From: hampday@earthlink.net
Date: Thu Sep 22 2005 - 17:15:20 BST
Hi Platt --
> Looks like there were hard feelings after all. Sorry about that. As for
> understanding your philosophy, I respectfully give up.
I can assure you there are no hard feelings on my part. Whatever you think
I've said or done to snub you is a misconception. (Anyway, let's let
bygones be bygone.)
It disturbs me even more that you have "given up" on my philosophy. I'm not
sure whether this decision is a result of concepts that are unsupported by
the MoQ or whether it's my failure to articulate Essentialism in a
meaningful way. I suspect the latter.
You have been a strong advocate for individualism vs. the collective, which
is an ideology sorely missing in Mr. Pirsig's philosophy. I hope you at
least understand that I've constructed Essentialism from the individual
perspective, and so individual freedom is its moral cornerstone.
I think the major obstacle I'm facing -- and it applies to all I've
discussed this with -- is that people don't see the significance of
proprietary awareness in their worldview (i.e., the fact that everything
exists except the conscious subject.) Once you realize that, you are struck
with the truth that reality is an "otherness" to you. Like a bolt out of
the the blue, you are suddenly hit by the fact that you are excluded from
this reality. It is not yours, it's an other that you can only know in
fragments. And you, yourself, are isolated from the "beingness" that it
possesses and you don't.
The natural reaction is to either "panic" or believe that something is askew
in your thinking. You immediately review the situation in hope of finding
some way to reclaim your lost self. You may go back to your religious
roots, as many philosophers have, looking for some dogma that will restore
your faith. Or, you may choose to work it out intellectually and come up
with a metaphysical solution. I've tried them both, and my conclusion is
that metaphysics holds the answer.
Metaphysical theories can't answer the specifics as Science does or provide
the anchor of a faith-based belief system; but they can lead to a concept of
reality whereby your finite existence has meaning and purpose in the overall
scheme of things. It does no good to latch yourself to someone else's
theories, although they can guide you in this direction; ultimately, we each
have to come to our own philosophy and discover our own meaning in life.
Well, that's my "sermon for the day". I sincerely hope you'll reconsider
your decision and allow me to explain anything you find puzzling or
illogical about my philosophy. That would be helpful to both of us.
Actually, I'm struggling with the MoQ to the same end and, despite what
others may think, I see much value in the basic Quality concept.
Thanks for supporting the individual and free-choice, Platt, and I look
forward to the possibility of redeeming myself with you.
Essentially yours,
Ham
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