Dmb on Rorty:
This is why people think he's a relativist, because there is no way to escape
one's provincial context, no way to assert values or principles beyond our
culture. This is what I was getting at a few days ago when I mentioned how
relativism poses a problem for those of us who wish to assert the universality
of human rights. This sort of attitude is intellectually paralyzing to the
extent that it weakens the possibility of international laws such as the Geneva
conventions. At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, this sort of attitude is
pretty damn likely to lead to a humanitarian catastrophe.
Like I've been trying to explain, the radical empiricist thinks there is
another way to support or purposes and intuitions, namely experience.
Experience is the test of truth, not conversation.
Ron:
I think this remark speaks volumes about the MoQ. From Bob setting out to write
a book about
native american cultural values to Socrates and the sophists to the Pragmatists.
I guess what really impresses me, is the gumption Bob had in creating a
philosophical
system in which one CAN write about cultural values of another society without
the
criticism of cultural relativism, I mean, not only did he shut down the
criticism he offers
a viable alternative and not just viable but a whole system of understanding
human interaction
that seemingly breaches this boundary, establishing a whole new kind of
universal understanding.
MoQ has a huge impact on the personal particular experience but this is
overshadowed by the
implications of what it means to humanity as a whole.
That book about native american cultural values should be written
given that he layed the groundwork to be able to write it now.
But maybe he has the shits of the whole writing gig. But I imagine it would be
one hell of a read.
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