Bobb, Diana, Bodvar, Johannes and all MF, Why do I write this letter ? = Why do I investigate in Philosophy ? I want to live in the best of all possible worlds. And if one wants to live in the best of all possible worlds, one has to find a structure which allows her to see the GOOD. The MOQ is the best frame I have found so far. Because it allows, and nevertheless with a sharp focus on the GOOD, to value live within a wider spectrum. 1. In retrospective I know that I wept after my first encounter with ZAMM (tears of relief actually) because I sensed the righteousness of Mr. Pirsigs critique at scientific empirism. He found words for a feeling I carried around and which alienated me from my fellow beings. Later on I read Ken Wilbers ' Eine kurze Geschichte des K�smos ' (= 'a short history of the K�smos' in my translation). Wilber said that the differentiation of the 'I, We and It' trinity sent the inquisition to hell and was the foundation for the establishment of scientific empirism. But then the objective 'It' colonised the space used and inhabited by the 'I' and the 'We'. As an example for the colonising of Ken Wilber's scientific 'IT' goes the example where scientifically oriented people have the impertinence to claim, that if one can not found an opinion on objective data his opinion is irrelevant. When one misinterprets Albert Einsteins quote that common sense is the sum of all prejudices one collects in his childhood and concludes that ONLY value judgments based on data help forthcoming development he makes a big mistake. He discredits everywomans and some mens (meaning all reasonable, spiritual beings :)) ability to develop good and workable How to do Your life maintenance instructions (= which is for me identical with metaphysiques, or at least they play in the same stadium). Common sense is (often in perfect harmony with scientific points of view) very present in Pirsigs work and also in the discussion forums. Nowadays people are not going round nice and smooth but tend to be hard, (a)countable and deny the existence of essential parts of this world. People do not listen to their own personal rhythm but turn their awareness to shaping entities, not of their own. People tend to become more and more the same, just because the number of the possible frames become fewer. This is a formula to put my feelings into comprehensible shape. This is deeply embedded in my thinking and feeling. 2. MOQ's april 2000 discussion was insightfull for me: "And as Phaedrus' studies got deeper and deeper he saw that it was to this conflict between European and Indian values, between freedom and order, that his study should be directed." The intellectual conclusion that systems do not limit but increase Your freedom ,in terms of ways You can go, sunk so deep that it changed my patterns of actions. This is the first time that I learned like this - via listening - understanding - trying - staying with it - on an intellectually aware level. Before that I always followed my intuition without making any plans or USING CONCEPTS AS AN OUTLINE FOR PATTERNS OF FUTURE AGENTS. This was a revolution like a turnaround. Thanks to everyone participating. The MOQ map for these concepts is greater than the limited (and on its own terms beneficial) map resulting from scientific empirism. 3. On development: We do not go straight although we are trying to and this reminds me of 'clapping with one hand'. When one is silent and listening, one might find that patterns occur no one has asked for. But these patterns are discovered by trying to 'clap with one hand' and they might say that the question asked ,before finding out starts, has to be dealt with. The whole MOQ system is suspended on antagonisms.Accepting this and still staying around and trying is the big task. 4. Bobby wrote on 27.11.00: Although i am not able to complete the series on reason as it seems to go off topic , but i wanted to conclude,( as a result of my own experience with ZAMM , Lila and this forum ) that a pragmatic element can only be brought into the MOQ by appropriate application of reason for the purpose of RIGOROUS and RUTHLESS self-analysis. At least my own experience validates this. The only prerequisite is one's desire to do so. Without knowing the core of one's own values, and their relation to one's purpose, i cannot see how an inquiry into morals can make sense. Anything anyone will say or do will be of little or no avail. Right and Good and I would just like to add: metaphysique is always a belief. This can not be said often enough. The quest for the best autosuggestive system is derived from ones own idea of excellence and will be improved on its way by companions. Which is the reason why I am here, and I thank You all for Your contributions. Andreas And what comes in the wake of the goldrush ? = Things I do not understand right now - (I play with them from all angles I can imagine, and there are more ideas coming in good old pirisigian - the longer You wait the more possible ways to handle not yet cleared tasks evolve.) On which level would You locate the writings of Hermann Hesse or Dostojewski ? Would You agree that choosing, may the parameters creating the situation be of whatever origin, always follow DQ. What does the MOQ say to the idea of 'I' ? This is of course closely related to the free will/determinism question (and without going to deep into that matter smells a bit like s/o thinking). I will have a close look at the posts dealing with that matter. What is the difference between love and DQ ? as an antagonist to 'What is the difference between energy and DQ ? What does the MOQ say to Thomas von Aquins quote: ' Evil is the absence of GOOD ' ? Probably it takes You five seconds to answer these questions. But I can go in the MD forum as well. Diana, When I see people wondering what morality has to do with it all anyway, or asking whether quality is subjective or objective (!!), it makes me wonder if we'll ever make any progress at all. You sound tired. I would be if I would try to read and understand all posts. I show up only sometimes and inbetween I reload my batteries. When I get into dire straits it is my duty, according to my ' How to do Your life instruction ', to relegate myself into a position where I appreciate my surrounding povs. MOQ.org - http://www.moq.org
