[MD] Proud to be a Brit / Pommie

[Ham Priday]

Hi Platt, Ian --


Now we're passing moral judgments on social systems and approaches to 
knowledge.  This dialogue reminds me of Tonto talking to the Lone Ranger: 
"Me bad, you good, Kimosabe".

[Ian says]:
> So you agree Platt.
>
> Nazism - bad (latest news, hold the front page)
> National socialism bad.  Yes.
> Capitalism (any ism with a Kapital letter) - bad
> (Ideology bad)

[Platt responds]:
> Ideology not bad. Science is an ideology. MOQ is an ideology.
>
> Pragmatism - Not OK.  Subordinates intellect (truth) to social value.

Ideology is "a systematic body of concepts about human life or culture." 
How can anyone say that Ideology is either good or bad without identifying 
or defining it?  Surely Nazism was an ideology, just as Marxist Communism, 
Islamism, Socialism, and free-market Capitalism are ideologies.

What is "not OK" about pragamatism?  It's the basis of technological 
development, medical treatment, legal systems, moral codes, national defense 
strategies, and marketing campaigns, among other productive human efforts. 
Isn't it "true" that something known to work effectively in solving a 
problem is a better solution than something that is not?

Such blanket labeling of methods and systems out of context as "good" or 
"bad" seems simplistic to me.  If this is what Pirsig meant by subordinating 
social value to intellectual value, it's no wonder that his concept of 
morality is not understood.

--Ham