Re: virus: Re: Objects all in a row

Robin Faichney (robin@faichney.demon.co.uk)
Fri, 9 Oct 1998 19:20:23 +0100


In message <19981009112025.AAA21977@[205.240.180.170]>, Wade T.Smith
<wade_smith@harvard.edu> writes
>>So you have to be a materialist to use materials?
>>Try telling that to the cathedral builders!
>
>OK, I'll grant the definitional mobius/klein of 'objective world'- not
>that it matters a fetid pair of dingo's kidneys to the universe, 'cause
>it don't.

Well, nothing does, when you look at it that way,
does it?

>But- the material world matters a great deal to the cathedral builders.
[snip]

Obviously, the material world matters. But that's
not to say it's *all* that matters.

>In what way is elite use of materials not materialistic, and in what way
>is building such a lofty structure not materialism in its most blatant
>form?

Because the point of it being so impressive, and so
much effort being put towards a non-utilitarian goal,
was to glorify God, which is about as non-materialistic
as you can get.

>Yes, the use of materials is a subset of materialism- especially
>ornamentational use.

You have a unique take on materialism there, Wade.
I hope it brings you some comfort, because it
certainly won't help you communicate.

-- 
Robin