[MD] subject/object: pragmatism

[ian glendinning]

Hi DMB (and Matt et al)

You said DMB
a Rortyized version takes the metaphysics and the quality out of the
metaphysics of quality.

That made me smile again. Despite all the pejorative stuff about
hacking and amputation - I get the feeling this catchphrase of yours
is a good summing up. I don't think Rorty (or Matt ?) would disagree
with you about "taking out the metaphysics". As to what "quality" that
leaves, I suspect that remains a pragmatic question about whether the
adjective "pure" really adds any (practical) clarity to experience,
given that the core quality of experience remains essentially
"indefinable". ie having removed the metaphysics, the remaining
difficulties making distinctions are largely linguistic. Pragmatically
your differences seem minimal, other than the (not so minor) matter of
abandoning the metaphysical aspect.

And you conlcuded
But its clearer to me now and comforting to know that our little
debate reflects a larger debate among professionals. I like to think
it's evidence that we haven't been wasting time. Not all of it,
anyway.

No doubt about that.
(Looks like I really will have to get that Alexander reference.)
Ian