Dan said to Arlo:
So interpretations are actually representations?
Arlo replied:
No, if you wanted to delve into some lite semiotics. I used the word
"representation" to contrast "interpretation".
[Dan said] "Your interpretations run contrary to what the MOQ is saying. And as
long as they do, they are not high quality representations of the MOQ." In the
above, high-quality "representations" are only those that restate without
deviation the thoughts of the author. "Interpretations", by definition, are not
the same. ... Which is why your call for "interpretations" to be non-contrary
to Pirsig's ideas are better seen as support for "representations" or
"restatements".
dmb says:
I think you must be using a specialized notion of "interpretation". According
to common sense and ordinary dictionary definitions a good interpretation is
one that accurately reflects the meaning of the text. When that text is full of
explicit statements, examples and explanations, as Prisig's books are, I think
it's safe to assume that the author wanted to be clearly understood by his
readers. Things might get more complicated if we wanted to interpret the more
literary aspects or if you wanted to get experimental in applying this or that
interpretive theory. But normally, a good interpretation is one that accurately
reflects the meaning of the books or, even better, one that illuminates
Pirsig's ideas. A good critique is one that helps us understand or more fully
appreciate the meaning of the text.
I don't think we have to believe there is one objectively true interpretation
to assert this common sense notion. I don't think that we are hindered at all
by the fact that every reader is an interpreter. I mean, the basic criteria
doesn't change. Intellectual quality will include things like clarity,
coherence, understanding each statement and its context, seeing how both books
fit together, how they relate to the wider world of ideas, how it can be used
in practice, etc., etc..
Isn't that the basic premise of a forum like this? We're exploring the meaning
and import of a an identifiable set of ideas, right? That's the context in
which we're talking about "interpretation".
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
