Hi Sam:
You wonder if Pirsig includes the intellectual level in marriage, or as
you wrote:
> However, a number of debates recently (and some old ones - SOLAQI being the
> most obvious) revolve around the fourth level being Intellectual in a much
> stricter fashion. That is, the Intellectual level is concerned with the
> coming into being of a new *theory* or a new understanding of the world
> which allows for a more dynamic progression of ideas. It seems to me that
> those views diminish what the fourth level involves, and that they are in
> fact incompatible with allowing something like marriage to even contain a
> fourth level value.
I interpret the intellectual level in the "stricter fashion" as you
describe, based on my reading of the MOQ and experience with numerous
married couples who, to use Pirsig's description of Lila, are
"intellectually nowhere." I agree that in the broadest sense that everyone
looks at the raw data they experience through an intellectual framework or
"spectacles." But for the vast majority, their intellectual framework
consists of culturally learned conventions and traditions. Few ever
question their worldviews, believing reality to be intrinsically as they
have been taught to see it. Only a few rebel types like you and I and
other contributors to this site ever bother to question their own
outlooks. Yet my marriage to a person who considers my metaphysical
interests complete foolishness and a titanic waste of time is just fine.
I believe marriage as an institution falls solidly within the social
level, but I'm sure it could be said of individual marriages that some are
intellectually-based, like a partnership of two humanities professors.
Your post, however, brings up what I consider to be a more fundamental
issue. Just what is Pirsig's intellectual level anyway? Seems we've been
kicking that question around for the full five years and have yet (except
for Bo) settled it. Perhaps if I can get up enough gumption I could lead
a discussion on the matter. But I would just as soon someone younger take
the lead. :-)
Platt
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