[MD] subject / object logic

[david buchanan]

ian glendinning asked:
Do you see the Granger (Dewey & Pirsig ....) book as part of that US 
Pragamatist mainstream ?

dmb says:
I wouldn't know. Arlo is probably the guy to ask. I think his posts are my 
only encounter with Granger. Given that the title includes the names of two 
of my favorite pragmatist, my guess would be yes.

ian asked:
There is a certain irony in Pirsig's recent remark about the relative 
qualities of British and American philosopical thought, no?

dmb says:
Irony? If you're saying that it is an interesting contradiction, I'd 
disagree on both counts. The classic american pragmatists were working a 
hundred years ago and can't really be compared to today's British 
philosophers. I don't know if its fair to say that the american scene has 
declined since the days of Dewey and James or how much agreement there is 
about the case David Hildebrand makes, but his book BEYOND REALISM AND 
ANTI-REALISM: John Dewey and the Neopragmatists basically says that today's 
leading lights, namely Hilary Putnam and Richard Rorty, were engaged in a 
debate that the classical pragmatists would not have entertained. Hildebrand 
says these contemporary neopragmatists are kicking dead horses, so to speak.

Plus, when one is talking to the British press its only smart to flatter the 
Brits. Or maybe the comment was a thinly veiled compliment to Anthony 
McWatt, who has got to be one of Pirsig's favorite Brits.

I wonder if national pride motives your question. I mean, generally the 
philosophical world is divided between Anglo-Americans and everybody else. 
There are plenty of exceptions, but we english-speaking people are mostly on 
the same team. And then when one considers the East/West fusion of the 
system this particular discussion group has going, the question seems even 
less important.

Let's just agree to hate the French, okay?

Just kidding.

But the Germans really do suck and this time I mean it.

Just kidding.

Its the Canadians you really gotta watch. I've got my eye on you, Rebbeca.

Thanks,
dmb

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