[Platt]
This distortion of the views of Leo Straus could
be expected from the BBC whose left-wing bias...
[Arlo]
Of course, anything that challenges the orthodoxy
can be easily dismissed as "bias". Only
right-wing channels are clear and unbiased.
[Platt]
A more balanced and accurate account of Straus' view is from Wikipedia:
[Arlo]
There is nothing in the passage you quoted that
does anything more than show the BBC abbreviated
version was clear and accurate.
For example, "Strauss taught that liberalism in
its modern form contained within it an intrinsic
tendency towards relativism, which in turn led to
two types of nihilism ("Epilogue").[2] The first
was a "brutal" nihilism, expressed in Nazi and
Marxist regimes. These ideologies, both
descendants of Enlightenment thought, tried to
destroy all traditions, history, ethics and moral
standards and replace it by force with a supreme
authority from which nature and mankind are
subjugated and conquered.[4] The second type -the
"gentle" nihilism expressed in Western liberal
democracies - was a kind of value-free
aimlessness and hedonism, which he saw as
permeating the fabric of contemporary American
society" articulates exactly with "Strauss
believed that the liberal idea of individual
freedom led people to question everythingall
values, all moral truths. Instead, people were
led by their own selfish desires. And this
threatened to tear apart the shared values which held society together."
From the Wikipedia entry you quoted. "By
implication, Strauss asks his readers to consider
whether it is true that "noble lies" have no role
at all to play in uniting and guiding the polis.
Are "myths" needed to give people meaning and
purpose and to ensure a stable society? Or can
men dedicated to relentlessly examining, in
Nietzsche's language, those "deadly truths",
flourish freely?" This articulates exactly with
"It was for politicians to assert powerful and
inspiring myths that everyone could believe in.
They might not be true, but they were necessary illusions."
[Platt]
Those familiar with Pirsig's writing know that he
also saw a "deterioration of modern society and
philosophy and sought to uncover the
philosophical pathways that had led to this situation"
[Arlo]
What Pirsig saw was a "slow confused mindless
drift back to a kind of pseudoVictorian moral
posture", which is only what neoconservatism
offers. And let us be quite clear that Pirsig
says directly, "The Hippies have been interpreted
as frivolous spoiled children, and the period
following their departure as a "return to
values," whatever that means. The Metaphysics of
Quality, however, says that's backward: the
Hippie revolution was the moral movement. The
present period is the collapse of values."
[Platt]
What follows is Arlo's usual diatribe against me personally. Nothing new here.
[Arlo]
You personally? Nothing personal at all, Platt.
Its your deceptive and distortive rhetoric that
has always been the target of my ire. If you want
to warp that into a personal attack, feel free,
but its fair to point out these deceptions and
distortions, and to lament their use in this forum.
[Platt]
Of course, the self-proclaimed academic "critical
thinker" has omitted how the meaning of the word
liberal has changed in modern America, as clearly
explained in the same Wikipedia article:
[Arlo]
See, now that's an excellent example of the
distortion and deception laden in your rhetoric.
I never omitted how the word has changed. Indeed,
Jos had pointed out precisely THAT the word had
changed, and I was commenting on the HOW and WHY
of this transition. But, hey, why bother with honest dialogue.
[Platt]
What's embarrassing and evil is for someone
posing as a "critical thinker" should exhibit
such egregious distortion, intolerance and bias.
[Arlo]
And thanks for the classic Pee-Wee Manuever ("I
know what you are, but what am I?"). Always a treat to see.
But now I am done with this one too. Since this
will become for you nothing but another outlet of
"Evil "libs" that seek to take away your basic
freedoms, "libs" that lie, cheat, insult and
malign, "libs" that side with terrorists and are
anti-American, pro-surrender, "libs" that want
American soldiers to die. Fear them! For they are
the enemy of pure and noble conservatives, who
are honest and forthwith, who seek open dialogue
and who safeguard your liberties."
As I said, that's nothing but embarrassing, vile
political rhetoric. This is caller number eleven hanging up the phone.
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