Hi Ham,

> Anthony McWatt, who is regarded here as the "official interpreter" of 
> Pirsig's MoQ, explains Dynamic Quality thusly:
> 
> "Dynamic Quality is the term given by Pirsig to the continually changing flux 
> of immediate reality while static quality refers to any concept abstracted 
> from this flux.  Pirsig equates Dynamic Quality with F.S.C. Northrop's 
> 'indeterminate aesthetic continuum' which refers to the divine in experience 
> and can only be understood properly through direct apprehension. Hence the 
> use of the term "dynamic" which indicates something not fixed or 
> determinate."   --[A. McWatt: 'Pirsig's Metaphysics of Quality']
> 
> Now a "continually changing flux" that is "not fixed" and is also described 
> as an "aesthetic continuum" indicates motion or progession to me, especially 
> as it relates to four levels of an evolutinary heirarchy.  So I don't know 
> why you think my "interpretation of ordinary MOQ is strange."  How do YOU 
> interpret it?

Does a Pirsig quote trump an Anthony McWatt one?

"Unfortunately 'static' and 'Dynamic' have a meaning in physics that refers to 
space and time and motion and this can be confused with the static and Dynamic 
of the MOQ" - Lila's Child.

> They ancients weren't talking about "quality"; they were describing an 
> immutable deity.  Since empirical reality is "defined", perhaps "undefined" 
> would be a more suitable label for what Pirsig confusingly calls "Dynamic 
> Quality".

I think you may have an argument here but I'm yet to be sold.

>> All metaphysical ideas are capable of empirical verification.
>> You're trying them on right now.  Are they any good?
> 
> I don't know whose metaphysical ideas you have in mind, but empirical 
> verification cannot be applied to concepts that transcend the physical (i.e., 
> experiential) world.  Nor do I make such a claim for the tenets of 
> Essentialism.
> 
> In short, David, you haven't convinced me that anything I said is wrong.

You try on someone else's ideas all the time Ham. These words that I am 
speaking now. Are they mine? Did I invent these words? Of course I didn't and 
yes I'm still testing them to see how well they fit reality. Maybe one day a 
new word will come along that describes things better and I'll use that. And on 
and on.



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