amra@ihuxj.UUCP (Steven L. Aldrich) (02/29/84)
I would like to pose a question and see what others feel
the possible answers are.
The question is as follows:
Are all paths equal if they lead to the same destination?
If you have any input on this matter please post to the news
group (net.philosophy) or send me mail at IHNP4!IHUXJ!AMRA.
I am greatful for all replies I recieve, although I don't
always have enough time to answer all of them. Be assured
that I DO READ everything sent to me. I wish to thank everyone
who has sent me mail in the past also. I appreciate your time
and effort spent in composing a reply to my various postings.
PEACE & BEST WISHES
From the ever curious mind of:
Steve Aldrich (ihnp4!ihuxj!amra)
"Ya, we're playing those mind games forever.." J. Lennonalle@ihuxb.UUCP (Allen England) (02/29/84)
Seems like this is a superset of the statement "The ends justify the means." I am sure that some philosophies teach this, but I certainly wouldn't buy into it. Allen England at AT&T Bell Laboratories, Naperville, IL ihnp4!ihuxb!alle
unbent@ecsvax.UUCP (03/01/84)
The commonsensical answer is: No. Some paths are longer than others. Evidently something else (something "deeper"?) was intended. How about a clue for us poor, literal-minded philosophers as to what it was. --Jay Rosenberg (...mcnc!ecsvax!unbent)
awex@wxlvax.UUCP (Alan Wexelblat) (03/05/84)
The answer, quite simply is "NO." Why? Now, that's a bit tougher. You see, it has to do with this Zen koan, which is notoriously hard to explain: "To re-cross is not to cross again." In essence, every action is unique, and it has a unique effect on the actor. Therefore, even though I may arrive at the same destination by two paths, it is not the same ME who arrives. Each me has had different experiences, and is thereby altered. Therefore, the paths (though they end up in the same place) are different by virtue of their different 'side-effects.' In some crude way, one could say that "2+2" and "1+3" are different paths to arrive at the destination "4." But one is not tempted to say they are the same path! --Alan Wexelblat (Koyaanisqatsi) ...decvax!ittvax!wlxvax!awex