[Krimel] "The term "cause" can be struck out completely from a scientific description of the universe without any loss of accuracy or completeness. The only difference between causation and value is that the word "cause" implies absolute certainty whereas the implied meaning of "value" is one of preference." - Lila.
I think this quote points to Pirsig at his best and worst. It reveals his instinct for critical problems that demand a shift in modern thinking. There are issues with the notion of causality. But the problem is solved by correcting the misconception that "...the word "cause" implies absolute certainty..." That may have been true after Newton or even in the late 50's or early 60s when Pirsig was studying in Chicago. But a probabilistic understanding of causality solves the problem and puts the platypus in a proper cage. Causality simply means highly probable not absolutely certain. Pirsig's solution, to substitute "value" for "cause" is his second worst linguistic blunder. (The first is his choice of "Quality" as a substitute for "Tao.) It is just plain false to assert that 'value' and 'cause' can be used interchangeably without altering the meaning. Even the sensible Pirsig cheerleaders on this forum have to tap dance and bend meaning to support this. Pirsig goes on: "What appears to be an absolute cause is just a very consistent pattern of preferences." He is so close here. Substitute "probability" for "preference" and he scores a bulls eye. But instead he not only runs with "preference" but puts a spotlight on all of the false connotations that make the term misleading in this context. More Pirsig: "Therefore when you strike "cause" from the language and substitute "value" you are not only replacing an empirically meaningless term with a meaningful one; you are using a term that is more appropriate to actual observation." It is the meaning and associations we have with the term 'value' than make this false. It reintroduces all of the animism and anthropomorphism that scientists have been at pains to exclude. As a result we have folks here ranting on about what electron "prefer" and supposing that they are possessed of some form of rudimentary self awareness. That is not to mention Bo's anthropomorphic levels, warring with one another and having desires and purposes. Extending awareness to the inorganic is bizarre enough but here we have someone extending purpose to abstractions. 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/
