Hey all,
This is for all those "there are no absolutes" fans out there (especially
my friend Rick) .....
Pirsig makes the following ABSOLUTE assertion, without any
qualifications whatsoever. Note his double use of the word "always"
which means every time, without exception, forever and ever, unto
infinity and beyond, world without end, no ifs, ands, or buts, no
loopholes for lawyers to exploit: (-:
"But scientific truth has ALWAYS contained an overwhelming difference
from theological truth. It is provisional. Science ALWAYS contains an
eraser . . ." (emphasis added)
Yes, science is ABSOLUTELY provisional. Pirsig admits of NO
exceptions.
RICK:
> Does anybody still care to argue that Pirsig supports absolute truth???
>
> Anybody?
Of course he supports absolute truth. He just stated an absolute truth--
that scientific truth is provisional. But if you intend to imply that he
supports science, you're wrong:
"But having said this, the Metaphysics of Quality goes on to say that
science, the intellectual pattern that has been appointed to take over
society, has a defect in it. The defect is that subject-object science has
no provision for morals." (Chap. 22)
Want more Pirsig absolute truths? Here is just a sampling:
"Cars rolling over a bridge in the distance sounded clearly through the
cold night air."
"The cold deck on his bare feet really woke him up."
"After Phaedrus left Boseman he saw Dusenberry just twice."
"Dusenberry was born in Bozeman and had graduated from college
there."
Absolutes abound throughout Pirsig's works. As in life. They are
absolutely unavoidable.
Even lawyers admit to absolute truths, such as the existence of state
bar exams. (-:
Platt
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