Re: MD Pirsig the Postmodernist (Systematic about the Sophists(Kingsley))

From: Wim Nusselder (wim.nusselder@antenna.nl)
Date: Tue Mar 25 2003 - 22:13:35 GMT

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    Dear Steve,

    I very much agree with what you wrote 12 Mar 2003 11:53:51 -0500 (see
    underneath)! Sorry I'm lagging so much behind in most of my replies.

    With friendly greetings,

    Wim

    ----- Oorspronkelijk bericht -----
    Van: "Steve Peterson" <peterson.steve@verizon.net>
    Aan: <moq_discuss@moq.org>
    Verzonden: woensdag 12 maart 2003 17:53
    Onderwerp: Re: MD Pirsig the Postmodernist (Systematic about the
    Sophists(Kingsley))

    > Dear Sam, all
    >
    > The reason Cambpell came to mind is that if "ritual is the enactment of a
    > myth" as he says, then the relationship between myth and ritual could help
    > sort out the social/intellectual bridge associated with ritual.
    >
    > Wim articulated two point I was thinking of in the Systematic thread.
    > Thinking mythically could be thought of as an intellectual pattern that
    > predates thinking logically. Also, myths told people why they were doing
    > things before other higher quality rationales became available.
    >
    > A ritual such as the Eucharist is clearly an enactment of a myth. (In
    > modern terms, ritual is often defined as "lie," though Campbell suggests
    the
    > "metaphor" is a far better definition. Whether or not it is associated
    with
    > any historical event may be irrelevant.)
    >
    > Every participant in the ritual knows why they are doing it. Such an
    > explanation is even part of the ritual: "On the night of his betrayal, he
    > took the bread and gave it to his disciples saying..."
    >
    > So a myth can be a reason for doing something. It is not a logical
    reason,
    > but a reason nevertheless. Thus it fits Wim's description of the static
    > latch of the intellectual level as a copied rationale.
    >
    > To the extent that carrying out a ritual is unconscious copying behavior,
    it
    > is social. But it may be a bridge to the intellectual when people begin
    to
    > think about the myth on which the ritual is based (i.e. why they are
    > performing the ritual).
    >
    > Thanks,
    > Steve
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
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