[MD] A Place for the Principled Person

[Platt Holden]

> Platt commented July 2nd:
> 
> >[Ant] then goes on to mention specific individuals who
> >meet this high standard, Charlie Chaplin, da Vinci, as opposed to
> >“charlatans who go around saying they are ‘artists.’” Also I would like
> >to know the criteria for distinguishing a legitimate artist from a
> >charlatan.)
> 
> Ant McWatt answered July 2nd:
> 
> >The short personal answer: does the “artist” represent some form of the
> >Godhead in their work (if using the narrow sense of artist)/life (broad
> >sense of artist)?  If the answer is no, then, strictly speaking, they
> >are a charlatan.  The long answer is found in my MOQ Textbook which
> >attempts to answer this issue in more detail.

> Platt wondered:
> 
> I wonder if my watercolors would qualify. :-)
> 
> Ant McWatt comments:
> 
> Send one over if you dare and I’ll let you know.  Anything taken from
> nature (such as a seascape) would be preferred.

Somehow I doubt if you qualify as a judge of whether the "Godhead" 
(whatever that is) is in my art, especially if you view it through a 
haze of a psychedelic trip or even after downing a few vodka and 
tonics.

> Ant McWatt comments:
> 
> No, nowadays I lead an international commune of hippies with DMB, Horse
> and Gav involved in as many love-ins and psychedelic music festivals as
> we can manage.  You’re lucky to ever hear from me (or them).

Why am I not surprised?

> Ant comments:
> 
> Yes.  History is full of high quality artists and intellectuals whose
> social skills were virtually non-existent.

In speaking of a principled person I'm not talking about social skills 
and you know it. Show me a dishonest scientist who fakes his data or an 
artist who lacks craftsmanship and I'll show you two charlatans.

Ant finally resorts to:

> However, your immoral “individual level” proposal does
> precisely that, revealing your allegiance with what Pirsig describes as
> “ultra-right-wingers and ignorant uneducated people like that”.

> Enough said!

Your leading an international commune of hippies (assuming you're not 
kidding) reveals your allegiance with a movement that, as Pirsig says, 
"undermined both static and intellectual patterns."

Take that!

Best regards, 
Platt