[Pirsig] "But although the four systems are exhaustive they are not exclusive. They all operate at the same time and in ways that are almost independent of each other. This classification of patterns is not very original, but the Metaphysics of Quality allows an assertion about them that is unusual. It says they are not continuous. They are discrete. They have very little to do with one another. Although each higher level is built on a lower one it is not an extension of that lower level. Quite the contrary. The higher level can often be seen to be in opposition to the lower level, dominating it, controlling it where possible for its own purposes." (LILA, pp. 172-3)
[Krimel]> the "levels"...are not even remotely "discrete" as Pirsig claims...when> we look at life itself on a molecular level we see no> clear distinction between what is alive and what is inert. But all Pirsig needs to claim is that an elephant is at a level discrete from one of its organic molecules, not that its molecules are at a level discrete from inorganic molecules. [Krimel] > Social organization or the mutual interdependence of individual members of a > species is an > evolutionary strategy employed by many species in nature. From coral to ants > and bees up > through primates many organisms owe their survival to mutual support, > division of labor and cooperative behavior. Pirsig chose to specifically > exclude all of this and include only humans at the social level. Yes, that's why a primate "troop leader" is biological, but a calvary troop leader is social. Craig 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/
