[MD] humpty dumpty

[MarshaV]

Hi Arlo,

My interest in pragmatism doesn't go past  thinking that knowledge (static patterns of value) exists only as a tool to be used, and the test of a concept's conventional truthfulness is its practical consequences.  Sorry, I didn't mean to mislead you.  Actually, you didn't really reply, but tossed me an article; I tossed one back.  I do, though, thank you for your interest.  


Marsha 






On Jul 27, 2012, at 7:17 AM, ARLO JAMES BENSINGER JR wrote:

> [Marsha]
> These statements make no sense to me.  I am not so _uncomfortable_ with doubt...
> 
> [Arlo]
> This parallels precisely the same point made in ZMM.
> 
> ""It's an unconventional concept," I say, "but conventional reason bears it out. The material object of observation, the bicycle or rotisserie, can't be right or wrong. Molecules are molecules. They don't have any ethical codes to follow except those people give them. The test of the machine is the satisfaction it gives you. There isn't any other test. If the machine produces tranquillity it's right. If it disturbs you it's wrong until either the machine or your mind is changed. The test of the machine's always your own mind. There isn't any other test."
> 
> DeWeese asks, "What if the machine is wrong and I feel peaceful about it?"
> 
> I reply, "That's self-contradictory. If you really don't care you aren't going to know it's wrong. The thought'll never occur to you. The act of pronouncing it wrong's a form of caring." (ZMM)
> 
> 
> [Marsha]
> and I don't see that inquiry maps to the MoQ.  I just don't see it.
> 
> [Arlo]
> I thought that was the more obvious part of the mapping.
> 
> [Marsha]
> I did, though, find the method of authority quite distasteful and all too familiar.  
> 
> [Arlo]
> To be fair, there are thousands of things we "believe" based on trusted authority. I've never been to the moon, or New Zealand, I've never measure the distance between the planets nor the eating habits of sea anemones. When I open a bottle of Malbec, I don't run an analysis to make sure it is specifically and only what it says on the bottle. But, the point is, when something "disturbs" the peacefulness of these beliefs, when they become "wrong", the movement towards "peaceful" can go through these various paths.
> 
> [Marsha]
> Perhaps if you read this paper by Jonah Winters addressing Nagarjuna's Mulamadhyamakakarika you'll find a different way of considering 'beliefs'.    
> http://bahai-library.com/winters_nagarjuna 
> 
> [Arlo]
> I've read it. But if you had an end already determined, what was the point of asking a question?
> 
> Moq_Discuss mailing list
> Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc.
> http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org
> Archives:
> http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/
> http://moq.org/md/archives.html


 
___