[MD] The Quest for Quality

[Ham Priday]

Dear Marsha --

It appears that I've roused your ire.  I'm sorry if my comments were
offensive, but you've made some assumptions that are simply not true.

> Temerity?  What religion and philosophy have done has been
> unbelievably egotistical and arrogant.  Why not leave it a mystery??? Why 
> not let it unfold before you in all its many aspects?  No need
> to worship.  Just appreciate and the rest will follow.  We are a part
> of this, not separate.  Can you really look at the way the wrong
> point-of-view has botched things and still ignore the stupidity? There 
> must be balance!!!  Instead of spending every moment afraid of "death", 
> why not appreciate the life before you? You suggest that RMP has 
> arrogance?  It is you that have
> been and still are arrogant.

What is your basis for stating that religion and philosophy have been
"unbelievably egotistical and arrogant"?  This sounds hypocritical to me.
We all search for truth by whatever means we can, and some of us come up 
with hypotheses that may seem unconvincing or flights of fancy.  Others
follow the traditions of their faith or belief system.  But is the mantra of
the Hindu or the reciting of the Rosary egotistical?  Is Cartesian duality
or Kant's Categorical Imperative arrogant?

 "Why not leave it a mystery?" you ask.  Well, as a philosopher, I take
 pleasure in the challenge of solving the enigma of existence and sharing my
 concepts with others.  I suspect you do too, or you wouldn't be 
contributing to this forum.  Do you not also appreciate the ideas presented 
here?  Although spirituality is no longer "fashionable" in modern society, 
we all need to believe in something.  That's why mankind developed religion 
and mysticism and philosophy in the first place.

What do you consider "balance" in a philosophical point-of-view?   I don't
ridicule anyone's belief, regardless of how "stupid" or foolish it may seem
to me.  However, I won't hesitate to point out premises or assertions that
are self-contradictory or illogical, especially when they are proffered by
an accepted authority on the subject.

I may be arrogant, but nothing in my criticism of Pirsig's metaphysics
 suggested that he was, nor do I "spend every moment fearing death."  (What 
have I said that could possibly lead you to that conclusion?)

 Incidentally, I did watch 'Mindwalk' when it was mentioned here.  I found 
it a fascinating demonstration of dimensional relativism that showed the
limitations of human perspective.

 Cheers and peace,
 Ham