[MD] The Quest for Quality

[MarshaV]

At 04:20 AM 9/17/2008, you wrote:

>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.
>

Ham, maybe I wasn't clear enough.  I asked you to watch Mindwalk and 
listen to the physicists perspective.  - Marsha





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Shoot for the moon.  Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.........
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