Hi Dan,
> Dan:
>
> I think Steve is taking the quote out of context here by stating the
> dilemma doesn't come up. From LILA:
>
...
> "In the Metaphysics of Quality this dilemma doesn't come up. To the
> extent that one's behavior is controlled by static patterns of quality
> it is without choice. But to the extent that one follows Dynamic
> Quality, which is undefinable, one's behavior is free." [Robert
> Pirsig, LILA]
>
> Dan comments:
>
> When RMP states that the dilemma doesn't come up, he is saying that
> determinism and free will are both illusions based on extenuating
> circumstances arising from both a preconditioned point of view ("a
> traditional scientific metaphysics of substance") and the undefined (a
> Dynamic point of view).
>
> What Steve seems to be saying is: dilemma solved... no more need to
> talk about it.
Steve:
That's not what I mean to say.
Dan:
>But it isn't solved so much as it is reformulated. And
> there is every reason to further explore this line of inquiry, to
> build upon it and expand it. But that means letting go of some
> preconceived notions of which we are all very fond of, like the notion
> of free will.
Steve:
But I agree that this problem gets reformulated. The question of free
will versus determinism gets replaced by the question, to what extent
do we follow DQ and to what extent do we follow sq? The one dilemma
gets dissolved but is replaced by another puzzler. The difference in
our views may be the extent to which we still see a concept that is
similar enough to the traditional notion of free in the re-formulation
to warrant maintaining the old SOM term in talking about what we want
to talk about without being misunderstood.
What I thinks tend to go on with the way the term free will gets used
in these parts is that it gets slipped in the back door as the extent
to which behavior is a response to DQ, but then it reverts back to the
SOM notion of free will once inside. So I think it would be better to
drop the term from the MOQ vocabulary and maintain it only as an SOM
term worth criticizing.
Best,
Steve
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