SUMMARY OF CHAPTERS 1 THROUGH 3 For too long, we discuss topics, only to fail to ever summarize our progress. One result is that some of the potential dynamic advances are lost due to a lack of static latching. Attached is a suggested format for summarizing key points of the discussion, while also acknowledging remaining areas of disagreement or controversy. Further revisions or clarifications are gladly encouraged, and those seeing no value in the latching or the editorial voice are more than welcome to put their delete button to good use. Sorry I am a day late, my job requires frequent travel during the week. OVERVIEW Chapter 1 introduces us to Rigel, Lila, Capela and Phaedrus. In the second chapter, Phaedrus discusses his random-access MOQ program slips and his sorting methodology. In the 3rd, he delves into his primary slips which include the non-objective anthropologist Dusenberry, the peyote ceremony and Phaedrus' initial vision that Native Americans were the originators of Western values -- including the value of freedom. KEY CONCEPTS: 1) Pirsig provides insights on how the MOQ was compiled using random slips. A central theme here is freedom. He speaks of using the slips to free and empty his mind to make room for the new. He also stresses the quality, freshness and growth potential that can be leveraged via the freedom of random access. He allowed the slips almost to organize and categorize themselves by asking only one simple question, "which came first?." 2) Pirsig introduces us to some of the limitations of objectivity. "There's this pseudo-science myth that when you are 'objective' you just disappear from the face of the earth and see everything undistorted, as it really is, like God from heaven. But that's rubbish." 3) He highlights that his mystical peyote experience helped him to overcome his objectivity to "spin an enormous symetrical web, larger and more perfect than any [his analytic side] had ever spun before." He comments that he could not have "gone the distance without the Peyote." He even considered structuring the entire book around the ceremony to show the "complex realities and trancendental questions that first emerged in his mind there." 4) His initial peyote illumination was that Indians are "the originators" of much of American values, especially the value of Freedom. "....it was to this conflict between European & Indian values, between freedom and order, that his study should be directed." COMMENTARY / DISSENSION: 1) There were no major disagreements on the first key concept. There was also a consensus that the phrase "which came first" refers to intellectual or logical primacy rather than strict chronology. 2) No major dissension on the limitations-of-objectivity concept either. David and Bo, coming from different angles, did caution that this issue is far from fully developed. The consensus, however, was that Dusenberry and his non-objectivity need to be recognized as the first intellectual slip. 3) The group is extremely divided on the significance and merits of mysticism in the origins of the MOQ. 3WD is concerned with mysticism's unnecessary historical baggage. Jonathan and Glenn interpret mysticism as irrelevant, or some type of discarded bad opening that was later demoted to an illustrative example. David B. and others disagree vehemently, believing that the term is essential, that people are ignoring clear and repeated passages on the importance of the issue, and that most of the dissenters misunderstand the concept. In brief, both groups feel the other is floating around in Cleveland Harbor. What is YOUR view? There was also some lively discussion on the perils of promoting drug use. 4) No dissension was noted on the wording or interpretation of #4. However there was widespread disagreement with Pirsig's conclusion. Native American's probably influenced Western values, but to credit them as the originators seems a stretch. Nobody felt this issue was central to the metaphysics though. 3WD suggested the rhetorical value of this idea was greater than its intellectual value. Summary by Roger PS -- If too late, please bounce me ...... ------- End of forwarded message ------- MOQ.org - http://www.moq.org
