Hi Geoffrey and all,
GEOFF
> I think there is more then one definition of true. One is proven
> truth for example 1+1=2. When the other meaning is actually acting
> truthfully as Jonathan said "true friend", "true aim".
Geoff, I'm going to make you work a little before I agree to more than one type
of truth. All that I will concede is that things may be true in different ways,
or to different principals. e.g. I can think of circumstances where the
following are also true:
1+1 = 10 (binary)
a=a+1 (as in computer programs)
> I am lacking a bit of
> information on this subject of the truth of philosophy. Since I have only
> studied in detail one philosopher/writer, Robert M. Pirsig.
>
Geoff, your confession is admirable. I too am almost ignorant in
philosophology - most of what I know I've gleaned second hand. I may be wrong
about this, but suspect that the same is true for many other participants in the
discussion (with some obvious exceptions).
> JONATHAN: "Philosophy MUST be TRUE to everyday experience!"
>
> I am not sure what this actually means Jonathan. I would like it if you
> could explain it further.
>
That's fairly straightforward. Supposing that I develop a sincere belief that
the winter cannot end until I sacrifice some animal to some weather god. Now
suppose that I have done this for 25 years and am suddenly prevented from doing
so (e.g. by some foreign invader)! Don't you see how neurosis could develop, as
we moved though March, April ... May. Depending on the intensity of my neurosis,
I might not even make it through to June. If I survive, I will have to accept
that a philosophy that served me okay for 25 years has come up in flat
contradiction with reality and has to be abandoned.
Perhaps we can image other situations when ones faith is undermined. What do you
do when a parent abandons you, when your spouse cheats on you, when a business
partner stabs you in the back?All of these situations force one to re-evaluate
ones system of values, but sometimes they first drive a person insane.
Perhaps Phaedrus' faith in the god of reason was similar, and that faith was too
deeply entrenched to simply change it like a suit of clothes. That's what drove
him insane.
Jonathan
MOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org
Mail Archive - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
MD Queries - horse@wasted.demon.nl
To unsubscribe from moq_discuss follow the instructions at:
http://www.moq.org/md/subscribe.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Sat Aug 17 2002 - 16:00:42 BST