[MD] The Greeks?

[Mary]

Hi Krimel,

> > [Krimel]
> > I think the "level" is the collection of all the code
> > regardless of whether or not it even works all that really matter for
> > it to belong to the "level" is that it can be accessed.
> >
> [Mary Replies]
> You are in good company then.  This is what most people think.
> 
> [Krimel]
> I would like to think so and I may have missed something, I certainly
> hope
> so, but I don't recall anyone here saying that or even commenting one
> way or
> another on it the several times I have.
>
[Mary Replies] 
The levels are but a representation of reality.  Given a choice, would you
prefer to access the representation or the thing represented?

 
> > [Krimel]
> > In fact I think the snippets of useful code that
> > Pirsig provided have already been replaced by more powerful and
> > efficient programmers.
> >
> [Mary Replies]
> Such as?
> 
> [Krimel]
> Originally I liked what Pirsig said about evolution for example but
> closer
> reading showed it to be really flawed. Better programmers in that area
> should have been well known to Pirsig and include Dawkin, Gould and
> Wilson
> to mention a few. But Dawkins especially when it comes to extending
> evolutionary thinking outside of biology.
> 
> Pirsig showed glimpses of insight into the importance of randomness and
> random access but fumbles there as well. Better programmers there would
> include Shannon who predates all of Pirsig's writing but was mostly
> known
> only to specialists at the time, Pirgonine and Mandelbrot for experts
> and
> Gleick for the rest of us.
> 
> He seemed on the right track with his talk about Taoism but you can't
> really
> improve on Lao Tsu although Watts, Capra and Hoff take a good stab at
> show
> why you ought to read the master.
> 
> When I first read ZMM in '75 I thought his analysis of Hume and Kant
> was
> good. There are many accounts that are much better though not
> necessarily
> more recent Durrant and Russell of course and from what Matt and Steve
> say I
> suspect Rorty but I haven't gotten around to him so I keep shut on that
> one.
> BTW, just as a tackey aside even I can tell that dmb hasn't read Rorty
> either he just doesn't have the sense to keep quiet about it.
> 
> Pirsig has lots to say about mental illness for more and better insight
> there I would recommend the DSM-IV.
> 
> For his thoughts on psychology in general anything and everything by
> Malcom
> Gladwell and for better insight into economics Dan Ariely. Both of
> these
> guys gave TED talks and for better programming in general just about
> anyone
> who has ever given a TED talk. www.ted.com
> 
>
[Mary Replies] 
All are highly skilled at accessing the representation of reality.

Best,
Mary