My question was about how your actions
(picking what beer to drink from a refrigerator, for example) have been
changed as a result of reading Rorty? Mine haven't changed from
reading Pirsig or any other philosopher as far as I'm aware. So I was
curious how you think your actions have changed. Maybe in the voting
booth?
> If you are looking for a
> particular reference to the break with my past, I would look at the
> beginning of Part 3 of the newly posted "Confessions" essay, specifically
> footnote 42. (I think you'll recognize the quote for footnote 42, Platt.
> If I remember correctly, you called the post it was pulled from "an
> accurate and succinct summary of the MOQ. In fact, I don't recall ever
> reading a better synopsis of Pirisig's [sic] revolutionary metaphysics. It
> bears repeating, so I have. Congrats and thanks." [from "Summary of the
> MOQ" Thu May 31 2001 - 13:19:13 BST] That was way back when you liked me
> ;-)
Yes, I recall many times when you have hit the interpretative nail on the
head. Since when haven't I liked you? :-)
Platt
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