From: Scott R (jse885@spinn.net)
Date: Thu Jun 05 2003 - 02:51:02 BST
Platt,
> Interesting view of social vs.intellectual levels. Makes me wonder if we
> shouldn't look at all levels as interior phenomenon since the MoQ rests on
> a foundation of observers being a necessary catalyst of reality. Steve has
> championed the interior world with good effect I think, and one way to
> kill off SOM for good is to rule out objectivity completely and admit once
> and for all that everything we think, know and say about the world is
> located somewhere between the ears.
It works for all levels except the inorganic. (About the only thing I can
think of as "feeling the inorganic" is the feeling of acceleration, or
pushing against something.) We can feel justified in assuming other people
around us have similar experience as our own, and can somewhat empathize
with animals, e.g., in feeling pain, but I see no way to empathize with a
rock. So to extend the MoQ to that level has to be speculative. Which is
fine by me, and is anyway true of any other metaphysics.
>
> Just read this morning of a new book out by F. H. Buckley entitled "The
> Morality of Laughter." Although restricted to social level ethics, the
> author makes a good argument. As the reviewer writes, "His larger purpose
> is to supplement the dry rationalism of modern life with the aesthetic
> grace that laughter encourages. Any ethics worth its salt helps us not
> merely to live morally but to live well. 'We might,' Mr. Buckley urges,
> 'follow all the Commandments and still be dull, priggish and pretentious.'
> Laughter is a tonic antidote to these vices. It is also, Mr. Buckley
> notes, the companion of joy and 'of all things, the ability to find joy in
> life is our chief earthly good.' "
While agreeing, I would question the "dry rationalism" remark. I would call
jokes that aren't based on the stupidity of others to be one kind of
creative rational activity (and even "put-down" jokes can have an
intellectual cleverness in them). Arthur Koestler, in Acts of Creation,
looked at jokes as examples of creativity, of unexpected crossing over from
one context to another. Puns, for instance.
>
> The MoQ should be about finding joy in life as much as explaining how the
> world works. I've often thought that the line near the end of Lila --
> "That's a good dog" -- kinda put a joyful spin on the whole serious
> business of doing metaphysics. Likewise, when Pirsig wrote, "Getting drunk
> and picking up bar ladies and writing metaphysics is part of life," he
> gave us a touch of "aesthetic grace."
.
I agree.
>
> Now to find more humor in my own interior musings, something I find rather
> difficult on a day to day basis. But, worth the effort I'm sure. :-)
Can one do this through effort? One can be mindful of taking oneself too
seriously, at least. There's the "space alien" trick: pretend you're an
alien and see what you make of things. Just rambling.
- Scott
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