From: Platt Holden (pholden@sc.rr.com)
Date: Fri Mar 26 2004 - 15:20:38 GMT
Hi Leland,
> On Mar 25, 2004, at 9:07 AM, Platt Holden wrote:
>
> > To which I reply, "Here come the Stalinists," and Pirsig's warns,
> > "The ideal of a harmonious society in which everyone without coercion
> > cooperates happily with everyone else for the mutual good of all is a
> > devastating fiction." (Lila-24)
> >
> > 'Devastating.' When the subject of humanism comes up, keep Pirsig's word
> > word in mind.
>
> Yeah, except I take Pirsig's quote as saying: the idea of a harmonious
> society in which everyone without coercion cooperates happily with everyone
> else for the mutual good of all is a great idea but could never be
> implemented because of the tendency of people to step on everyone else to
> fulfill their own selfish desires.
>
> The "devastating fiction" part simply comments on how heartbreaking it is
> that this ideal could never be put into practice. Or do you somehow see
> something wrong with a society where everyone voluntarily cooperates with
> everyone else for the good of all? If you do see a problem with that, would
> you mind elaborating?
I fail to detect any "heartbreak" in Pirsig's assertion. Just a unbiased
acknowledgment of fact.
And yes, I do see a problem with a society where everyone cooperates for
the sake of all. I don't ever want to be reincarnated as an ant in anthill
or a bee in a beehive. That would be living hell. (If God reads this I
hope She takes note.)
Anyway, as Pirsig says, socialist countries which aspire to your idea of
Utopia are such dull places.
Platt
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