Platt: You're telling me that Pirsig didn't really mean it when he said, "A free market is a Dynamic institution."
Andre: I didn't say this. Platt: You're telling me Pirsig lied when he said, "The free market makes everybody richer." Andre: No. Platt: You're telling me Pirsig was off in Never-Never Land when he said, "Major capitalist countries have done so much better since World War II than the major socialists countries." Andre: Again, I never made such a claim. Platt: You're telling me Pirsig had too many boilermakers when he said, "You go to any socialist city and it's always a dull place because there's little Dynamic Quality." Andre: Careful Platt, I am one by trade you know? Platt: Your telling me Pirsig was stupid... . Andre: I wouldn't dare. Platt: Your telling me that everything Pirsig said about capitalism being better than socialism was just a bunch of malarky because everybody knows capitalism sucks. Andre: If I remember correctly Pirsig sought the virtue of 'the West's' success in the way that people worked i.e 'in parallel' rather than 'in buraucratic series'. I honestly don't know how Pirsig feels about capitalism, only by suggesting that 'The Giant could be very good to you... If it wanted to. (Lila p234). And, of course Pirsig being a Democrat. Plus, also remember, as you well do, that capitalism and markets attend to satisfying our biological/social/ intellectual needs and tends to neglect our 'spiritual' part. And this may well have created this 'secret loneliness' as Pirsig terms it. Platt: I don't buy it. Pirsig says what he means and means what he says. To suggest otherwise is to throw his entire philosophy into the garbage bin. Andre: And this is not the place it belongs. Platt, I think you have misunderstood the main thrust of what I suggested i.e. just because something is dynamic doesn't mean it (and all that is associated with it) is automatically good and virtuous. There is low quality (eg sitting on a hot stove) and there is high quality (eg human rights). The wisdom lies in how to create harmony in the processes of satisfying our social/ biological needs thereby providing the basis for attending to our spiritual needs. Platt: Where is that quote from? I couldn't find it in Lila. Andre: No, it is not in Lila, it is from the 'On the Road' dvd. Platt: What is good is evolution towards greater freedom and versatility, accomplished by being open to the force of Dynamic Quality. Andre: Agreed, and to accomplish this is a mighty intellectual challenge. Regards Andre 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/
