Re: [FRIAM] Direct conversation

[Steve Smith]

Nicholas Thompson wrote: Russ, and Glen, and Steve, n all   Ironically, I am with Russ on this one!  I believe both in the possibility and the benefits of clarity.  I expected that when Russ and I were done, we would be able to agree on an articulation of our positions, where they are similar, where different, etc.  In fact, one of the skills I most revere is the ability to state another person's position to that person's satisfaction.  And, in fact, at one point, I thought I had achieved such an articulation, only to have Russ tell me I had got it wrong.   My guess is that Russ has his feet deeply in Kant, and I have neither boots nor courage high enough to go in there after him.  My son, who is a philosopher, has as good as looked me in the eye and said, "You aint man enough to read Kant!"   I studied Kant when I was too young and foolish to know better... but then I had been raised on folks like Ayn Rand and Robert Heinlein so Kant was no challenge.   Today I think I would find Kant a bit intimidating. I am curious about the implications of "one of the skills I most revere is the ability to state another person's position to that person's satisfaction".  It seems to have implications on the root discussion...   The two ways I can obtain a high degree of confidence that I am communicating with another is if I can articulate their position to their satisfaction and vice versa...    I prefer the former over the latter... in the sense that I am almost never satisfied in their articulation... at most I accept it with some reservations.   But if they can keep a straight face while I reel off my version of their understanding of a point, then I try hard not to think too hard about it and call it good.  How (if at all) does this fit into the 3rd/1st person discussion this all started with? - Steve

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