Murdock, Mark (Mark.Murdock@Unisys.Com)
Wed, 10 Dec 1997 09:48:59 +0100
Ken,
I take the ZMM approximation (as opposed to "definition") of Quality,
that it is the source and substance of all things.
When I say this belief is a faith, I mean as opposed to a logically
deduced, scientifically derived conclusion.
>>>Ken
> Mark, acceptance of the Quality idea is not a matter of faith.
> Quality is
> simply the growth of the consciousness of humanity through time as
> prodded
> by increased awareness.
I take the ZMM approximation (as opposed to "definition") of Quality,
that it is "the source and substance of all things."
When I say this belief is faith, I mean as opposed to a logically
deduced, scientifically derived conclusion. It's an assumption to the
logicians, the dialectians.
> It is not faith to be predisposed and prepared for a new level
> of ethics in advance of being able to articulate it which is roughly
> my
> understanding of what Pirsig means by Quality and awareness.
>
No, I agree. More like hope.
I do, however, believe that it will never be able to be "articulated" in
the sense you use. Remember (from ZMM) to know something at an
intellectual point in time, to think about something, to ponder it, to
reflect, to read, to analyze, to deduce, to reason -- all are in the
past. This is why we can only approximate Quality with words, point
towards it. It's not that our maps are not terrain, but that our maps
are after the terrain. Imagine a trip across the country. With each
new state you enter, you look for a map in the glove box but only find
the state in which you've just been. This is our metaphysical lot, Ken.
We will never reduce Quality into knowledge. It will always escape our
attempts to cage it intellectually, a Sisyphean task of cosmic
proportions. Thank God too. Can you imagine a day when all of life's
mysteries are in some book?
But, in an instant, we can feel Quality. "All of it," as Pirsig said.
The difference is between feeling and thinking. We feel first, then
think. If there is one absolute it is this sequence -- feel first, then
think.
But we can't constantly live in the moment either, always feeling and
never thinking. We'd go insane or walk off a bridge or something. So
we alternate between feeling and thinking, between moments of the
dynamic and moments of static ratcheting. Those that cut themselves off
from one or the other risk not evolving.
You've experienced a lot of this dynamic-static ratcheting in your life.
I'll be you have some great stories to tell.
Mark
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