[MD] Dynamic Development at all costs?

[pholden at davtv.com]

Quoting Krimel <Krimel at Krimel.com>:

> > [Krimel]
> > A side note on the issue of fair and balanced. Just because there are
> > differing opinions does not mean they deserve equal time. If we are 
> > studying race relations for example how much time should be spent on 
> > skinheads? If we are studying astronomy how much time should be devoted to
> 
> > the Ptolemaic system? If we are studying biology how much time should be 
> > spent on creationism? Certainly we would want to spend some time on 
> > oddball views and historic oddities but giving them equal time is a bit 
> > like saying we should break out the scales and weight gold against 
> > bullshit. We might have equal weight but no amount of thumbing scales will
> 
> produce equal value.
> 
> [Platt]
> Who is to judge what is gold and what is bull? 
> 
> [Krimel]
> You have made it abundantly clear which you prefer.

In your opinion which, thankfully, is not the last word. 

> [Platt]
> Not an intellectual elite one would hope. 
> 
> [Krimel]
> What 'intellectual elite'? If it is elite; it is because access is
> restricted through lack of public investment in human capital.

You mean the U.S. doesn't spend enough on education? Where have we heard
that before? "Throw money at the problem." Wow. High intellect at work. 

> That sad fact
> aside, the intelligentsia is a meritocracy if ever there was one. The
> problem is that merit is judged by reasoned arguments not by volume and
> repetition, which does tend to but the ideas you favor at a disadvantage.

But that's precisely the problem. The intelligentsia rule by volume and
repetition because they all speak from the same script. As social critic
Michael Barone wrote recently, "America's colleges and universities have
become, and have been for some decades, the most closed-minded and intellectually
dishonest institutions in our society."  

> [Platt]
> Pirsig eloquently squashes that notion. 
> 
> [Krimel]
> At best Pirsig argues against certain ideas but since he presents
> intellectual arguments it is hard to see how he is against the whole system.

It's not the system that's the problem. 

> In any case it would be interesting to here you speak for yourself instead
> of dragging Pirsig's name through the mud.

This site is about Pirsig's ideas in case you haven't noticed. It is not
just a platform for your materialist/reductionist views.  




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