Thank you, Marsha, for finding that Pirsig quote. Krimel, if you think about it, Pirsig's claim that Quality is a phenomenal reality, as opposed to the cause behind the experience, is perfectly consistent with radical empiricism. This says that experience IS reality, not that it is caused by reality. Kant's transcendental idealism is not exactly the same as the British idealism being discussed, but the concept of there being something beyond what's experienced is essentially the same thing. This cause can be thought of in terms of physical objects (substance) or some Hegelian rational Spirit but in both cases this cause is itself not experienced. Radical Empiricism says we can't make any claims about such things. In both cases, we're dealing with ghost stories. In fact, that's essential what he's saying about causation itself. It is an idea used to explain why one experience follows another. Like substance, it's a pretty fabulous idea that let's us do all kinds of things but it's still just an idea. Same goes for subjects and objects, which is why the claim that Quality is a phenomenal reality isn't just a matter of subjectivism. Maybe now you're starting to see what the basic problem is? I'm going all the way through ZAMM again for the first time in a long time. Won't you join me? Oh, wait, never mind. School begins this week. I'm listening to the whole book but I probably won't have very much time to discuss it, but still. You really should take another crack at it. I've long suspected (and often accused) you of not being able to understand the solution BECAUSE you don't see what the problem is. Now I'm quite sure this suspicion is correct and so talking to you about the MOQ is really quite pointless. But I enjoy it very much and so I'd be personally grateful if you made the effort. dmb
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