From: Platt Holden (pholden@sc.rr.com)
Date: Thu Sep 08 2005 - 20:42:07 BST
Hi Ham,
[Platt previously]
> > What really throws me off about your theory is "self as a "negate"
> > (nothingness.)" It boggles my mind when I try to think of something as
> > nothing.
>
> Yes, it's a brain-twister, alright. However, it makes a lot more sense
> than appears at first glance.
>
> Look at it this way: Everything you experience in the world is an "other"
> to yourself.
Now let me stop you right there because I don't understand. Do you mean
"other to yourself" as "outside my body?" No. That can't be it because I
experience a lot that goes on inside my body like heart palpitations and
hunger, not to mention thoughts. Do you mean I can't get outside myself to
see myself? True I can't see me as others see me, but I can see me like
nobody else can in the sense that I alone feel my joy, pain, guilt, love,
etc.
So right off the bat I've stumbled over one of your basic premises. I
hesitate to question you about this because I'm sure to you it's
elementary and that you have a perfectly plausible explanation. So if you
have the patience of Job, I hope you will take time to lead me by the hand
through your thought processes.
There's an old saying in the ad game about writing CIPU copy, pronounced
KickPoo, meaning Clear If Previously Understood. My problem with some of
your assumptions is that I haven't had your background in understanding
them from a philosophical perspective. I've tried to read Hegel, Bergson,
Kant, and others, but I might as well have tried to read ancient Sumerian.
So I apologize in advance for my ignorance and can only hope I don't try
your patience to the extent that you will have to write me off as a
hopeless case. On the other hand, I think any philosophy should be
presented so as to be understood by a reasonably intelligent tenth grader.
Certainly Pirsig took pains to present his metaphysics that way. He never
wrote anybody off as being "unsophisticated" (a most admirable trait IMO),
not that I am accusing you of doing so..
My appeal to you is to translate phrases like "It introduces an
anthropocentric perspective of reality based on the autonomy of man as the
free agent and choicemaker in a deteministic universe" to something like,
"In my philosophy, man is unique in having free will" or simply "Man is
the measure" -- if that indeed is what you mean.
Have you the patience to take me by the hand and go with me little by
little, step by step? I hope so.
Best,
Platt
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