Sam,
Wow, you implied I was a mystic. You know I'm a
Wittgenstein synthesist, you and I agree on
Wittgenstein as you said for the most part. I am not a
mystic and I like Pirsig's presentation. I only think
that Pirsig said what Wittgenstein already said. What
do you think? It seems you would agree as well.
> Wittgenstein's exact words were: "Philosophy is a
> battle against the bewitchment of our intelligence
> by means of language" (Philosophical nvestigations,
> paragraph 109).
Well his exact words were in German....so your quote,
to be Pirsigian, would be to say this is the
translation by xYz and I think it is a higher quality
version than Angus', if that was your point.
> investigating the depth grammar of our language - in
> other words what we are
> actually doing when we talk - in order to stop
> philosophical confusions
> taking hold.
If you could go in depth on depth grammar, that would
be really, in a "60s" ish sense, deep. Obviously,
Wittgenstein talks about more than a utilitarian
notion of language... I think it would help with
Pirsig, at least I'm (language) game. Maybe a new
thread? A full treatment of language and Pirsig, at
least recently anyway, has not been heard. You might
be the right person for that with this depth grammar
thang.
> In my view Wittgenstein's work was (throughout his
> life, this is consistent
> in early and late W) concerned to change our focus
> from futile abstractions,
> to a thoroughly moral engagement with the world.
That's my running point: Wittgenstein predates Pirsig.
One thing I am interested in, is, where is Pirsig
original. I think he is original with tracing the
preservation of DQ to the success of
democracy/capitalism. I think he is original in
tracing the preservation of DQ to the American Indian.
But, the metaphysical split of the MOQ is NOT. Ever
heard of Catholicism? Or Wittgenstein? I can't believe
that Pirsig is more original than the collective work
of the Bible, Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas.
Pirsig is a great American communicator of our times,
but I don't see anything BEYOND his role as a
messenger of a message already sent. Or a messenger of
a message lost? Or a messenger of a message poorly
translated? Is Pirsig merely a translator for America?
Is he the Abraham of the Nietzschean godless society?
And if he is then nothing appointed him (groan).
Quality (God) = DQ (Holy Spirit) + sq (Jesus)?
Quality = late Wittg.(depth grammar) + early Wittg.
(picture theory)?
Angus
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