From: Matt Kundert (pirsigaffliction@hotmail.com)
Date: Wed Feb 16 2005 - 03:29:56 GMT
Ian,
"(Realist, pragmatist, whatever - the isms are part of the problem, not the
solution.)"
Nah, "isms" are simply a way of reading and interpreting. I think people
take the categories the wrong way when the see them as hampering
understanding. Categories like "realist" and "pragmatist" arise only after
you've tried to understand them, are part of the attempt to understand, as
classifying patterns of linguistic similarity and conceptual work. McKeon
was misunderstood by Pirsig because of this prejudice against
"classification." Except, what else is understanding than classification?
How else are we to understand unless we differentiate? The problem is
taking the classifications as written in the stars, as Platonists are wont
to do. But pragmatists don't do that. They use them as a map with which to
make their way around philosophy. As new bumps appear, you change the map.
Trying to eshew "isms" is like the "end of philosophy" debate. Its just one
more "ism," just as trying to "end philosophy" is just one more kind of
philosophy.
Matt
_________________________________________________________________
Don’t just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search!
http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/
MOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org
Mail Archives:
Aug '98 - Oct '02 - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
Nov '02 Onward - http://www.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/summary.html
MD Queries - horse@darkstar.uk.net
To unsubscribe from moq_discuss follow the instructions at:
http://www.moq.org/md/subscribe.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Wed Feb 16 2005 - 03:33:59 GMT