[MD] Platt's Individual Level

[Platt Holden]

Hi Steve:

> [Steve]
> I'm not doing any sort of separation. I'm saying that the 
> terms honesty and truth refer to two different aspects of
> the same individual. Truth is about whether an intellectual entity
> (an idea) is good to believe. Honesty is about whether a 
> particular social entity is good to believe.

>From Random House Dictionary: "HONEST: 7. truthful, credible" Honesty 
is a personal, individual mark of moral character, not a social 
convention or pattern, e.g.,. "To thine own self be true." 

> [Platt]
> In the same passage, Pirsig makes the point that anyone who calls 
> someone's idea stupid (WAQI) engages in a form of evil.
> 
> [Steve]
> Actually, Pirsig is using the same reasoning that I did in
> distinguishing honesty and truth when says that calling
> someone's idea stupid is a form of evil. An idea can't 
> literally be stupid, only a person can. So if I said, Platt,
> SOLWAQI is a stupid idea, I would be in effect saying that 
> that idea is something that only a stupid person would come 
> up with. SOLWAQI implies that only a crazy person would think
> such a thing. I agree that it is immoral to use such a term, but 
> I can live with it.

There is no way to separate ideas from individuals. As you pointed out, 
even Lila although she's intellectually nowhere, has ideas.

If you wish to "live with" evil, that's your choice.

Regards,
Platt


> 
> Regards,
> Steve
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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