From: SQUONKSTAIL@aol.com
Date: Wed Jun 11 2003 - 13:39:14 BST
Hi Johnny,
I am a newcomer to the forum, but I have been into Pirsig for a couple of
years. At the risk of going against the whole group, I was always under
the impression that ideas are static and reality is dynamic. I view ideas
as static intellectual patterns used to explain the dynamic reality.
Ideas can be thought of as snapshots of the flowing reality. They only
reflect the reality (to some degree) the instant they capture it. But the
snapshot is stale soon afterwards. I don't think this is a descrepency at
all.
I have not read James to know what he meant when he used the word
'reality'. Perhaps someone with a copy of James' original work can clear
this doubt.
Hi Pi,
Pirsig quotes James:
"There must always be a discrepancy between concepts (static ideas, maps of
reality, symbols, patterns) and reality (immediate dynamic flux), because the
former (concepts) are static and discontinuous, and the latter (reality) is
dynamic and flowing." lila p 365
Pirsig then notes that James used the SAME WORDS that he does! Hey that's
great, but look at what James said: the reality is dynamic, and the concepts
(ideas) are static.
sq: There is no difference except in Johnny's enthusiastic determination not
to see the wood for the trees.
How could Pirsig ignore that he is using them in the
OPPOSITE sense of what the MoQ does?
sq: Perhaps the real question should be, 'How can Johnny ignore these terms
correspond with each other well?' Here is the answer...
As this forum is nearly unamimous in
saying that ideas are dynamic, while the patterns that constitute the real,
felt existence of the present are static, I am sure someone here can explain
this discrepancy.
sq: No one, other than the mislead, suggests ideas are dynamic. Ideas are
static patterns that exist in a relationship with Dynamic Quality. I think our
understanding corresponds well also Pi?
squonk
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