Hi Platt,
On Nov 19, 2010, at 11:18 AM, Platt Holden wrote: > Marsha, > > Thank you. I'm astounded by the coincidence that recent posts from you, Mark > and John under different subject headings all focus on thought's limits and > the Buddhist belief that, as Pirsig wrote, "Thought is not a path to > reality." > > Unlike many other thinkers, Pirsig acknowledges thought's shortcomings at > the outset of Lila. "Quality is essentially outside definition, this means > that a "Metaphysics of Quality" is essentially a contradiction in terms, a > logical absurdity." But, he goes on to conclude, "Getting drunk and picking > up bar-ladies and writing metaphysics is a part of life." Further, in a > letter to Ant, he rationalized the value of the MOQ by saying, "Finally, > though it may be argued that a metaphysics that incorporates a central term > that isn't defined (i.e. Dynamic Quality) isn't a real metaphysics, it can > also be argued that the strength of the MOQ is its ability to incorporate > the indeterminate divine within a coherent and logical paradigm." > > Here we see admitted that thinking about reality boils down to "argument." > On the one hand, we have the Buddhist understanding that reality cannot be > divided. On the other hand, we have the MOQ understanding based on the axiom > that some things are better than others, implying a divided reality. The > irony is that the Buddhist understanding of reality cannot be argued. All > the Buddhist can say is, "See for yourself." I think the Buddhist's would say that Conventional Reality is constructed of interdependent truths (static patterns of value). And I can see no reason why some truths wouldn't be judged better than others. Like the Chinese behavior in Tibet: not good. Compassionate behavior: better. imho > Which is why you, I and others find reality in art whose value strikes the > senses directly, prior to argument, and why those who have sold their souls > to thought are inclined to dismiss us as "airheads." We threaten their > deepest beliefs by winking at their arguments and having fun, like Mark's > brilliant spoof, the "Cheese Theory." As the weeks have gone by, I find Mark more and more brilliant. Marsha 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/md/archives.html
