Good Morning!
I love a good metaphysical discussion.
Before we get off on a tangent though, I need to admit a few things.
I agree with Bo and David that we need to be careful about using ZMM quotes
to define the MOQ. Pirsig's philosophy was not fully incubated. Even more
importantly, the book's literary style is such that both the narrator and
Phaedrus are set up as SOMish characterisations that evolve toward each
other. The below quote is so extreme, that I believe Pirsig would no longer
say anything like it (nor would the ending character in ZMM agree with it. )
"The world has no existence whatsoever outside the human
imagination. It's all a ghost, .... The whole blessed thing is a human
invention. (ZMM Ch3 p31)
This quote seems very solipsistic and extreme to me too. Sure, it makes the
case that the 'objective' world is subject to the creation and deductive
process, but it overstates the case in pre-Quality language, and as such is a
distraction from us making progress.
With that said, I must quit typing so I can go see the sun rise, and then I
need to get off to work. But, I will be back to carry on the dialogue that
Marco and others have already pulled over.
One final thought. Could you all give me the courtesy of actually quoting me
before going off in tirades on something I never said nor would say. David
T's recent posts give great refutations of other's misrepresentations of my
position, but they only made me laugh. We will make no progress if we are
spending hours typing attacks of imaginary characterizations of each others'
views.
I will restate my case for the answer to our two questions on Saturday, and
give specific quotes that support the view. Please cut and paste my actual
views and my actual Pirsig references, give your interpretation of my view or
RMP's and then give your own. In all fairness, I could do the same thing to
David's recent posts if he wants me to, but I think it would be better to
just say that I agree.... The position you describe as mine is absurd.
Roger
PS -- The interesting thing is that according to Marco and my position, the
opposite answers to the questions are also valid creations to be judged on
Quality and consistency. According to the "objective" and 'discovered'
answers though, our answers would be false.
PPS -- Bo, let me know if you don't get this message. (I find this statement
so funny I just have to write it ....sorry) Here comes the sun.....
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