All MOQ Discuss.
Chris Lofting started a most interesting thread that at first seemed
to have profound MOQ relevance, but after a perfunctory reference
to the Biological level (as the beginning of - the value/ability of -
distinguishing between A/not A) he took off into a theory how this
resulted in further distinctions which leads to the human theorizing
(as well as a diatribe with the Elephant). All very well, but this is
the MOQ and it the first level is the material world, so any
development must start there ....at least continue from Bilogy to
Society before ending up in Intellect.!
If Chris' intention was to demonstrate the origin of the
subject/object division it would have been fine, this is perhaps just
right, but I have an impression that the SOM is his premise - as it
is Kenneth Van Oost's "memes" and the many Quality alternatives
that have been proposed throughout our career - all based on the
presupposition that everything starts with life (as matter) which
evolved to a complexity enough to produce thoughts - which IS the
very subject/object metaphysics: A material world on which mind is
the crown ..... or waste product for the materialist.
There are exactly one million theories built over that theme, but
Pirsig's isn't faintly resembling any of that. His assertion is that the
metaphysical division is not matter/mind, rather dynamic/static and
that existence is a rising order of static levels of which "matter" is
the first. The basic postulate (Reality=Quality) is as such comes -
either selfevident or nonsense, but we are supposed to explore the
results of such a view. If it brings clarity it has proven itself, if not:
Forget it! There can't be "some value" in Pirsig's ideas, it's either
nonsense or revolution.
Finally, may I remind you all that this is a site for discussing
Robert Pirsig' ideas - or what may relate to them. The forum is
unmoderated so no restrictions can be put upon the participants (I
exploit its freedom for this little admonition). The most active now
are of the highest intellectual and moral (!) standards, and I have
the outmost respect for their education, enormous libraries and
scope of interest, but I have the impression that Pirsig is receding
in favour of other writers/thinkers of greater repute.
Don't be cross with me, I would love to see Chris' thread woven into
the MOQ fabric....and learn how Elephant's Murdoch harmonizes
with Pirsig. The famous Pirsig-hunter Struan Hellier was a Murdoch
admirer and that doesn't bode well, but I may be wrong ....
If anyone has read this.Thanks!
Bo
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