Clark and Squad,
Having just joined MD I was somewhat surprised to encounter your post. It makes me
wonder
what I have been missing. I shall try to respond, though I must admit I am left
guessing where
you are coming from.
You say "all things experience the appropriate DQ and sq, even inanimate objects. Else
how
would we have a universe to inhabit." I think it is stretching the normal usage of
"experience"
to apply that term to inanimate objects. The universe existed, I suppose, before anyone
thought of DQ and sq, and your comment only makes sense if we assume the DQ/sq
assumption is fundamental to how things are. Maybe it is, but I don't assume that. I
want to
examine any intellectual insight or system to see if it makes sense, as best I can
judge, and
to see if it assists me to live better in this universe. Frankly, most people find
philosophy a
non-issue because at the end of the day they assume its all hot air. I enjoy the
intellectual
stimulus of Pirsig's ideas, but I am yet to be convinced that his thought will
actually change
people's lives for the better. One major proviso, though. For people who are
overwhelmed by
the arid hopelessness of mainstream philosophy, to find someone building a metaphysics
on
quality may indeed be a sign of hope. I happen to think Pirsig has got it right at
this point. But
each person has to do their own intellectual work to integrate this into their lives,
and I
remain profoundly cynical of the ability of intelligence alone to influence the
quality of our
lives.
As to feeling uncomfortable with inhabiting an illogical universe, join Einstein, for
one. He felt
very uncomfortable with the direction physics took during his lifetime, but his
discomfort
seems not to have altered anything. As I understand mysticism (and I do not claim to
be a
mystic) it is essentially letting go of the intellect and re-experiencing immediate
sensation in
much the way we did as infants. This certainly is a loss of both control and
understanding as
generally understood. The issue is whether control and understanding are the keys to a
good
life. I strongly believe they are not, but I equally believe they make a contribution
and cannot
be ignored. If you wish to examine mysticism through the experience of a mature
scientist
who experienced 'enlightenment' uninvited, much to his surprise, I suggest you explore
the
articles by John Wren-Lewis on the internet. "The Dazzling Dark" would be a good
introduction. I find John a very credible person - I spoke with him on the phone
before his
death, and his articles are stimulating and, in my assessment, honest.
Regards
John B
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