Matt:
The one thing I want everyone to understand is that I don't think that
my "historicized" Pirsig is the "true" Pirsig. To search for a "true"
Pirsig is to misunderstand the purpose of reading. There isn't a "true"
Pirsig hidden in the pages of his books. As soon as you articulate
Pirsig's philosophy second-hand, outside of the text, it becomes your
own interpretation. The historicized Pirsig is simply the Pirsig I want
to emphasize because I think he is the better one. The Platonic Pirsig
is the Pirsig Bo wants to emphasize (in Rortyan language, of course; I'm
sure Bo would use different language to describe his project).
Kevin:
I couldn't agree more. This is exactly the sentiment I've tried to offer
on several occassions. I suppose it was taken by some as an appeal for
"can't we all just get along", but as trite as it sounds, I believe the
sentiment has great Quality.
I find Pirsig's work to be so exquisitely powerful for exactly the
reason that it rejects Literalism and Canonization in the most
fundamental way. It's the open embrace of the Dynamic and a pragmatic
framework for making Moral judgements in a Dynamic universe. It's the
Formalization of the Framework that I find troubling and a grave error
by those who would follow this conversation.
With hope,
Kevin
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