From: skutvik@online.no
Date: Wed Oct 08 2003 - 08:03:30 BST
Paul and All
3 Oct. You commented:
> I agree with Dan, this is a key point in Pirsig's thought - explained
> in detail in ZMM but not so much in Lila which concentrates on the
> application of the MOQ's evolutionary model to an interpretation of
> history. Personally, it was when I considered the relationship between
> idealism and the MOQ that Pirsig's ideas really hit home. I'm not sure
> how clearly I can explain my understanding but I'll give it a go.
Oxford's Advanced: "Idealism ...system of thought in which ideas
are believed to be the only real things of which we can know
anything." The opposite is realism or materialism and this is another
facet of the subject/object aggregate. Do we agree on that?
> I think the relationship between the MOQ and idealism is summed up in
> the statement Dan quoted from Lila's Child
> "The MOQ says that Quality comes first, which produces ideas, which
> produce what we know as matter. The scientific community that has
> produced Complementarity almost invariably presumes that matter comes
> first and produces ideas. However, as if to further the confusion, the
> MOQ says that the idea that matter comes first is a high quality
> idea!" [Lila's Child p.202]
In ZMM Phaedrus rejects BOTH idealism and materialism. The
method by which he tackles materialism is by showing that everything
is idealist (from the idealist/materialist premises that is). Then he
rejects idealism by showing that the idealist/materialist divide
collapses faced with QUALITY.
Thus the subjective side (ideas) is as invalid as the objective one and
this is why I am so disappointed by the said annotation. What has
"ideas" to do in a reality he has rid of the SOM? Why re-introduce the
very same idealism he had rejected in ZMM? Quality produces the
idea/non-idea aggregate ....as said in ZMM ..and that is a most
elegant solution.
The postulate of Quality coming first I fully accept, but within this
context the first static "product" is inorganic value ...and so on
upwards until - as ZMM argues - Quality creates the S/O aggregate
(subject and objects it says there) which - seen in the light of the
MOQ - becomes its intellectual level.
Finally - inside the intellectual reality (SOM) - Phaedrus conceives of
the Quality Idea ("idea" because intellect only recognises the
idea/non-idea dichotomy) but it grew too big for intellect and brought
P. outside the intellectual myth - into insanity.
This is the kernel of our difference so please stick to it.
Sincerely Bo
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