Re: MD When is a metaphysics not a metaphysics?

From: David MOREY (us@divadeus.freeserve.co.uk)
Date: Sat Nov 22 2003 - 17:55:19 GMT

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    Matt

    Fine and OK generally, sure sincerity and values
    are what makes the difference, but also its metaphor
    creation as you know, I think there is a lot to be
    said for SQ/DQ and SQ levels as a less densely full
    set of assumptions/language about how we can do knowledge than
    one using essences, subject-objects, causality, laws, determinsism, etc.
    It is also about allowing the human and social sciences to talk
    in a more sensible language that is not so full of pseudo-objectivity
    and detachment. We need to be able to look less narrowly at the
    'spiritual' stuff that structures our existence like 'money', because
    money is not a material thing for example, the power it possess
    has a whole different level of complexity of being.

    regards
    David M

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: "MATTHEW PAUL KUNDERT" <mpkundert@students.wisc.edu>
    To: <moq_discuss@moq.org>
    Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2003 2:23 PM
    Subject: Re: MD When is a metaphysics not a metaphysics?

    > David,
    >
    > David said:
    > What status quo do you mean?
    >
    > Matt:
    > The status quo I mean is the status quo of taking certain questions
    seriously that we've always taken seriously. History is littered with
    questions we no longer take seriously. Now, you are probably right, I need
    to read more non-pragmatist philosophy. But the question is, why should I
    take the things they talk about seriously as opposed to what the pragmatists
    take seriously? Rorty responds to the question of how we are to decide
    whose questions take priority by saying that everybody begs the question
    over everybody else, there is no way to argumentatively decide. But, he
    says, this doesn't mean we are being arbitrary by insisting that our
    questions take priority, we are simply being sincere. We are making a value
    judgment.
    >
    > David said:
    > Pirsig's engagement with MOQ has guts and an impressive range of use in
    various fields, pragmatists I feel are skeptical about the possibility of
    attaining a more unified approach to knowledge in our current fragmented
    times.
    >
    > Matt:
    > Pragmatists think they have the pulse of the times by noticing that
    "attaining a more unified approach" is what Plato was after. They are
    skeptical about Plato. His unification project has been going on for quite
    some time without much results. We think we should leave it be.
    >
    > Besides, I don't think Pirsig is really offering a unified approach to
    knowledge. I think his main suggestion, that everything is based on value
    choices, is the same as Rorty and pragmatism's and that both Pirsig and
    Rorty would agree that what physics does, physics should do and that what
    anthropology does, anthropology should do, that there shouldn't be some
    unified method. As Pirsig says in Lila, "The language of physics is no good
    for anthropology." (Thanks to Paul for that one.)
    >
    > Matt
    >
    >
    >
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