Re: MD Dealing with S/O pt 2

From: Sam Norton (elizaphanian@tiscali.co.uk)
Date: Mon Sep 08 2003 - 10:24:28 BST

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    Hi Matt,

    I'm in full agreement with your views here. But I wanted to pick you up on something you said:

    .....Well, part of holding a position is making sure you realize its consequences. Absurdity is
    achieved when one belief is in tension with another belief in your web of beliefs. Its a clear sign
    of incoherence. You have two options when this happens: 1) Choose the old belief or choose the new
    belief. From the angle of people who choose that new belief, watching a person choose the old one
    is like watching a person shrink back in fear of something distasteful. From the angle of people
    who choose that old belief, watching a person choose the new one is like watching a person go
    insane. (The Pirsig connection should be clear.) Today's absurdities are sometimes tommorrow's
    common sense.

    Is there an option 2) missing here? I would have said it's always possible to hold two opposing
    beliefs in tension, with a hope of one day resolving them at a higher level (ie to de-absolutise
    each belief). It's about being provisional in our metaphysics - something I would have thought you'd
    be sympathetic to? And it's also about putting the intellect in its place - rational consistency is
    not the highest good.

    Cheers
    Sam

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