Andre: The concepts of Yin and Yang are derived from the Tao and without streching oneself too far can be likened to the concepts of subject and object in the MoQ,which are derived from DQ. Pirsig has likened/ substituted his Quality with the Tao.
[Krimel] I do not see the connection between Yin and Yang and S/O other than that S/O seems to be thought by some here to be opposites. On the other hand the parallel between static/dynamic and passive/active seem isomorphic. [Andre] 'The Tao is neither yin nor yang but is the ground of both and permeates both...In Phaedrus' parrallel scheme, as I understand it, Quality, the unnameable One, gives rise to the myriad nameable things by way of the Two, subject and object. Quality is neither subject nor object but is the ground of both and permeates both. Subject energy and object energy produce by their interaction all that can be named and defined'(op cit p115). [Krimel] And I thought Pirsig's main beef here was that subject/object is not a metaphysically fundamental split. Static Quality and Dynamic Quality on the other hand are a more fundamental distinction. [Andre quotes Wiki] Yin and yang are complementary opposites within a greater whole. Everything has both yin and yang aspects, which constantly interact, never existing in absolute stasis. Yin-yang is not an actual substance or force, the way it might be conceived of in western terms. Instead, it is a universal way of describing the interactions and interrelations of the natural forces that do occur in the world. It applies as well to social constructions - e.g. value judgements like good and evil, rich and poor, honor and dishonor - yet it is often used in those contexts as a warning, since by its principles extreme good will turn to evil, extreme wealth to poverty, extreme honor to dishonor. [Krimel] Right but read the article a little closer and you will see that Yin is passive, dark, winter, feminine and Yang is active, light, summer, masculine. Yin is Static. Yang is Dynamic. [Andre] I think that there is merit in making the parallel between Yin/Yang and Subject/Object in that they reinforce the interactive, and thereby ever changing nature of SQ as these patterns are 'moving' toward ever expanding expressions of freedom and harmony. And this is what Lao Tsu, Confucius and Pirsig were after no? (each in their own way). [Krimel] Again I think the parallel is not as you are describing it, but: Yin-Static Yang-Dynamic. Another point on this is that Pirsig seeks to take the whole and like a gem cutter to cleave it in two. Then to cleave the static into four discrete levels. I think this misses the point of Taoism. Because as Case once said: Things don't cleave They shatter All the pieces scatter Distinctions that should matter Turn to gray And yet in every spot of gray We see that white and black still play. 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/
