Steve to Andre: It doesn't really, but it is a good idea to consider how the word metaphysics is used in ZAMM as well. Do you think that Pirsig means something different by the term "metaphysics" when he describes his philosophical system as "a metaphysics" from what is traditionally meant by the term?
Andre: Yes I do think that Pirsig means something different when using his philosophical system 'a metaphysics'. Firstly of course the starting point of the MoQ is to take Value as primary and, crucially the pre-intellectual aspect of it, into account.( this as opposed to the majority of other philosophical systems) namely 'direct experience'. This experience is then divided and integrated into the four static levels of value within an overall evolutionary framework. What attracts me to the MoQ is that it is not prescriptive, it says nowhere what ought to be done or what ought to be the case. I think this is what set Phaedrus up against Kant (Master cutter as he was) because (within the Kantian philosophy and many others) he still felt within a prison (see ZMM). Pirsig does not want his metaphysics to be another prison. Hence the DQ/SQ divisions... and (if you like) the notion of the continuation of evolutionary progress (which is 'open-ended'). That is: it remains provisional. This is its force as well. It accounts for individual PoV's to play an active part in the evolutionary process rather than simply being puppets or cogs in a grand design (made up by some philosopher). Even stronger than this we are active in our own evolution, taking place within our cultural evolution possibly extending this to world evolution and the evolution of the universe. We are the universe and the universe is us. Thing to understand is of course that these are static representations of an ongoing dynamic process. We play 'a' part, we play a metaphysical part but after we have departed the dynamic process continues. The metaphysics may never be completed (I do not know) but 'mine' will be. Ok. I've rambled on a bit Steve. Hope it makes some sense (eventhough you may not agree). Feel free to suggest I still believe in fairy-tales. Cheers 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/
