From: Pi (pi@mideel.ath.cx)
Date: Sat Jun 28 2003 - 05:19:09 BST
On Fri, Jun 27, 2003 at 11:36:32AM -0400, Valence wrote:
> Hi Pi,
>
> > On Thu, Jun 26, 2003 at 11:39:10AM -0400, Valence wrote:
> > > [snip]
> > > RICK
> > > I believe that Bacon is simply praising writers who describe what they
> see
> > > instead of what they'd prefer to see. I agree with him. We need such
> > > people.
>
> PI
> > I have come to believe that there is no difference between 'describing
> what one sees' and 'what one prefers to see'.
>
> RICK
> Guessing at what you mean by this one-liner, I'm not unsympathetic to the
> idea that our preferences direct our attention to a certain extent. But I
> think you've overstated it. When I wake up in the morning and look in the
> mirror, I'd prefer to see someone that looks like Brad Pitt, and though I
> might think I look more like the famous star than I do, I still just see me.
> When I look at my girlfriend I'd prefer to see someone that looks like
> Cameron Diaz, I may overstate her resemblance to the actress, but of course
> I don't "see" Cameron Diaz laying next to me when I wake up in the morning.
> I prefer that Robert Pirsig's philosophy was taken more seriously by
> academic and 'professional' philosophers and yet... well, you know.
Hi Rick,
When I said that one liner, I was thinking in the terms that Bacon was probably thinking in. Bacon was talking about the interpretation, objectivity and subjectivity. I accept that my statement seems like an overstatement from the point of view of your examples.
Bacon was trying to say that one should interpret objectively and not subjectively. This is in line with one of the primary hidden lessons our education system tries to teach. I don't need to go into this SOM based idea more because this is a MOQ group and we know enough about the shortfalls of SOM.
As far as your examples are concerned, when you look in the mirror and prefer to see a reflect of Brad Pitt instead of yourself; that is just an intellectual filter. If you were sufficiently "insane", you would in fact see Brad Pitt as your reflection. If you valued it enough, it would be exactly what you see. Preference is nothing but what you value the most.
> The difference between genius and stupidity is; genius has its limits. -
> Albert Einstein
I like this one :)
Cheers,
Pi
P.S. I hope your girlfriend doesn't read this thread. ;)
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