LS The Metaphysics of Quality.


clark (clark@netsites.net)
Sun, 4 Jan 1998 10:19:58 +0100


Diana and LS,
  This suggestion has been abstracted directly from the M meets E paper.
Maybe there will be a bit from here that will fit into the final version. I
will depend on the squad to educate my daughter and fill her full of
wisdom. Ken

                                        THE METAPHYSICS OF QUALITY

  While teaching in the English department at Montana State College in
Bozeman, Montana Robert Pirsig became troubled by the knowledge that
although he was under contract to teach quality neither he, nor anyone
else, was able to define it. The search for that definition eventually
resulted in a proposed philosophical system which he called "THE
METAPHYSICS OF QUALITY".
  The Metaphysics of Quality introduces a new philosophical concept which
solves the problems associated with our previous view of ourselves, the
world, and the way that we perceive reality.
  The Metaphysics of Quality holds that morals and values, as they relate
to the evolution of the universe in all of its ramifications, are the
fundamental ground stuff of the world. In this view the operation of the
Metaphysics of Quality has resulted in the evolution of the current state
of the Universe and the World and is an ethical activity upon which all
right and wrong can be based.
  To arrive at this position he postulates two levels of Quality, Dynamic
and Static, which together interpret reality for four static patterns of
value which he designates Inorganic, Biological, Social, and Intellectual.
  In the Metaphysics of Quality, Dynamic Quality is an event that operates
in each individuals sea of awareness which, before consciousness
intervenes, selects those aspects of the sea of awareness of which we
become conscious. Dynamic Quality is not a part of either subject or
object, rather, it is the point at which subject and object meet and is the
event which brings subjects and objects into being. Dynamic Quality is
influenced by our previous static understanding of reality. Thus, the
perception of reality will be different for each individual. There will be
as many reality truths as there are individuals.
  Those events which are selected to enter our consciousness by Dynamic
Quality will be latched into our consciousness by the Static Quality of the
four levels of value and will become a part of our ongoing concept of
reality. Reality for each individual will thus be constantly expanding. A
diagrammatic representation of the Metaphysics of Quality is presented
below.

.........................................DYNAMIC
QUALITY...........................................................
|
-----------------------------------------------------
                      |
| | Intellect
    | < Subjective S Q | |
               -----------------------------------------------------
Static T U |
                                                            |
              | Social Patterns |
Patterns A A |
|
-----------------------------------------------------
 T L |
|
----------------------------------------------------
 I I |
| | Biological Patterns
| Objective C T |
|
----------------------------------------------------- < Static
    Y |
      | | Inorganic Patterns
     | Patterns |
|
----------------------------------------------------
                      |
............................................................................
....................................................
  Dynamic Quality encompasses all of the area inside and outside of all of
the frames. Everything you see here is embedded in Dynamic Quality.
  The Static Patterns of Value represented by the Inorganic, Biological,
Social and Intellectual blocks are presented in the order that evolution
occurred, with the Inorganic level being the lowest and Intellectual level
being the highest. Their functions are as follows:
                       1. Inorganic Patterns - Matter
                       2. Biological Patterns - Touch, Sight, Hearing,
Smell, Taste, etc.
                       3. Social Patterns - Family, Church, Government,
etc.
                       4. Intellectual Patterns - Science, Philosophy,
Math, Theology, etc.
  Notice that the four Static Patterns of Value are separated by two larger
blocks, one of which
contains the Inorganic and Biological levels, and the other contains the
Social and Intellectual levels. The Inorganic and Biological block
represents the objective level and the Social and Intellectual level
represents the subjective level. A newborn child first becomes aware of
reality at the Inorganic level and broadens its awareness of reality as it
matures.
  Each level of Static Value is supported by the ones below it and cannot
do without those levels. Higher Patterns of Value often oppose lower
levels. Aspects of lower levels of Value are necessarily opposed by higher
levels, thus, the Biological level opposes gravitation and entropy for
instance. The Social level opposes the lust and greed of the biological
level. Intellectual values of truth and free will often oppose Social
Values of government and culture.
  The Metaphysics of Quality holds that it is morally correct for a higher
level of value to override a lower level. As we progress up the chain of
evolution, the level of ethics and morals progresses accordingly.
Scientific intellectual activity properly rejects lower patterns of value
in order to set free its own higher intellectual pattern of science.
  The Metaphysics of Quality also dispenses with causation. It holds that
it is more correct to say that B values precondition A than it is to say
that A causes B. 'Cause' implies absolute certainty which does not exist
under Quantum Theory.
  We can say that the Static Patterns of Value define a set of
probabilities, Static Patterns of Value can also be thought of as Patterns
of Probability in which the tendency for a Quality Event to occur has a
kind of reality even before the event. The patterns of probabilities at
the three higher levels of Value, after the origin of life, oppose the
patterns of probability of the Inorganic Level. Entropy must be interrupted
in its flow toward complete randomness for life to occur.
  A careful consideration of the Metaphysics of Quality will show that it
provides a philosophical construct that satisfies all of our questions
concerning the nature of reality and our place in the universe in which we
are embedded. It also provides a firm basis for our understanding of Morals
and Ethics and gives us an unambiguous way to communicate this
understanding to others.

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