RE: MD NAZIs and Pragmatism

From: David Buchanan (DBuchanan@ClassicalRadio.org)
Date: Sat Feb 15 2003 - 23:01:23 GMT

  • Next message: Elizaphanian: "Re: MD Disastrously naive indeed!"

    Kevin:
    As I read him, I hear the call to be simply his determination to empower
    people to stop looking for the Ultimate Answer to Life, the Universe and
    Everything _before_ they start working towards their vision of a better
    society, particularly Intellectuals.

    Kevin:
    For public-improvement, the point is that agreement over metaphysics
    isn't necessary for success. More to the point, insisting on a
    metaphysical foundation on which to construct our public goals would
    probably be disastrously counter-productive.

    Kevin:
    We don't need to agree on a defintion of God or Quality or even the
    purpose of life in order to cooperate and find agreement for what's the
    best way to run our national economy or how to fund public education.

    DMB says:
    Now I see. The eternal quest for the Ultimate Truth keeps us from getting
    anything done. I'm glad to hear that. I thought it was all those BONG HITS
    that kept me from getting anything done. Ha. But seriously, I didn't realize
    this was such a big problem. The idea that philosophical activity somehow
    inhibits political or personal growth never occured to me. And if the
    critics of campus PC culture are right, today's academic professionals are
    NOTHING BUT a bunch of activists. We need Ultimate answers before we can
    act? I honestly can't think of anyone who has said so. I know certain great
    thinkers like Plato are said to be guilty of this crime, but I just don't
    see it.

    And there are plenty of activits out there trying to change the world that,
    in my opinion, would be better off at home re-thinking the issues in a more
    measured and philosophical way. Or imagine the extreme opposite. What if the
    people who never think seriously about anything were the only ones allowed
    to vote? OK. Now I'm just getting goofy.....

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