From: David Buchanan (DBuchanan@ClassicalRadio.org)
Date: Sat Nov 22 2003 - 18:06:30 GMT
Platt and all MOQers:
Platt said:
Taking your advice, I went to the local library and got a copy of "The
Power of Myth" by Joseph Campbell. To my amazement I found Campbell
saying to Bill Moyer of PBS: "This is the first nation (the U.S.) that was
ever established on the basis of reason instead of simply warfare."
That was a new one on me, but then I recalled what Pirsig said about
when the intellectual level became dominant.
dmb replies:
I'm amazed that you would take advice from one who has heaped so much
criticism upon you. Bravo! In any case, I think there is a Pirsig quote that
gets at Campbell's point even better. Chapter 24 of Lila is packed full of
relevant ideas, but this one seems to really hit the nail on the head...
"The MOQ says that what is meant by 'human rights' is usually the moral code
of intellect-vs-society, the moral right of intellect to be free of social
control. Freedom of speech; freedom of assembly, of travel; trial by jury;
habeas corpus; government; government by consent - these 'human rights are
all intellect-vs.-society issues. According to the MOQ these 'human rights'
have not just a sentimental basis, but a rational, metaphysical basis. They
are essential to the evolution of a higher level of life from a lower level
of life. They are for real."
dmb continues:
Obviously, the rights listed here are also listed in the founding documents
of this nation, namely the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of
Rights. Belief in and respect for these principles is what being an American
is all about. As I see it, anyone who says otherwise simply doesn't get it
and is, in effect, both anti-intellectual and unAmerican.
Platt said:
I'm led to the conclusion that in both Pirsig's and Campbell's eyes the
U.S. is an intellectual culture. Which will no doubt come as quite a
surprise to our European friends. :-)
dmb replies:
Two cautionary points are needed here. 1.) The authors of our founding
documents, especially Jefferson, owe a great deal to the European political
philosophers of the Enlightenment. In fact, lots of what we find in the
Declaration of Independence is basically a paraphrase of John Locke. 2.) The
intellectual aspect of our culture has, from the very beginning, been met
with resistance. There has always been an anti-intellectual, nativistic,
know-nothingism that is at odds with the rights enshrined in our founding
documents. Today this social level resistance can be seen in right-wing
conservatives like Pat Robertson, Bill Buckley, Bill Kristol, Fox News, The
Heritage Foundation, The American Enterprise Institute, The Hoover
Institute, The Washington Timees, The National Review, George W. Bush, John
Ashcroft, and the Republican Party in general. This is what's going on right
now. The rights and freedoms we're talking about are presently under attack
by figures like these, which is how we find ourselves dealing with the
PATRIOT act and the "faith-based" foreign policy of the neo-cons. The point
here being that its not enough to subscribe to these rights and principles.
We also need to learn how to recognize them and their enemies in the
particular people and events of our day. As I keep saying, The
social/intellectual conflict is in the news every day.
Thanks,
dmb
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