RE: MD Pirsig the postmodernist?

From: Platt Holden (pholden@sc.rr.com)
Date: Mon Mar 24 2003 - 15:16:44 GMT

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    Erin, Matt:

    MATT:
    > Antiessentialist philosophers deny there are essences. They think all
    > things are relational. They say that the only reason we think that the
    > essence of an M&M is a chocolaty center is because that's how we happen to
    > define "M&M." We could just as easily define it in some other fashion.
    > When we go through moods of redescription and redefinition, other things in
    > our web of beliefs and desires shift, too. This is because it is all
    > relational. It is relations all the way down.

    Note on one hand all the conceptual essences Matt declares to be true
    while on the other hand denying that such essences exist. He tops it off
    by declaring "This is because it is all relational," a conceptual essence
    that is simultaneously denied. The more you examine postmodernist
    thinking, the more irrational it becomes. A postmodernist can be
    "nonchalant" about self-refuting statements if he wishes. But he
    shouldn't be surprised if most people are indifferent to the postmodern
    mentality, as indeed is the case. :-)

    Platt

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