From: hampday@earthlink.net
Date: Mon May 23 2005 - 20:49:38 BST
Hi Platt --
> [Do] not overlook that the MOQ places individual intellect at a
> higher moral level than society. And, remember that the MOQ keeps society
> in its proper place as supporting the intellectual level by insisting on
> laws that prevent the Giant from stifling free speech, freedom of
> religion, freedom of the press, free markets, etc.
What does "insisting on laws" mean with respect to the MoQ? Is it the
Quality "force" itself that does this, or is it man-made laws established
for a free society? I suspect it's the latter. And I don't think Pirsig
has stressed the "higher moral level" of the individual intellect
suffiiciently to establish the autonomy of the Self.
> Such laws recognize and
> grant the highest moral value to "selves" like you, me and all who
> contribute to this site, regardless of other interpretations to the
> contrary. Our conversations would not be permitted if a socialist Giant
> was completely in charge, as is the case with Nazism and Communism.
Again, you seem to be speaking about man-made laws -- which may or may not
agree with the MoQ.
> Incidentally, if you have the time and inclination, I'd very much like to
> know what role art plays in your Essence philosophy. Do you think it
> offers transcendence to the divine (Quality) as I do?
Platt, I know that you put Beauty on a high pedestal, and I understand that
you look for it and revere it in all art forms. I do, too; but I think it
would be a mistake (and a futile exercise) to attempt to define what the
essence of Value is for others. The realization of Value will invariably be
an individual process, and there is no way that I can impose my values on
another without threatening his or her freedom.
As for the capacity of Value (Quality) to elevate us beyond the finite
world, I would say that it can "inspire us" to transcendence by making the
essential Source more apparent. On the other hand, since the values we
realize through experience are those of finite, differentiated phenomena, it
would be necessary to become sensitive to Value in a holistic (mystical?)
way in order to achieve actual transcendence. I think this calls for more
than a passion for the arts, however intense that passion may be; but then,
I'm not an authority on mystical approaches to the divine, although the
subject does interest me.
I must relate to you an amusing exchange I had recently with my stoic friend
Scot, who (as a retired biochemistry professor and voracious reader) has
lately taken up a study of the human mind. Although I've always suspected
Scot to be tone-deaf, he seems to enjoy the classics but with no
understanding of musical composition, its history or artistic value. Scot
views music as an ordered set of soundwave patterns designed to affect the
emotions in a certain way, but seems mystified by the whole process.
Recently, in order to improve his "artistic understanding", he is studying a
series of music history audio-tapes produced by a university professor in
California.
Last week he confided to me that he'd discovered a theory that allowed him
to make sense of it all. "Music is a scientific experiment whose object is
to determine what sounds are most effective in altering human
consciousness," he said confidently. "It took hundreds of years to develop
this technology, but like all scientific research, it was open to changes
that led to more effective results." Of course, the most "advanced" form of
this technology is exemplified in the 19th and 20th century western
classical music that he favors.
I didn't have the heart to expand on his theory. I simply considered it an
"objective perspective" of the arts.
Regards,
Ham
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