From: Kevin (kevin@xap.com)
Date: Mon Nov 18 2002 - 18:21:06 GMT
Win wrote:
Pirsig wrote in 'Lila' about Lila:
'Biologically she's fine, socially she's pretty far down the scale,
intellectually she's nowhere.'
Pirsig wrote in 'Lila's Child':
'For purposes of MOQ precision, let's say the intellectual level is the
same as mind. It is the collection and manipulation of symbols, created
in the brain, that stand for patterns of experience.'
I you take 'intellectually she's nowhere' to mean that Lila has no (or
-I'd
prefer- is no part of) intellectual patterns of values and if you take
the intellectual level to be the sum total of intellectual patterns of
values, these Pirsig quotes don't square.
It seems clear to me that we have to choose, meaning that we have to
take only one of the two literally. As Pirsig more clearly to be trying
to be precise in the second quote, I prefer to take that one literally.
It is an other indication to me that David's way of distinguishing
between social and intellectual patterns of values is untenable.
Kevin:
Behold the immediate peril of becoming a Literalist! Honestly, Pirsig
Literalism is something that bothers me on the board. IMO, nothing could
be more patently unDQ as debating over literal interpretations of Pirsig
quotes. Of course there are contradictions and inconsistencies! We're
talking about the entirety of his writing stretching across decades! And
God forbid Pirsig should be guilty of hperbole or exaggeration or the
purpose of being literary. It's a novel. He wrote novels. They are
static patterns. They can be riddled with inconsistency and
contradiction. In fact, I think it's a miracle (considering the
seriousness of the task) that they're aren't MORE inconsistencies and
contradictions throughout his work.
Ok, enough ranting. My point? Arguing over which Pirsig quote taken out
of context is more Literally True than another is pathetic
counterproductive and a complete rejection of Dynamism. Please,
everyone. Resist the urge to become LILA Thumpers.
The question at hand (whether or not Humans are uniquely capable of
responding to DQ) is NOT going to be solved to being LILA Thumpers and
quoting Pirsig like scripture. As a group of highly intelligent people
capable of Dynamic Thought, I should think the solution to this question
should be fairly accessible through careful thought, insight, mystical
awareness, contemplation and any other of the inumerable means of
divining The Good, True, Beautiful without helplessly throwing Pirsig
quotes around.
</rant>
With hope,
-Kevin
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