Hello Brad, Roger, and All,
BRAD:
As far as I can
tell it is the emotional system which allows us to perceive
what Pirsig calls
'the leading edge of the train' in ZMM and DQ in Lila.
MARK:
The emotions can often filter out reality. Lila's
experience walking through New York was I think primarily
emotional- she was attaching static patterns of value to
her environment as a result of her fear, insecurity, anger,
...
BRAD:
People with damage
to the limbic system (the emotion system) often show no
judgment at all.
Everything is of equal value to them and therefore
valueless.
MARK:
Would such a person get off Pirsig's hot stove any quicker
than a person with a
fully functioning limbic system?
BRAD:
The Zuni "trouble maker" Pirsig speaks of in Lila was just
following
his emotions,
and he turned out to be crucial in preserving a viable Zuni
community in the
midst of the 'great white tribe.'
MARK:
I'm not sure about this. Perhaps his existing environment
was in conflict with his own social or intellectual value
patterns- but I think Pirsig says that if you could have
asked him why he was rebelling he wouldn't have been able
to put his finger precisely on what he was following- some
vague sense of betterness.
ROG:
In the sense that RMP uses it at the beginning of Ch13
where he writes
'....that which is more dynamic, that is, at a higher level
of evolution, is
more moral.' (P 183 of the paperback.)
It seems we either need to show justification for this
statement (see my last
two posts from July), or accept that the entire metaphysics
and ethical
system is based on this anecdotally supported, emotive
comment. Or perhaps
someone can suggest another way out.........
MARK:
The 'way out' as I see it is by understanding 'morality' to
mean the pursuit of reality, rather than 'betterness'.
Pirsig's statement can then be taken to mean that by
following that which is at a higher level of evolution we
pursue reality. For example...
DAVE:
"...a population of snow hares might progressively evolve
[i.e. pursue reality] thicker fur if average winter
temperatures increase from year to year. [the reality]
That word 'moral' seems to be fighting to cling onto its
pre-MOQ meaning. I think Dave's Pirsig quote takes us
closer to understanding:
"In general, given a choice of two courses to follow and
all other
things being equal, that choice which is more Dynamic, that
is, at a
higher level of EVOLUTION, is more moral. [the pursuit of
reality]"
To say then that DQ is better than sq, would be like
claiming that THERE is always better than HERE in any given
context (which is suggestive of ADD).
The brush stiffens,
Mark
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