Struan and everyone,
I've been reading all the posts and wish there was time to take up your
assertions point by point. Here are just a few thoughts instead...
In your complaints about use of the word "Quality", you have confused
baggage with meaning, as if Pirsig chose the word for no reason. You call it
a literary device as if metaphors have no meaning. Let me ask you this; Why
do you think he uses that particular word? Even if you don't agree with his
reason's, you've got to address them if your criticism is to have
credibility. What are his reasons and why do you reject them?
You never did answer a crucial question already asked. How did Wittgenstein
end the Cartesian era? Whats the difference between the Cartesian era and
the SOM era?
(Pssssst. Dear reader, there is no important difference. Both labels refer
to essentially the same view.)
Don't you see how the split between Existentialism and Logical Positivism
parallels the subjective and objective views and that they are both part of
SOM? Don't you see that they represent the two sides? I think this should be
obvious even to those who are not professionals. Thus my surprize. Does your
uncle own the place or what? Just kidding.
Historically speaking, its pretty clear that we saw the subjective side of
philosophy move out of the normal arena and into literature and theater just
as scientific objectivity was becoming more and more dominant. When
epistemology becomes neuro-science and psychology, the philosophers have to
move into the arts. What would you do if scientific objectivity all but
threw you out?
How can all this, from Descartes to Wittgenstein and the battle between
logical postivists and existentialist, the rationalist and the romantics,
how can all this be dismissed as "no big deal"?
Don't you see that Pirsig's label is part a describing a flaw that runs
through all of Western Philospohy?
And since when is Existentialism anything other than mainstream? I don't
mean to pick on you, but these assertions are really quite indefensible.
Existentialism is the most famous and popular branches of philosophy that
ever was. Every 19 year-old I ever knew was an existentialist. Its as
mainstream as philosophy gets. Not mainstream? Compared to what?
I know that you are a kind and generous person, so if these questions are
met with silence I won't presume that you're unwilling. Instead I'll just
assume that you're unable to answer them.
Please. Surprize me.
Holding my breath, DMB
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