Gary and y'all:
Gary said:
The map Pirsig gives us in Lila is not a map of the evolution of all
matter and life in the universe. The map in Lila is not answering how we
come to know and acquire knowledge about reality. The map in Lila is not
about the interaction of matter and energy from the fields of chemistry,
biology, ecological science, etc. If that was Pirsig's focus he would have
made a different map! At least that is what I am suggesting.
DMB says:
I think the emphasis is put upon the 3rd and 4th levels (and on DQ) simply
because the material realms are already well understood and they're already
over-emphasized in SOM. But there is no contradiction and his map is still
exhaustive. But it is about the evolution of all life and matter in the
universe. It is about all of reality in spite of the fact that he spends
less time and energy on physics and such. He just glossing over the obvious
stuff.
Gary:
Now, maybe he didn't realize that the map he made in Lila was to be used
solely for ethical discussions and was not meant to be used in other
considerations. Perhaps this was not a conscious act by Pirsig. Or perhaps
it was.
DMB says:
Yes, he focuses on morals, ethics, rightness, betterness, truth and such.
They're all just different species of the good. He puts this kind of stuff
at the center of all reality so that even atoms and galaxies have a
rightness. They exist because its better than nothingness. The whole thing
is about better and better betterness from the big bang onward. Everything
has quality, but the morals and ethics enter into it right away because some
things are better than others. Rigel was better than Lila, but the Captain
was better than Rigel. Its all about sorting the world and making
judgements. Not just life, but everything is an ethical activity. It a
vastly expanded sense of what ethics is all about.
Gary:
Which leaves up free to make up a new map when we are considering something
other than ethics.
DMB says:
Make up a new map? Hmm. Either you're a ambitious genius or you're about to
get very lost. Good luck.
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