RE: MD Empiricism

From: Mark Steven Heyman (markheyman@infoproconsulting.com)
Date: Thu Nov 18 2004 - 22:06:53 GMT

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    scott said:
    What is clear from this is that the way you want to extend
    "empirical" to include reason makes the word "empirical" lose any
    distinctive value it might have.

    msh replied:
    I'm not sure what DMB would say here, but I'm not extending
    "empirical" to include reason. I'm saying that any sentient deprived
    of sensual input from birth will, upon emerging from his SD
    environment, be INCAPABLE of reasoning for a measurable amount of
    time.

    scott said:
    Then, I would say, you haven't escaped SOM.

    msh says:
    It is not my intention to "escape" SOM. I think SOM is encompassed
    by the MOQ, not replaced by it. I think sometimes a SOM explanation
    is perfectly adequate for describing much of what we experience, as
    in the case of mathematics under discussion.

    For me, the strength of the MOQ over SOM, in some cases, is that the
    MOQ adds the dimension of Quality, so that quality value judgements
    can be recognized and defended in SOM science, and in other relevant
    aspects of everyday life.

    In fact, and I might be risking the annoyance of my other friends
    here on the list, I think Pirsig made a mistake when, in ZMM, he
    decided to move away from his metaphysical trinity of Quality-Subject-
    Object. In setting Quality above the other two, he began to say
    things about Quality that have exposed him to a lot of not entirely
    unwarranted philosophical criticism. From that point on in ZMM and
    throughout LILA, this talk of Quality has resulted in the weakening
    (degeneracy) of his metaphysics. To his great credit, he knew this
    would happen, but considered the explanatory power of the MOQ to be
    worth the risk.

    Anyway, that's where I stand at the moment. Maybe after I read the
    Copleston with RMP's comments things will change...again.

    Thanks,
    Mark Steven Heyman (msh)

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