Hey John,
Thanks for your kind response. Like yourself, I've found that the forum
can often be a cold place to those who suggest that Pirsig might, may have,
possibly, maybe, could have, conceivably, for some reason, gotten something
wrong. This place is sometimes indistinguishable from a fan club (Robert
Maynard Pirsig: Born - 9/6/28 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Son of Maynard
Ernest Pirsig and Harriet Marie Sjobeck. His turns-ons include motorcycles,
sailing, long walks through the mountains and philosophical discussion by
campfire light. Turn-offs include Subject-Object Metaphysics, Franz Boas,
and people who don't understand basic auto-maintenance --- see homepage for
centerfold).
We all have seen those here who are incapable of seeing fault in
Pirsig's metaphysics. And (far less common around these parts) we've seen
those who seem unwilling to see any good in Pirsig's metaphysics (let's just
call him... S. Hellier--- No wait, that's far too obvious... How about
Struan H.). Personally, I find both of those standpoints unreasonably
extreme.
I deeply love ZMM. And LILA as well (although less than its
predecessor). But I can see problems in both. And I've always felt, and so
often said, that I think this forum would be of much higher Quality if we
all saw the bad with the good and we confronted the MoQ's shortcomings
rather than sweeping them under the rug or trying to "dissolve the
questions" or explain "what Pirsig really meant". We will never mend the
walls if we don't first admit that they can be breached. We do Pirsig and
the MoQ a disservice by turning a blind-eye to its faults.
Thus, if that post was a "hatchet-job"... I scalp because I love.
rick
> Hullo Rick,
>
> Just a note to say I really appreciated your hatchet job on "Good is a
> noun." It has clarified some of my long standing discomfort with this
> particular formulation.
>
> I find that when I challenge any of the belief structures that surround
the
> MOQ religion, I usually get a deafening silence or accusations of SOM
> deviant tendencies. I hope you fare better. Of course, there are aspects
of
> Pirsig's thought I really appreciate, and most of all I appreciate the
> encouragement it gives me to attempt to clarify my own thinking as I
respond
> to his. Your response is clear and well argued, and deserves to be
archived
> somewhere. Perhaps a mini essay for the forum?
>
> John B
>
>
>
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