Hi Craig
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
[Pirsig, via Magnus]
"In the Metaphysics of Quality 'causation' is a metaphysical term that can be
replaced by 'value.' To say that 'A causes B' or to say that 'B values
precondition A' is to say the same thing. The difference is one of words only.
Instead of saying 'A magnet causes iron filings to move toward it,' you can say
'Iron filings value movement toward a magnet.'"
Magnus,
This quote has always bothered me. To me, the PRE-condition is the iron
filings lying inert. The POST-condition (= result) is the iron filings moving
toward the magnet. So 'A causes B' is to say that 'B values the POST-condition
which results from A'.
Which one of us (Pirsig or me) has it right?
Craig
I haven't dissected that quote quite as much as you have, but I'm not sure
changing it into a postcondition helps. If we say "B values the POST-condition
which results from A", then the quality event becomes somewhat recursive. The
event has to be performed before B can value the result or not.
So I think we need to stick with PRE-condition.
However, perhaps we should add "so it does" to the original quote to clarify. It
then becomes:
"Iron filings value movement toward a magnet, so it does."
Does that make sense to you?
Magnus
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