From: David Buchanan (DBuchanan@ClassicalRadio.org)
Date: Sat Jun 14 2003 - 04:15:57 BST
Sam said to dmb:
I've just realised something. You perceive intellect to be embattled and
struggling to be accepted; I see it as entrenched and oppressive. That
probably has a lot to do with our different life experiences (don't know
much about yours, but mine has had a lot of exposure to academia). That must
underlie our different understandings to a large extent.
dmb replies:
We can't help but look at the world through our own eyes, so to speak. It
true. And I'm curious about how and why you've come to see intellect as
"entrenched and oppressive". Very curious. But I also think this might be a
good case in point. Maybe its one of those times when we need to put our
personal feelings aside and look again with unbias eyes. Ironically perhaps,
it takes a certain kind of emotional maturity or emotional intelligence to
put ones emotions aside. I think you'd agree.
In this case it seems that my basic perceptions agree with Pirsig's, no?
Does he not also see freedom, rights, democracy and other such liberating
forces as a product of the intellect? That's pretty far away from
oppressive, no? And entrenched? Compared to what? Its it more entrenched
than the social level, which has been evolving for hundreds of thousands of
years? According to Pirsig and common sense the intellect is less entrenched
than just any about anything eles, no? And I think the impression that
intellect is being resisted, especially by those who hold social level
values most dear, if not embattled, is demonstrated by mountains of
historical evidence.
In other words, your personal experiences are not to be discounted or
dismissed, but if we are talking about the nature of things and the state of
the world we must allow the facts and evidence to bear the appropriate
weight in that discussion, regardless of how we might feel about it. The is
something dishonest about disregarding the facts, no? This is a good example
of where thinking rationally actually requires a certain kind of morality.
(I'm not making any accusations here, just making a point.) Likewise, I know
from personal experience that being witness to such dishonesty can evoke a
very strong emotion. I'm not sure what to call it. Its a little bit LIKE
outrage, disgust or anger, but not exactly. You know what I mean, eh?
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