Nice article a really nice look at the aim of skepticism. Thanks well written. I have mre to say when I can get To a proper keyboard.
david buchanan <[email protected]> wrote: > >"...Like most Nietzsche scholars, Berry rejects the popular idea that >Nietzsche's remarks on "perspectivism" mark him as a radical relativist. She >acknowledges Nietzsche's documented admiration of the pre-Socratic philosopher >Heraclitus, but denies that it means that Nietzsche 'endorsed an ontological >doctrine of radical flux.' First, that doctrine seems to imply that "to the >extent that they represent the world as having some stability, all our beliefs >are nothing but hopeless distortions. There is no truth. Knowledge is >impossible. All we have are 'mere' interpretations or our own idiosyncratic >'perspectives' on the world, and there can be no way to ground a preference >for one over any other." And that, she rightly says, is nuts: nuts on its own >terms, and nuts as a reading of Nietzsche, who seems very concerned indeed >that we believe this and not that – which makes no sense if beliefs are >necessarily distorted and truth a fantasy. Indeed, on this view "there is >exactly one rejoinder to any claim whatsoever: we just imagine Jeff Bridges as >The Dude muttering 'Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.'" -- Dave >Maier at 3 Quarks Daily > >Check out the full article. >http://www.3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily/2012/12/nietzschean-perspectivism-again-with-a-skeptical-twist.html#comments > > >> Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2012 08:17:02 -0800 >> From: [email protected] >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: [MD] Pirsig's Honorary Doctorate >> >> I was really struck this week by the deep contrasts in posts regarding the >> nature of Quality. >> While some here would argue that Quality has no nature at all and that the >> idea of >> "not this, not that" has more clarity and precision in meaning than the idea >> "undefined betterness", >> I would ask that we explore the consequences of these two deeply contrasting >> conceptions >> of just what the overall aim of our metaphysics indeed IS. >> >> This week David Buchanan posted a commencement speech in which the speaker >> invoked what >> he saw as the overall aim of Pirsigs metaphysic: >> >> "We need to get the ceremony or the ritual correct. We need to get the rite >> right, right? in order for it to do its work of creating what is memorable >> and what is best. And now we are in the shadow of quality---to the Greeks >> “arete”----what is excellent, a ritual well performed or, most simply, what >> is well done. " >> -Commencement Talk 2012-- by Regent Professor Michael Sexson (He was also >> the Master of Ceremonies for MSU's Chautauqua 2012). >> “The Right Rite” >> >> Which would seem to coincide with the ancient greek conception that "the >> good" is best pursued >> via knowledge, as Aristotle writes: >> "Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is >> thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly >> been declared to be that at which all things aim." >> >> This , as it would seem, is our "undefined betterness" some good at which >> all things aim. But it would seem that Art, to the ancient greeks would hold >> a high place in this aim because art aims with both act and product at the >> good and as >> Regent Professor Michael Sexson would add what is most worthy of remembering. >> Contrasting this aim is the concept of "not this not that" which is most >> traditionally >> a reactionary response to physicalism or objectivism where one believes that >> quality lies within the objects of perception, but to apply this to our >> metaphysic >> as our overall aim results in consequences so contrary and counter to the aim >> of excellence and virtue that the results are the kind of nihlism and >> relativism >> that our culture currently suffers from, that "value-less" state of not >> caring >> for or against anything what so ever that inspired Robert Pirsig to write to >> begin with. >> >> I believe, to suppose "not this, not that" is the true aim of Robert Pirsigs >> metaphysic, is to profoundly misunderstand both the aim of Robert Pirsigs >> work and the aim of Zen and the resulting consequences are so dire as to >> be polar opposite to Proffessor Sextons' statement regarding what RMP >> would say: >> "If Robert Pirsig were here today, he probably would not advise the class of >> 2012 to conquer worlds, acquire possessions, achieve status. That’s not >> what these books, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and Lila, are >> about. He would probably say what the woman watering her plants said to him, >> “Are you pursuing quality,” >> >> I dont think Robert Pirsig meant "are you pursuing nothing" >> are you pursuing valueless-ness? are you pursuing meaningless-ness? >> are you pursuing no-thing what so ever? are you pursuing no-mind? >> >> That would make for a rather poor graduation speech where words of >> wisdom are usually sought, rather: >> >> Are you pursuing better-ness? are you pursuing excellence? >> >> "Do not think about what is new but what is best" >> >> Wise words. >> >> . >> 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 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
