Ron: (Arlo mentioned)

> [Ian]
> > I think I agree with that entirely Platt, if I could just confirm one
> word
> > ...
> > 
> > In the second para where you say - cultural immune system "of" ...
> > Are you referring to academes immunity defence system "against" ...
> > 
> >  .... relativity and mulicuturalism ?

> Platt:
> No. Academe not only embraces moral relativity and multiculturalism, but
> 
> celebrates it with a passion. To the professorship, no culture can do 
> anything wrong, nor do we have any right to judge other cultures
> (America 
> excepted). That's what our kids are being taught.The MOQ tells quite a 
> different story. "Cultures can be graded and judged morally according to
> 
> their contribution to the evolution of life." (Lila, 24) To academe,
> that's 
> blasphemy. 
> 
> Ron:
> That seems to contradict Pirsigs reasons why he could not make an
> accurate assessment of Indian culture and values. In MoQ terms "Moral"
> is described as Dynamic. by THAT meaning one may compare the dynamism
> between cultures
> but in no way can cultures be judged in a particular social (collective)
> meaning of the term as you imply. It would not only be unfair but
> irrational and unreasonable.
> 
> it would go against everything Pirsig has been trying to defeat.

[Platt]
Hardly. In Pirsig's own words:

"A culture that supports the dominance of social values over biological 
values is an absolutely superior culture to one that does not, and a 
culture that supports the dominance of intellectual values over social 
values is absolutely superior to one that does not. It is immoral to speak 
against a people because of the color of their skin, or any other genetic 
characteristic because these are not changeable and don't matter anyway. 
But it is not immoral to speak against a person because of his cultural 
characteristics if those cultural characteristics are-immoral. These are 
changeable and they do matter." (Lila, 24)

Unlike Arlo and his fellow multiculturalists who think backward, 
impoverished and murderous cultures are equal to American culture, Pirsig 
says some cultures are better than others, judged by their dominant moral 
values. I agree. 

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