Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 12:10:16 -0500
From: "Mary Ellen Pull"
To: "Dayna Delval" , "Kevin Brooks" , lynne.devitt@noridian.com, lynne_devitt@ndsu.nodak.edu Subject:
Re: Chapter 7

Hello again,

I wrote my reaction before reading anyone else's, so now I can respond.

I understand your confusion about relativism, Dayna, and I commented on it in my first response, too. I think it is impossible to be a "pure" relativist.

I believe that some issues demand a yes or no response, but others leave room for indecision. For example, we have to make everyday decisions in order to function in society; we decide to get up in the morning, and we decide what to wear so we don't get fired or arrested for indecent exposure, what to eat so we stay healthy, and which roads we take to work so we are not late. We need to decide if, when, and who to marry (even if you are polygamous). We also need to decide important moral and spiritual matters because they influence our daily choices. We need to vote in elections, choosing between candidates who, technically, espouse contrasting philosophies.

Other issues are less demanding: does it really matter in the scope of eternity or in our daily lives if Moby Dick is the best American novel? In 500 years, who will care if we chose the literature or composition track for our MA? Acknowledging various interpretations of Shakespeare will not affect my health or impact my soul, but choosing a particular lifestyle, church denomination, or belief system to pattern my life after may.

Thus, in important, eternal matters, I am not a relativist. I believe that some issues demand acceptance or rejection. I feel we either jump off of the fence willingly, or we will be pushed off eventually. I hope my conservativism is not offensive-- I don't mean to step on any relativist toes. I simply do not have peace if I do not believe in right and wrong. Just as I believe that a painter only paints one masterpiece and others can only imitate it, so do I believe that only one explanation exists for human existence on this planet.

Yeesh--I didn't mean to preach a sermon! Who wants to deconstruct my argument?

MP

Next-->