Hi Mark
As far as I can see the 4 statements I presented are pretty much a
summary of static/stable patterns in relation to DQ and sums up much of
what Pirsig wrote in Lila.
At the Inorganic level (Order is better than Chaos) if there were no
order there would be no elements or molecules and thus no planets, stars
galaxies etc. - an infinity of chaos/energy.
The Organic/Biological level (Alive is better than Dead) builds on the
Inorganic level through complex molecules through which life emerges,
survives and sustains itself.
The Social level (Together is better than Alone) builds on the
Organic/Biological level to create groups/families/societies etc. which
further enhance the prospect of merely surviving.
And at the Intellectual level (Reason is better than Dogma) we have
reason to allow us to think about what we are taught to unthinkingly
repeat by institutions at the social level.
In the above, I think, we can see where Dynamic Quality relates to
Static Patterns of Value in that each level - as Pirsig described -
emerges from the previous level. It also become, to me at least, easy to
see where there is a moral preference - i.e. betterness.
But if you think, as you appear to do, that the above is just dogma then
try reversing the statements and see what falls out:
Would you rather have chaos/disorder than order and consequently nothing
but random energy?
Would you rather be dead then alive?
Would you rather be alone and isolated then have company?
Would you rather repeat others nonsense and orthodoxy or would you
rather think for yourself?
Would you rather change to stagnation or the new to the old?
It all comes down to what is preferable.
It would seem that where Pirsig has created something so simple to
understand, there are others who would try to complicate it to the point
where what initially makes sense becomes incomprehensible.
How do we know alive is better than dead? Easy. Top yourself and find
out! Let me know how that one goes!
My interpretation of Dogma? Endlessly repeating what someone else has
said without thinking about why it may be true, false or somewhere in
between. If I were just repeating the above, ad nauseum and mantra
stylee, then it would be dogma. As it is I've given it considerable
thought and found it to have immense value.
Horse
On 01/11/2010 05:31, 118 wrote:
[Horse]
I'll take a wild stab in the dark here and guess that what Ron referred to
was something that was about on MD several years ago.
Inorganic - Order is better than Chaos
Organic - Alive is better than Dead
Social - Together is better than Alone
Intellectual - Reason is better than Dogma
[Mark]
Aren't you pointing out Dogma above? If there are reasons for these
statements, then we should discuss them. They seem more like premises to
me. How do we know that alive is better than dead? We do not know how to
value dead except through life, this seems a little biased to me and
certainly does not involve reason. Perhaps you have a different
interpretation of Dogma.
Cheers,
Mark
--
"Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines
or dates by which bills must be paid."
— Frank Zappa
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