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To: ggekko
There is an objective standard by which to measure the actions of political actors.

Right. The Koran. So the Islamists say, when asked what objective standards should be used to measure the actions of political actors.

To deny this is to embrace sophmoric anti-nomianism.

LOL. See how easy that was? Just label me irrational for pointing out that claims such as yours are advanced by every party, and then you can rationalize ignoring the truth.

That he would adopt such a quixotic goal in an era of instant, cheap communication outlets almost all of which are controlled by Western media companies is a testimony to the depth of the man's delusion.

Better tell the Chinese - they're doing a bang-up job of controlling the flow of media. Or am I an irrational cultural relativist for pointing out that others are successfully carrying off what you claim is an impossible goal?

In case of Western civilization there is one important distinction: it happens to be true.

So you assert, anyway, along with everyone else who makes such claims. Really, if it's true, it ought to be easy enough for you to show it, rather than repeatedly coming up with new and clever ways to assert its self-evidence.

58 posted on 03/20/2003 5:35:33 AM PST by general_re (Non serviam.)
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To: general_re
"To deny this is to embrace sophmoric anti-nomianism.

LOL. See how easy that was? Just label me irrational for pointing out that claims such as yours are advanced by every party, and then you can rationalize ignoring the truth..."

I see you didn't bother denying that you are mired in sophmoric anti-nomianism. I think there is still a spot open at the Renaissance fair in Aspen where you might find it enjoyable to while away the hours with Susan Sontag, Jaques Derrida, and Bill Clinton debating what the meaning of "is" is.

Juding from your other posts I would hazard to guess that you are not really a true anti-nomian but your position about the subjectivity language is indistinguishable from the French structuralists and German existentialists. I wouldn't care to be on the same side of this debate with Martin Heidegger.

"Better tell the Chinese - they're doing a bang-up job of controlling the flow of media..."

The Chinese have done a better job controlling their media but even they are having serious problems controlling the Internet and sattellite television with pirate sites popping up all around the coastal region of China. What would you rather watch: China State Television or HBO?

"So you assert, anyway, along with everyone else who makes such claims..."

I agree; everyone and every culture thinks they are right but that begs the question. The distinction between mere gratuitous assertion and historical truth are the objective correlates one can adduce for one's assertion. There a number of people in insane asylums who believe that they are Napoleon Bonaparte or Charlemagne; they can offer no objective evidence to support this belief.

On broader level this same criteria apply to cultures and nations. Islamic intellectuals have invented a fantasy verion of Islamic history that attributes to Islam accomplishments and advances that were actually invented in other cultures. The acceptance of this alternate version of history in most Islamic countries has infantalized the entire political culture in Middle East. To believe in such a "noble lie" is self-destructive and irrational in that it causes one to ignore or misinterpret the facts of reality.
68 posted on 03/20/2003 2:43:45 PM PST by ggekko
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