From: Paul Turner (paulj.turner@ntlworld.com)
Date: Sat Jan 17 2004 - 10:35:04 GMT
Hello Mark
Mark said:
May i ask if you find any value in the description of exceptional SQ-SQ
coherence/tension as that point at which DQ influences evolution?
Paul:
Yes, it is a good general description of what may be a universal
process.
Mark said:
I feel this description accords with Lila, SODV and ZMM, and delivers a
sound view of Human intellect as a creative and intuitive living process
- a code of art.
Paul:
I agree. Lately I have been giving a lot of thought to Pirsig's
statement that the "classic pattern of rationality can be tremendously
improved, expanded and made far more effective through the formal
recognition of Quality in its operation."
I take this as calling for the acknowledgement of an MOQ axiom - you
*know* something is good before you know *why* it is good - in the use
of intellect, which usually only perceives something as good after it
has provided a "why." I am having a little trouble with the "formal"
part. The structure of the MOQ formally acknowledges the relationship
between Dynamic Quality and static intellectual patterns at a general
level, as does your description above, but is this really something one
can *formally* acknowledge and implement?
How do you set about to improve the operation of rationality? The
general idea is that reason and rationality should be more like art. You
don't sit down to "do art," art tends to do itself. Reason, on the other
hand, is normally called upon to solve certain problems, fix things,
design things etc. Perhaps the best way to begin to operate with what
Pirsig refers to as Quality might be to develop (or rediscover) your
ability to recognise it, recognise its process, unmistakeably. Whilst
Zen archery is one way to become familiar with Dynamic Quality, is there
a way which is closer to the practice of using intellect?
You have gone down the path of ostensive definition which is certainly
part of becoming familiar with Quality in other people's/nature's
behaviour. How about "recognising" Quality in one's own behaviour? In
ZMM, Pirsig suggests that the inverse of Quality is simply caring. He
also talks about taking the Zen-like approach of "just fixing." Also,
the whole section on his teaching methods at Bozeman was about the role
of Quality in intellectual composition. Perhaps we could begin by giving
some major current theories the MOQ treatment? Pirsig was clearly
concerned with the state of cultural anthropology.
Anyway, that's just a bit of thinking out loud. In short, having
satisfied myself that the MOQ offers an enormous improvement on other
descriptions of the universe that I have come across, I support you,
Mark, in your efforts to start applying its principles but I don't have
a set of practical suggestions ready. That might take a couple of weeks
longer :-)
cheers
Paul
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