Hi Jonathan and Group:
Jonathan, I took your advice and read your “Causality" essay. I looked
and looked but couldn't find a single reference to collective responsibility.
Further, I can find no reference to collective responsibility in the writings
of Robert Pirsig. In fact, in LILA, words like “responsibility" and “duty”
are conspicuous by their absence, rather telling for a treatise on morality
don't you think?
My impression is that Pirsig is pretty much a loner who is not out to
change the world or impose obligations on others. Just let him ride his
motorcycle, sail his boat and write metaphysics. The trouble begins when
moralists of any stripe or agenda, invoking duty and responsibility to
some higher entity such as the public good, start to forcefully initiate
compliance with their views on those who disagree with them.
Obviously I've missed something important. If you'll refer me to where
Pirsig cites “collective responsibility” in LILA or elsewhere as being one
of the higher values I’d appreciate it. As I recall, he was fairly critical of
the Victorian brand of social duty.
Platt
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