[MD] Choosing Chance

ARLO J BENSINGER JR ajb102 at psu.edu
Tue Jan 19 22:09:07 PST 2010


[John]
I put choice as fundamental, you put chance. 

[Arlo]
Without "chance", there could be no free "choice". This is my point. If your
choice was in any way coerced, forced, predetermined, orchestrated,
manipulated, etc., then it was not really a "choice", was it?

Pirsig's brilliance was to extend "chance" (freedom, DQ) down to the tiniest of
subatomic particles. When subatomic particles "choose" to form atoms, they are
able to do so ONLY because there was/is no predetermination or coercion in
forcing them to act as they did. Had there been, then you strip DQ out of the
mix. The cosmos becomes the super-marionation show for the Will of Quali-god.

Your choices are only choices if there is "chance" that you would choose
differently. If I grab your hand and force it onto a button, then this was not
your "choice". Eliminate "chance" and you eliminate "freedom".

"Choice" cannot precede "chance", as it is "chance" that makes "choice"
possible. Indeed, "choice" is the agenic response to "chance". 

[John]
The only argument you could make against choice is that you've got no choice in
the matter. 

[Arlo]
I'd never argue against "choice", it is the manifestation of "chance", the
manifestation of "freedom". "Choice" is "chance" made visible, you could say. 





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