I think that it was a naive and ignorant article and as such, because it was
written out of ignorance, not worthy of 'total despair'!
I think that the author is unaware of the difference between a tribal and a
civic society. The former, and China fits in here, operates within the
network and ties of kinship obligations. The latter, which the West moved
into centuries ago, operates, legally at least, by rejecting the privileges
or lack of kinship bonds and focusing instead as per the Magna Carta and
Declaration of Independence, on human equality.
This has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with 'pragmatism'. It's pure
tribalism; you claim the surgeon, for example, as a member of your clan by
your financial tribute to his skill; his accepting the tribute shows that he
accepts the patient into 'his tribe'. Both become members of the same
family clan. Nothing, nothing, to do with pragmatism, which would be viewed,
I think, as unethical because pragmatism shows no respect for 'the clan',
for 'the family obligations'.
Absolutely nothing to do with the notion of 'god' as the author tries to
claim: "By contrast American ethics (and foreign policy) is still too
religious in its perspective, and even our democratic traditions are
asserted with dogmatic gusto. As it's been pointed out many times, someone
who thinks he has God on his side is capable of almost anything."
Then, another aspect is missing. The Chinese, for the most part, are still
deeply superstitious and, in a way, quite nominalistic! The words you use
are considered important in effecting the result; that's not pragmatism;
that's superstition and suggests, if I may say, a lack of Thirdness!!!. The
colours you use, the sounds, the location of a house or window....all have
'power' to make things happen.
And another aspect - corruption. You don't get anything done in China
without that red envelope. That's not merely in the hospitals - and in this
communist socialist nation you pay for your medical care - but to get a
bureaucratic result - a form, a registration, a visa, a...you must take the
Boss Man out to dinner and hand over that red envelope. Corruption can't be
redefined as pragmatism.
Edwina
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jon Awbrey" <[email protected]>
To: "Phyllis Chiasson" <[email protected]>
Cc: "peirce-l@list iupui. edu" <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 09, 2014 8:00 AM
Subject: [PEIRCE-L] Re: NYTimes : From China, With Pragmatism
Yes, thankfully few of them saved me from total despair.
Jon
http://inquiryintoinquiry.com
On Jun 9, 2014, at 1:05 AM, Phyllis Chiasson <[email protected]> wrote:
Did you read the comments following the piece?
Jon Awbrey <[email protected]> wrote:
good grief, what tripe ...
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