From: Platt Holden (pholden@sc.rr.com)
Date: Mon Sep 15 2003 - 14:53:32 BST
Ian,
> I also consider Pirsig far from original, except in his
> creation of his patterns of value and levels of static and dynamic
> quality (MoQ) model as a marvellous practical tool or framework through
> which to view the world.
> Talking of Pirsig's non-originality, for me it is clear how Northrop and
> James influenced him, and that he acknowledges this, but what is not at
> all clear is whether he was really unaware of the existentialists, other
> pragmatists and later schools of thought. Not wrong, but intriguing.
> What he doesn't acknowledge is the extent to which the Aristoleian
> "Chicago school" furore was well documented by Northrop (the book he
> read on the troopship back from Korea) long before his "megalomaniac"
> letter to the chairman.
> Talking of Northrop, I'm still working through the Meeting of East and
> West. It's a marvellous book. Apart from the MoQ itself, there is little
> in ZMM / Lila that's not in Northrop, and a lot more thorough
> philosophological review of how prevalent world-views came to be. Pirsig
> does of course provide shorter sentences and more dramatic novels though
> :-)
Pirsig far from original? Where in Northrop or any other philosopher or
writer past or present will you find an assumption like this:
"Because Quality is morality. Make no mistake about it. They're
identical. And if Quality is the primary reality of the world then that
means morality is also the primary reality of the world. The world is
primarily a moral order." (Lila, ch.7)
That can hardly be called a "prevalent world-view." As far as I know,
it's original with Pirsig. Reality is morality? Huh? The man must have
missed his morning medication. :-)
Platt
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