[Ron] When It gets to "symbol-as" it then enters Intellectual paradox, naturally.It's almost like when one arrives at the edge of syntax "it is", one conceptually reaches reflections and distortion.
[Arlo] This is the problem of recursion or "self-referentiality", and it inherently leads to paradox. This is why intellectually, there will always be a "False Mirror" to any and all descriptions of "reality". Any metaphysics will always be incomplete, and the more it tries to bolster itself up to fill this void, the bigger the void becomes. Pirsig discovers this when he turns scientific methodology back onto science itself, and later when he demonstrates the absurdity of using the dialectical method on the dialectic itself. We can only see the void out of the corner of our eyes, in momentary glances that fade as soon as intellectualization kicks in. Art is that which bumps us into these moments, allows us to see the void, if only for a second. But we are committing the most egregious intellectual fallacy if we believe for one minute we can contain the void in any structure, in any metaphysics, in any symbol system. To paraphrase Pirsig again, about metaphysicians, "These metaphysicians think their subject is some kind of peppermint bonbon they're entitled to smack their fat lips on; something to be devoured; something to be intellectually knifed, forked and spooned up bit by bit with appropriate delicate remarks and I'm ready to throw up. What they smack their lips on is the putrescence of something they long ago killed." Pirsig knew that penning Lila was committing the same act, but believed (I think) that what he was doing was, although not damage-free, undoing the more serious damage of the S/O metaphysicians. Like any who see the esoteric and attempt to frame it, the dangers of those who would chain it to some exoteric tree are always present. As Samuel Bekkett said, "Every word is like an unnecessary stain on silence and nothingness". On the other hand, he said that with words. (Arlo nods to Art Spiegelman for that one) Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
