“. . . the Metaphysics of Quality does not insist on a single exclusive truth.
If subjects and objects are held to be the ultimate reality then we're
permitted only one construction of things - that which corresponds to the
'objective' world - and all other constructions are unreal. [This is widely
known as the correspondence theory of truth - anyone can look it up.] But if
Quality or excellence is seen as the ultimate reality then it becomes possible
for more than one set of truths to exist. Then one doesn't seek the absolute
Truth.' One seeks instead the highest quality intellectual explanation of
things with the knowledge that if the past is any guide to the future this
explanation must be taken provisionally; as useful until something better comes
along."
Ron said:
To conclude Truth [singular] (added by Marsha) connects with "is" which is
[verb] 1. 3rd person singular present indicative of be. "Be" verb (used
without object) 1. to exist or live 2. to take place; happen; occur: So Marsha
is asserting that Truth is a singular experience in process. One has to ask
then WHAT exactly IS this fixed eternal (singular)Truth?
dmb says:
Okay, now this might come as a shock but I'm going to suggest that Marsha's
point defies the text, has no philosophical merit and even displays a basic
incompetence with respect to the use of the English language. That's usually
the case but this particular mistake is hilarious.
In order to defy Pirsig's explicit rejection of singular truth, Marsha rests
her case on the meaning of the word "is". She points to sentences wherein
Pirsig says what "truth is", rather that what "truths are", and uses them to
conclude that truth is singular and not plural.
Similarly, Marsha was reading the biography of Henry Ford. She came upon a
sentence which said, "the automobile is perhaps the most important invention of
the 20th century" and thereby came to the conclusion that there is only one
automobile. Same with the Wright brothers, the gents who perfected the bicycle
and invented the airplane. As we all knows, the bicycle is still very popular
and the airplane is crucial to our modern economy. Sure, it's not easy for 300
million people to share the one and only bike that was ever invented and that
single aircraft has to do the work of a nation. But that's just the way it
"is", huh?
This one really takes the cake. If there were an award given for most the
weakest, most ridiculous argument of the month, this would certainly be my
nominee.
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