From: Platt Holden (pholden@sc.rr.com)
Date: Tue Aug 16 2005 - 11:31:59 BST
Hi Ian:
> The main point - is about "combining" the best of both worlds,
> aesthetic and logical postivist ...
>
> So far so good.. Clearly a central point in the MoQ space, but it
> seems we have a difference in what "combining" means.
>
> You seem to suggest having them both in your toolbox is combining
> them, so that you can apply the aesthetic to "art" and the logical
> postive to apply objectively in "rational debate". Each remains a
> distinct component in your combination ? You still have distinct
> subjective and objective view points ?
>
> My view of combining them is as some fusion into a single tool, so
> that "rational debate" benefits from more that logic. A higher
> "quality" reasoning, that is neither objective nor subjective.
>
> You might think I'm hopelessly misguided in that view, but I'd still
> be interested to know that you get the point I'm making. (As you know, I
> prefer to synthesise than analyse and I'm looking for something to build
> on.)
I think we can both admire Pirsig for doing what you suggest in his two
books -- rational argument benefiting from more than logic. I considered
both ZMM and Lila to be works of art. Whether the same can be accomplished
here in a discussion group is doubtful although at times there have been
posts to the MD that approach the poetic (none I can point to offhand, but
the impression remains). What concerns me about a rhetorical approach to
rational debate is the substitution of rhetoric for thinking. Right now,
for example, some people are in a swivet about "racial profiling" whereas
a little common sense would lead one to believe that searching
grandmother's pocketbook is not likely to catch a suicide bomber and save
lives. So I prefer to follow Pirsig's advice in seeking truth -- agreement
with experience, logical consistency, and economy of explanation.
Platt
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