[A-List] substance and rationality

[Sabri Oncu <soncu@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Robert wrote:

> Sabri
> I take no pleasure in spoiling James' day
> by criticising Plato. However, what I said
> was all true, and very mild compared with
> what I could have justifiably said.  I certainly
> advise all to read up on Plato.  He has been
> at the root of most authoritarian elitist
> ideologies in Europe for the last 2,500 years,
> and in my view vital reading if anyone is to
> understand 20th century ideological conflicts.
> I would recommend Popper (Open Society), also
> Russell (History of Western Philosophy) as critics.
> For an honest supporter of Platonism,
> maybe Collingwood (New Leviathan)

Daer Robert,

The other day I received a very emotional e-mail from a very old
and close friend who was congratulating me for a recent decision
I made. A very honest and sincere e-mail it was. He was thinking
to take similar steps and in congratulating me, possibly
subconsciously, congratulating himself too. I replied to him with
a few lines with the intention of encouraging him in what he was
planning to do. What I got back was a clear indication that I
offended him. He thanked me for my guidance in such a way that
his perception of my attitude was one of
"I-know-it-better-than-thou". He was right because this was
exactly what I felt when I wrote to him, by the way.

Look. I don't hold it against you because you don't know anything
about Fritz John, Wendell Fleming, Constantin Dafermos, Walter
Noll and the like, and what they wrote. Possibly you have never
read Maxwell or Carnot in the original, although I wouldn't be
surprised if you did. Anyone who knows Louis Proyect, personally
or virtually, knows that he reads like crazy at the library of
University of Columbia but what percentage of the books in that
library he can possibly read in your opinion.

So, let me finish with the translation of the openning sentence
of my friend's e-mail:

"I thank you very much for your guidance, nice words and
encouragement."

Best,

Sabri

P.S: I never thought that you spoiled James' day.