Hi Platt,
PLATT:
You asked: Why is it essential to the MOQ that atoms be aware?
If values are reality as Pirsig claims, and if evolution was value-driven
as he also claims, then awareness of value must have appeared
concurrent or immediately after the Big Bang. Otherwise, nothing
further would have occurred.
If you wish, you may say atoms “experience,” or atoms “prefer” or
atoms “value.” (Instead of A causes B, B values precondition A.)
Regardless of your choice of words, that atoms “respond” to the
creative force of Dynamic Quality is evident in Chapter 11 of Lila where
Pirsig describes the beginning of life.
Or to put it another way: a reality that consists solely of values (as
Pirsig claims) presupposes choice which in turn presupposes
awareness. Without choice, the concept of values is meaningless.
There’s no point for Pirsig to describe Dynamic Quality as a “vague
sense of betterness” if one is powerless to choose the better way.
ROG:
Sorry, but I sense something wrong with this argument. To presuppose that
atoms have "choice" and "awareness" and a "vague sense of betterness"
overstates the issue to the point of absurdity, or at least to the point of
making the terms "choice," "awareness," and "sense" meaningless.
Perhaps the real nemesis here is a philosopher trying to reduce the entire
universe into one oversimplified principle that they can fit onto a Tee shirt.
But perhaps I am just being negative.....
Roger
PS -- Elephant, perhaps all we ever do is think and speak in metaphors.
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