From: Mark Steven Heyman (markheyman@infoproconsulting.com)
Date: Mon Mar 21 2005 - 21:03:47 GMT
Great post, Ant. Thanks.
Mark Steven Heyman (msh)
-- InfoPro Consulting - The Professional Information Processors Custom Software Solutions for Windows, PDAs, and the Web Since 1983 Web Site: http://www.infoproconsulting.com "The shadows that a swinging lamp will throw, We come from nowhere and to nothing go." On 21 Mar 2005 at 20:01, Ant McWatt wrote: Matt Kundert stated to Ham Priday March 20th 2005: I also don't participate much in the political discussions that go on around here. Just doesn't interest me that much. [Neo-Pragmatists] suggest that we move on to more fruitful discussions, but part of our evangelical mission is trying to convince the metaphysicians that the jig is up, modern philosophy is over. Matt, Your assertion that “political discussion… doesn't interest me” is one of the reasons I wasn’t too impressed with Rorty because philosophers should be interested in politics. Rorty’s dichotomy of public/political and private/philosophical life is a false one because philosophical contemplation informs public life (and vice versa). Why do you think Plato was so insistent that philosophers should be the principal politicians in government? I don’t think it was because he couldn’t handle his day job. The idea that a highly questioning and philosophically educated electorate would make no difference to the quality of politicians and government is a highly dubious one. Just look at the general calibre of the world leaders we presently have - I wouldn’t let most of these power-hungry, backward looking comedians run a flower shop let alone a country. Any philosopher (such as Rorty) who encourages an attitude of mind that separates politics and philosophy just facilitates giving power to lower quality politicians who will have a damaging effect on the quality of all our lives. Moreover, Rorty’s sentiment is certainly not in the pragmatist spirit – for instance, look at John Dewey who emphasised that pragmatism was a tool for dealing with concrete problems (such as poor working conditions, bad sanitation, women’s rights, inequitable distribution of income) rather than dealing only in intellectual abstractions. Dewey established the first teacher’s union in New York City and overhauled the American justice system to take into account the concerns of working class people. Remember that politics seriously affects nearly every aspect of our lives and as a “genuine” pragmatist, this is why I would like to see philosophy taught as a compulsory subject in 11-18 year old education. Finally, whilst political discussion on a philosophy forum such as MOQ Discuss shouldn’t be allowed to overwhelm (and I can understand people’s concerns about this), it still has an important place among the various issues of human life. To believe otherwise would not be acting pragmatically! Best wishes, Anthony “Knowledge is Power” A favourite sentiment of John Dewey (originally stated by Francis Bacon). 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
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