Re: MD Self-Evident MoQ Truths

From: MarshaV (marshalz@charter.net)
Date: Sat Aug 06 2005 - 13:29:48 BST

  • Next message: Platt Holden: "Re: MD Self-Evident MoQ Truths"

    Hi Sam,

    You stated: Sometimes a ship wreck can have value to other sailors -
    "don't go near there!" I seem to recall Marsha saying that she thought my
    opinions garbage, but they brought out other people's opinions which she
    found enlightening. ----

    Did I use the word '"garbage"? I thought I said silly. I guess I lack
    eloquence.

    Marsha

    At 11:49 AM 8/6/2005 +0100, you wrote:
    >Hi Ian,
    >
    >*cracking* stuff...
    >
    >>Time to break some eggs ...
    >>Ian suggests these truths to be self-evident ...
    >>
    >>(1) MoQ is Pragmatic, Atheistic and Evolutionary
    >
    >Pragmatic and Evolutionary, yes, 'Atheistic' you'll need to be careful
    >about. RMP claims it is, yes, and it's certainly not theistic, but IMHO
    >there's no contradiction between accepting the MoQ and saying that Quality
    >is one of the names of God. But I'll let Scott argue that one, because
    >he's not vulnerable to a charge of vested interest (Sam pays obeisance to
    >the dominant social values of the forum).
    >
    >>(2) MoQ intends to be a fundamental unifying view of the whole world,
    >>what's in it, what it means, how it all works and interelates. A
    >>complete metaphysics in so far as that is pragmatically possible.
    >
    >Yep.
    >
    >>
    >>(3) MoQ intends to change the world for the better, by being an agent
    >>of evolutionary change, by providing that view and sense of values at
    >>the level of individuals and what they can and should achieve.
    >
    >... by being a high quality intellectual pattern?
    >
    >Problem: so far as I'm aware, there's no room for 'individual' in the MoQ
    >analysis. There are only the four static levels of patterns plus DQ, and
    >'individual' is a superfluous description of the agglomeration of
    >patterns. In other words, according to the MoQ, the individual is an
    >epiphenomenon, and referring to it will cause confusion. What was it RMP
    >said 'anyone who wants to defend it must be prepared to do a lot of work'
    >or something like that.
    >
    >(I think that's nonsense, but it's one of the ways in which I'm a heretic
    >here, of course)
    >
    >>
    >>(4) MoQ achieves this by providing framework that places the
    >>individual in the whole world, notwithstanding any pre-defined social
    >>and cultural structures (of what is good, right, known, true) without
    >>having to threaten those structures which currently comprise
    >>society(ies) and culture(s).
    >
    >Same reliance on non-existent 'individual'. I agree with the underlying
    >sense though.
    >
    >
    >>(5) MoQ places aspects of the individual in relation to the world,
    >>above any other socially constructed concepts, and in doing so
    >>emphasises aesthetic "oriental" enlightenment over western theistic
    >>traditions.
    >
    >Erk. Buys into questionable analysis of 'western theistic traditions', but
    >it faithfully reflects RMP's perspective, so OK. (Except you're still
    >relying on 'individual'.)
    >
    >
    >>
    >>Ian adds further ....
    >>
    >>(6) Anyone who buys 1 to 5 above is presumed to be interested in
    >>fleshing out practical detail, and promoting a philosophy they support
    >>to a point where it empowers enough of the population (including those
    >>in positions of social power) that the evolutionary benefits can
    >>accrue in the world.
    >
    >Sounds good.
    >
    >>
    >>(7) Anyone who rejects the above is presumed to be peddling an
    >>alternative philosophy that conflicts with the one Pirsig and Pirsig
    >>scholars have propounded and is, temporarily at least, a drag on the
    >>former, even if they are "right" in the long run ;-) In which case
    >>they should have faith in the MoQ as suggested, that the truth will
    >>out itself by a process of evolution anyway.
    >
    >Sometimes a ship wreck can have value to other sailors - "don't go near
    >there!" I seem to recall Marsha saying that she thought my opinions
    >garbage, but they brought out other people's opinions which she found
    >enlightening. So perhaps we heretics are less a drag than the motor for
    >progress, forcing the orthodox to develop their opinions further. (Which
    >was exactly what happened in the Christian church, of course). And how
    >will the truth out itself if heresy is prohibited? Who are the scholars?
    >Is this just going to turn into an Ant McWatt fan club?
    >
    >>A time to choose ?
    >
    >Choose what? Are you trying to eliminate the heretics here?
    >
    >Sam
    >
    >'What is the use of studying philosophy if it does not improve your
    >thinking about the important questions of everyday life?' (Wittgenstein)
    >
    >
    >
    >MOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org
    >Mail Archives:
    >Aug '98 - Oct '02 - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
    >Nov '02 Onward - http://www.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/summary.html
    >MD Queries - horse@darkstar.uk.net
    >
    >To unsubscribe from moq_discuss follow the instructions at:
    >http://www.moq.org/md/subscribe.html

    MOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org
    Mail Archives:
    Aug '98 - Oct '02 - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
    Nov '02 Onward - http://www.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/summary.html
    MD Queries - horse@darkstar.uk.net

    To unsubscribe from moq_discuss follow the instructions at:
    http://www.moq.org/md/subscribe.html



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Sat Aug 06 2005 - 13:44:52 BST