[MD] The Relativist's journey

[david buchanan]

> DmB:
> The pragmatic truth is wedge and controlled by two main elements, the conceptual order and the empirical flux. In other words, it has to fit with standards like coherence and logically consistency and it has to agree with actual experience. This is meant to prevent people from getting away with murder so much as it is designed keep us honest and otherwise screen out the bullshit.
>  
> Ron:
> And man, people do hate to be kept coherent, logically consistant and honost. Fuck pragmatic truth.
>  
> good ole comfortable bullshit..why would anyone want anything else?



dmb says:

Yea, actually that's how I like to think of the pragmatic theory of truth. It's just enough of what we need. We don't need the absolute truth or the eternal truth or anything so fancy as that. We need just enough truth to be able to push back against ordinary nonsense, lies, and bullshit. We need just enough truth to expose self-serving ego crap and propaganda as such. We need just enough truth to protect the scientific process and intellectual progress and to put killers in cages. In all kind of human ways, we really do need to "get it right". I think the relativist finds himself powerless and paralyzed with respect to these responsibilities, as if we just can't handle these matters without skyhooks or divine sanctions. 

The relativist is like the party-monster who drank way too much Plato last night and swears, with shaky hands and bloodshot eyes, that he'll never touch another drop of philosophy again. (All or nothing types of options always smell phony, don't they? I guess reformed fanatics just end up being fanatical about their reforms.) Why can't I have just a glass or two of Pirsig? Why should I give up this delicious and healthful drink just because he got stinking drunk and made an ass of himself again? Would it be cruel if I asked him to pick up a bottle of red for me on his way home from his alcoholics anonymous meeting? I hope he gets me a Pinot Noir and I hope he doesn't keep a corkscrew in his car.