Hey Ham, [Ham] > Now, a "continuum" is an uninterrupted sequence or "gradient" of change -- > as in a prismatic spectrum or the set of real numbers, whereas everything > in > existence is relative and differentiated. What is implied here is that > Quality (Value) is such a continuum, i.e., a continuous range from good to > evil, or beautiful to hideous, as it were. That, indeed, is the > perspective > of the value-sensible subject in a relational world. But it makes no > sense > as the fundamental or primary source of reality -- if this is what Dynamic > Quality (Value) is alleged to be. Instead it makes existential reality an > "amoral universe" in which the value-sensible agent chooses what is > desirable or undesirable, moral or immoral, in his/her interpretation of > experience. This valuistic continuum or gradient exists only so long as > there is a cognizant subject to actualize it as finite objects (things and > events experienced as "real"). Ultimate Reality is not a gradient but the > absolute, undifferentiated source of what can only be realized > incrementally > by the sensible agent. > > That, my friend Platt, is what I have "been banging about all along". I > can't speak for Pirsig, but I sense that you may finally be getting the > drift of my value thesis. And, while that is most gratifying to me, > others > here will have to weigh its relevance to the MoQ.
I've been thinking about what you said, Ham. First, about "continuum." Pirsig says he means by continuum simply "that it goes on and on forever." But, that's not why I'm writing. The question I have for you is: "Is Essence immanent in the world as well as transcendent?" If it is, doesn't that mean it is immanent in you and I and everybody else? I suspect the answer to both is, "Yes." If so, and if as you say in your book on page 79 that Essence is "not something different from its absolute Self or its absolute Value," then perhaps -- just perhaps -- the difference between your philosophy and Pirsig's is not so wide after all. For just as Pirsig says "Quality has Lila" we possibly can say, "Essence has Lila." Or am I just whistling Dixie? Regards, Platt 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/
