Hi Ham, Thanks for doing the research, I'll be interested to find out what was said. I am curious what is meant by spiritual rationality.
We have some agreement on what rationality is, and its use of logical methods. Spirituality on the other hand is a little more complex. "Spiritual rationality" is putting two words together which could mean anything. It is possible to create a rationality that has no relation to our current rationality. We can envision something like animal rationality, or even quantum rationality, or even a rationality that has no logic whatsoever. Anything is possible, and there are no rules here. Rationality is what we call what we do, it is but one of many ways to do this thing. We are dealing with a mode of communication coupled with a personal view of the cosmos, because, in the end, spirituality is intensely personal and is impossible to convey in a rational manner. We take a highly personal dealing with the universe and then subject it to a rigorous logical format? I really do not think that anybody has any idea what they are talking about when they bring up spiritual rationality. My guess is that it sounds good, and it is a buzz word for people to coerce others into thinking that such an idea must be good since it has two great words that (don't) go together. I would probably take it with a grain of salt, and put it off as yet another one of these superficial new age ideas. Kind of like taking the best of all philosophies and making a fruit salad and calling it grandiose. But then again, it may be very interesting and enlightening. Let me know. Mark On Mon, Mar 7, 2011 at 9:54 AM, Ham Priday <[email protected]> wrote: > > Horse, Matt, and all Pirsigians -- > > At the suggestion of a friend, my wife and I plan to attend a talk and > discussion on this topic by Caryl Johnston to be presented by the > Philadelphia Forum for Anthroposophy at a community library next Saturday. A > promotion sheet on the talk lists several books Ms. Johnston has authored > and cites her blog on the Metaphysics of Quality which I note is also linked > to the MOQ archives. > > The promotion reads in part: > "Join Caryl Johnston and the Philadelphia Forum as we take up Robert > Pirsig's challenge to develop a spiritualized rationality. Why has this > invitation found few champions in the United States today? Might it be that > our social disagreements benefit some at the expense of the many? Let's ask > some hard questions as we search for Quality together!" > > I know nothing of Caryl Johnston other than that she has been associated > with Anthroposophy for 22 years, and that she posted one or two MD messages > to Matt Kundert back in 2007. Is this young lady an "official spokesperson" > for the MoQ, or does she have her own agenda? ("Social disagreements > benefiting some at the expense of others" sounds suspiciously Marxist to > me.) > > Any information you can provide concerning Caryl Johnston's affiliation or > history with the MoQ would be appreciated. Since this would also be an > opportunity to meet other MDers in the Philly area, let me know if you plan > to attend this Chestnut Hill Library talk. In return for this favor, I'll > report on the event next week. > > Thanks for your help, > Ham > Moq_Discuss mailing list > Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. > http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org > Archives: > http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ > http://moq.org/md/archives.html > Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org/md/archives.html
