Subject/Objective Reality/Illusion

[David Morris]

Here's a stupid PoMo question:  Is James's model of "meaning" a cornerstone 
(built on marzipan) of PostModern "reality?"

The "objective" world is limited by the revelations it bestows on its 
Prophets.  God must stoop down and wisper into any ear that is open, in 
whatever is its language.  Ultimately, the Prophet and the God become 
confused, merged.  "God" in this usage being synonomous with "objective."

>From: Terrance <lycidas2 at earthlink.net>
>This is an example of the Subjective or Sophistic ("[Each] Man is the 
>measure of all things.") Perspective
>
>On a Certain Blindness in Human Beings
>By William James
>And now what is the result of all these considerations and quotations? It 
>is negative in one sense, but positive in another. It absolutely forbids us 
>to be forward in pronouncing on the meaninglessness of forms of existence 
>**other than our own;** and it commands us to tolerate, respect, and 
>indulge those whom we see harmlessly interested and happy in their own 
>ways, however unintelligible these may be to us. Hands off: neither the 
>whole of truth nor the whole of good is revealed to any single observer, 
>although **each observer** gains a partial superiority of insight from the 
>**peculiar position in which he stands.** Even prisons and sick-rooms have 
>their special revelations. It is enough to ask of **each** of us that he 
>should be **faithful to his own** opportunities and make the most of his 
>own blessings, without presuming to regulate  the rest of the vast field.

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