----- Original Message -----
From: John Beasley
OK, I know Pirsig says "Quality is morality". But what does this mean?
Finally, I do not understand how you can quote "Quality is morality. Make no
mistake about it. They're identical." and go on to say "The fact that you
can't define Quality as morality is no reason to throw it out." Tell me just
what I would have to say to define Quality as morality if Pirsig's own words
(above) don't do it?
John B
Just a stab at it John B, and I like your thinking on this.
Morality is simply a way of saying one thing is better than another thing
(morality might be the word used to describe the analysis of value in other
words). It is of better "value" to make money to sell my stocks at 59 1/2
than at 58. Morality is the analysis and pursuit of higher Quality
experiences.
In the case of the hot stove, the individual can either remain on the stove,
feel pain, and choose a path towards "lower Quality" or else choose a
"higher Quality" path which is jump off the stove and try to put out the
fire on his ass. It is however, important to understand that there is no
such thing as "absolute Quality" because I may want to burn a circle on my
ass cheek to show my tolerance to pain and thus gain admittance and respect
from my peers, who think I am not an adult until I have gone through a test
of willpower and getting myself branded with a stove ring is the proof.
Every "second" of your life you are experiencing quantum decisions on which
path to take, and your only guide is morality, or the path towards higher
Quality. I may find having a few drinks to be higher quality because of the
way I feel but then my body becomes diseased and I wake up in the hospital
and therefore I can now make a new quality analysis and find that abstaining
from drinking alcohol is higher quality than the quality of intoxication on
beer. Quality is revealed through experience, that's the DQ of Q. The SQ
is when I remember the previous DQ experience of waking up in the hospital
and therefore don't drink myself to oblivion again. As any reformed drunk
will tell you, it's only when you "hit bottom" that you will turn yourself
around and seek help to quit drinking. Or in MoQ terms, it's only when the
Quality of drinking has completely diminished that it's firmly SQ latched
and the DQ of sobriety has a chance to reveal itself.
Hope this helps!
--Soj
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