Hey, WillBlake --
I have to admit that, although I have bookmarked your thesis,
I haven't gotten to reading it yet, no excuse really except maybe
so little time and so much to look into. The length is a bit daunting too.
However I do plan to get to it, since as I read your posts, I feel
an affinity for your viewpoint, at least my interpretation of your
viewpoint (which is the best I can do).
I appreciate your candor and am honored that you've chosen to bookmark my
site. Unfortunately, the length and language of the thesis seem to have
intimidated many. I'd like to make it more approachable (inviting?) , but
so far haven't found a feasible way to simplify it. Possibly you can come
up with some suggestions. Inasmuch as the MD is a forum dedicated to
Pirsig's philosophy, however, it's probably best that discussions
specifically regarding Essentialism be conducted privately. Feel free to
contact me off-line at [email protected] .
I do not claim to fully understand MoQ, which is why I read this forum,
and ask questions. And to be honest, much of the chatter I do not
comprehend and therefore do not find useful. There are threads however
that peak my interest (and no, the whole PC episode was not one of them).
Like you, I am fascinated by the personal sense of this existence.
While I can imagine how a brain can create some kind of consciousness,
I still can't fathom why it is mine.
There is certainly a piece there that cannot be answered to my
satisfaction with logic or conjecture.
I have turned to all sorts of philosophies east and west, but still cannot
piece it together. I am not sure what I am looking for other than a sense
of relief. Some little metaphor or story or something that will satisfy my
curiosity. Even that may be an illusion, but it doesn't matter to me so
long
as it works for me.
Don't know if I can ever understand the subjective with the objective.
Existence is indeed a paradox for all of us. But I've never heard it
expressed in quite this way. The difficulty most people have is
understanding how the brain creates the conscious mind. I find it
intriguing that you would ask why that mind is yours. For you, apparently,
the paradox is one of "identity" rather than ontology. Two suggestions: 1)
Try forgetting that consciousness is identified with you, and see if you
still conceive existence as a subject/object duality, and 2) Try imagining
that existence is ONLY you, and see if the duality disappears. The solution
should lie somewhere between these two paradigms.
Actually your enigma would make a thought-provoking subject for this forum.
Why not start a thread along the lines of "Whose consciousness am I?" or
"Why is mind not universal?", and see what responses it generates. I can
think of a few participants who'd have a ball with this. It could also
enlighten both of us as to how the Pirsigians understand subjectivity, since
they don't acknowledge a subject.
Your thoughts are interesting, and I look forward to further dialogue with
you, on-line or off.
Essentially yours,
Ham
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