Steve to dmb:
That is utter nonsense. How could a "dependent self" be free (independent)?
That is a simple logical contradiction.
Andre:
Not read my latest post I presume? A 'dependent self' can be free (independent)
and indeed within the MOQ this seemingly logical contradiction is true and has
a very simple resolution. As Pirsig says (for goodness sake Steve I thought you
knew this!) biologically she's fine, socially she's way down the ladder. This
is taking the so called (SOM) 'logical contradiction' by the throat and
explaining it within a value centered metaphysics.
She has quality and she hasn't.
Let me give you the simplest example: parents and child. The child is dependent
on parents...for some time and then finds his/her own way...free. His/her path
is partially determined by mum and dad's legacy (i.e. genes, social
connections, intellectual interests) and then finds its own way. There is
freedom in this. It's as simple as that.
Lila wanted to shed herself of her own legacy/history (i.e static patterns). She succeeded to some extent. And the 'to some extent' refers to the fact that she wanted to 'come clean' of her biological quality and get herself accepted socially. That is why she failed and succeeded at the same time: with Rigel she established her position within the acceptable social patterns. For Lila Quality meant social acceptance. She failed because she did not continue to follow DQ.
"She's after Quality, like everybody else". (LILA,p 218)
This, for me expresses 'free will' or much rather (in Jamesian terms) 'the will
to be free'. It is part and parcel of our make up. And when this gets violated
our values react, at all levels. When you find yourself in a low quality
situation/environment you react, just like the amoeba reacts...except with more
choices.
"If the baby ignores this force of Dynamic Quality it can be speculated that he
will become retarded, but if he is normally attentive to Dynamic Quality he will
soon begin to notice difference and then correlations between differences and then
repetitive patterns of the correlations' (LILA, p 123).
Perhaps what I am saying is simply this: the capability of apprehending DQ and
acting on it is free, unconditioned will (DQ/sq)...an inborn, natural state.
The capability of apprehending DQ and not acting on it is conditioned
will.(SQ/dq)
The capability of apprehending DQ and not acting on it leads to the funeral
procession Sylvia lamented. (SQ/dq)
And Lila defines her choice in biological terms...she doesn't see intellectual
quality at all. It's outside her range. She does glimpse social quality
though...in the end. And she got her way: She goes with Rigel, who accepts her
and Lila has her way.
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