From: hampday@earthlink.net
Date: Wed Aug 25 2004 - 23:18:36 BST
Ham Priday to Scott Roberts, Wednesday, Aug. 25
Subject: Re: MD The individual in the MOQ
[Ham said] Since I believe that finite things are "phenomenal" (i.e,
> constructs of intellection), the physical reality I have postulated is
> entirely subjective. This concept could be construed as solipsism,
> except for the universality of finite perception which I attribute to
> a cosmic "blueprint" or "spectrum" that is innate to the negational
> (creative) mode of Essence. It is perhaps this blueprint,
> rather than Value, that best represents the DQ posited by Pirsig.
>
[Scott:] I think I agree with this (except the last bit), but if the cosmic
> "blueprint" is universal, then it serves to make finite things in part
> non-subjective. The physical characteristics are supplied by the
> organization of the subject, but that organization is itself part of the
> cosmic blueprint. So your phenomena of color, shape, etc. may not be mine,
> but we are seeing the same things, and if we measure them we will get the
> same numbers.
Scott, your analysis is quite correct, and I'm delighted to see that it's
possible for an MOQ subscriber to discover some "common gound" with the
philosophy of Essence. The difficulty in both philosophies is communicating
the concept of differentiation to the Western intellect. Understanding that
everything is essentially "subjective" is, I think, the easiest way to grasp
this concept. (Understanding that the Value of Essence is "immanent" comes
later.) The organization of finitude is, as you have surmised, integral to
the cosmic blueprint. I know of no other hypothesis that can account for
the universality of finite experience; e.g., that you and I can observe a
box, measure its size, and decide that it's large enough for storing a dozen
pairs of socks. This is cognitive knowledge that is shared between us and
is based upon empirical (quantitative) experience. It has nothing
particularly to do with Quality or Value, but it still involves the
"subjectivity" of both of us..
Now, suppose you wanted to select only those socks that are blended with, or
matched to, the box's color or design. Here you would be dealing with your
own sense of Value, and you might find me disputing your choices. The
dispute arises over the qualitative or "esthetic" properties of the objects
we've otherwise agreed on, and this evaluation will be somewhat different
for each of us. Values thus "color" our reality individually, while
physical properties structure it universally. Existence seems to require
this kind of "preference"; but this discriminative factor appears to be
significant
only to the human species. I think this elevates man above other biological
organisms, and obligates him to a higher level of moral and intellectual
awareness than lesser creatures lacking Value sensibility..
I don't know if I've answered your question, Scott; but it's led me to an
analogy that might be of future use in explaining the distinction between
quantitative and qualitative experience, and how Value is involved in the
process.
> This cosmic blueprint, though cannot be the DQ posited by Pirsig, since
the
> former has structure, while the latter doesn't.
My "cosmic blueprint" has structure only in the differentiated realm of
finite experience. This is what I have called the "negational mode" of
Essence, which is illusory insofar as Essence itself is concerned. So, I
still think there is a parallel here between Pirsig's Quality and my
Essence. Both concepts posit a monistic Source that manifests a
differentiated mode. (Or don't you agree?)
Essentially yours,
Ham.
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