From: Platt Holden (pholden@sc.rr.com)
Date: Fri Jul 29 2005 - 13:58:03 BST
msh
> So, I think the discussion will benefit if we can come to some
> agreement about what is meant by the word "intellectual." Used as a
> noun, I see any I-D individual as an "intellectual," but this does
> not preclude a B-D or S-D from having higher quality "intellectual"
> thoughts. Further, intellectuals may and certainly do have
> disagreements about what constitutes a "high-quality" idea, but,
> among intellectuals, there is a certain procedure for working this
> out for themselves: discussion and arguments, based on evidence,
> derived from experience. B-D and S-D individuals can certainly
> participate in such discussions, but their participation will be
> fruitful only if they are willing to put their B-D S-D inclinations
> on the back-burner, and accept the established protocols of
> intellectual exchange. If they can't, or won't, then the discussion
> will almost certainly degenerate to social-level finger-wagging
> (Rigel) or exasperated insults (Lila).
A long, round about way of asking, "What criteria should we use to
establish truth?" My answer, stated several times, is to follow pretty
much what Pirsig suggested: agreement with experience (including intuition
and illumination), logical consistency and economy of explanation. I would
add the criteria of esthetically pleasing (elegance, beauty) and the
trustworthiness of someone purporting to tell the truth.
As for "established protocols of intellectual exchange," I find Pirsig's
notes in "Lila's Child" to be exemplary.
Platt
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