Hi Platt
On 31 May 99, at 11:12, Platt Holden wrote:
> I agree. I pay a lot more attention to contributors who back their
> arguments with quotes from Zen or Lila than to those who simply
> use this forum to argue their own prejudices.
<SNIP>
> To accentuate my point about referencing Pirsig, those inclined to
> extoll the superiority of socialism might do well to reread Chapter
> 17 of Lila wherein the author of the MoQ makes it clear he favors
> free enterprise:
> "What makes the free-enterprise system superior is that the
> socialists, reasoning intelligently and objectively, have inadvertently
> closed the door to Dynamic Quality in the buying and selling of
> things. They close it because the metaphysical structure of their
> objectivity never told them Dynamic Quality exists." (Lila, Chp. 17)
Horse:
"On the other hand the conservatives who keep trumpeting about the
vitues of free enterprise, are normally just supporting their own self-
interest. They are just doing the usual cover-up for the rich in their
age-old exploitation of the poor." (Lila Chapter 17)
The big problem with using quotes from Lila to support a point of view
is that by selective use of quotes you can support almost any
position you want. The best way (IMO) to produce the 99% of the
MOQ that Pisig feels he missed and which he has encouraged this
group (MD & LS) to proceed with, is to reason from the main
principles of the MOQ. This may at times bring discussion into
conflict with Pirsigs thoughts in Lila and Zen but this is the
DYNAMIC way to go. Continually quoting from Lila and Zen as the
last word on the subject is to use Pirsigs static words and thoughts
to subjugate the more dynamic direction of new ideas.
Incidentally, as I'm sure you're aware Platt, I'm not a Socialist nor a
Marxist nor a Capitalist and don't necessarily support Socialist
principles. I support some some Socialist principles as well as some
Capitalist principles. Being a Libertarian Socialist gives me the
freedom to do this without contradicting myself.
To paraphrase Ghandi "I think a free market would be a good idea".
Just let me know when one appears.
Horse
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