[MD] Philosophy as Biography

[X Acto]

Hey Steve,

Phaedrus to Lila:
"I've just had feelings that maybe the ultimate truth about the world 
isn't history or sociology but biography."

Steve said:
A statement that I always found curious is RMP's one to Bagini about 
the originality of the MOQ. He said that his philosophy is unique 
because it starts with a practical question about quality in rhetoric or 
something like that. When I read that I remember thinking, Why is 
THAT important??? Why should we care about the story behind the 
ideas rather than just the ideas?

Ron:
Because the story is the idea.
The practical question about quality in rhetoric is the focus of several of Plato's
Socratic dialogs. "Phaedrus" and "Protagoras" particularly deal with the appearence
of the good and the true in rhetoric and what makes the best persuasive arguements.
And the reason why THAT is important is because it influences our beliefs the distinction
being made in the empirical/rational debate. 
Placing the emphasis on the story behind the ideas helps us to better conceptualize
the context thereby elevating the meaning and clarity of an idea, it helps us to "know"
it better. Once we understand the story of our own ideas we understand our
reasons why we value them. We begin to ask what makes one rhetorical arguement
better than another what makes one "more true".
The wise seek what is more true(what is best) in experience and the way to discern that 
in a rhetorical arguement is subjecting that arguement to philosophical inquirey. To "know"
it better. 
 
..