From: Matt the Enraged Endorphin (mpkundert@students.wisc.edu)
Date: Sun Jan 12 2003 - 18:18:57 GMT
Erin,
Erin said:
well i think you both are way off....it is clear
Pirsig moves science to the left :-).
Matt:
See, now that's funny.
Erin said:
Where does Pirsig say science has found the Real Way towards Truth?
I think Pirisg points out the art of science, pointing
out the aspect of creating the truth not just finding
the truth in facts about arts.
If that is bringing science up or down probably depends
on your opinion of art;-)
Matt:
One of the passages I'm thinking of is in ZMM Ch. 19 (beginning) when
Pirsig discusses the choice between making Quality in the subject or
object. "Because if Quality exists in the object, then you must explain
just why scientific instruments are unable to detect it." This establishes
the tight link between the object and objectivity and science. "On the
other hand, if Quality is subjective, existing only in the observer, then
this Quality that you make so much of is just a fancy name for whatever you
like." This establishes the opposite link and the derision.
Pirsig does point out the art of science, which is why there is an ego
readjustment for scientists who thought that science was "above" art. What
I'm suggesting is that people with residual scientism, while possibly
enjoying art, look down on it as a cultural activity insofar as artists
claim to be adding something to Knowledge or Truth. For them, science is
the only activity that can lead to Knowledge and Truth, and for the most
part, following Plato's lead, they think that that is the highest pursuit
of all. What a philosopher like Pirsig wants to do is say, "Wait, wait,
wait. Knowledge and Truth are the highest pursuits, but science does not
have a monopoly on this." I'm arguing that the language Pirsig uses to
open up the pursuit of Knowledge and Truth implies the expansion of the
meaning of science. I'm further saying that I wish he hadn't done this,
that it would have been better for him to say that their are different
kinds of knowledge and that science provides knowledge of one kind and
literary criticism of another.
Matt
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