From: Platt Holden (pholden@sc.rr.com)
Date: Sun Jul 31 2005 - 13:44:58 BST
Hi Erin,
Thanks for reminding us of Pirsig's embrace of the individual. As you
know, the individual has been preeminent with me from the get go. That
individualism is under attack by those who think society's values are
equal to the individual' s I find deeply disturbing because of the threat
of such thinking to freedom and evolution. Pirsig's celebration of the
individual contrarian is no joke. Evolution depends on the guy out of step
with his peers.
Platt
> I wasn't sure what thread I wanted to add this to ....it seems to parallel
> a few of the threads (e.g.call for involvement in political discussions;
> role of individual) going on but think I will stick it in here.
>
> pg. 304 ZMM
>
> "I think that ti f we are going to reform the world, and make it a better
> place to live in, thw ay to do it is not with talk about relationships of a
> political nature, which are inevitablly dualistic, full of subjects and
> objects and their relationship to one another; or with programs full of
> things for other people to do. I think that kind of approach starts it at
> the end and presumes the end is the beginning. Programs of a political
> nature are important end products of social quality that can be effective
> only if the underlying structure of social values is right. The social
> values are right only if the individual values are right. The place to
> improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands, and then
> work outward from there. Other people can talk about how to expand the
> destiny of mankind. I just want to talk about how to fix a motorcycle. I
> think that what I have to say has more lasting value."
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