[MD] The Quality/MOQ meta-metaphysics

[ARLO J BENSINGER JR]

[Ian]
I can find plenty of quotes that support the general argument that Pirsig was
improving on rational intellect, helping it to evolve rather than condemn it.
No argument.

[Arlo]
Not that it stands alone, but if it did this alone would be enough to
demonstrate that condemning the intellectual level to a prison of SOM is
certainly not what he meant nor intended.

[Ian]
What I can't find is any specific quote responding to Bo's SOLAQI the specific
way you suggest ... though I too, imagine he would.

[Arlo]
You mean because when he says "There is nothing in the MOQ that I know of that
leads to this conclusion", since he does not use the term "SOLAQI" that there
is room for ambiguity? C'mon.

Indeed, since he authored the MOQ, you could make this statement "There is
nothing in [my idea] that I know of that leads to this conclusion."

You mentioned something about a "guru", and I find that disingenuous, Ian. No
one is suggesting that Pirsig be blindly followed, or that everything he said
is above criticism or error.

I've said repeatedly that I disagree with Pirsig on several topics. And that Bo
has a VALID claim to say that Pirsig's ideas are wrong and that his are better.
That is a valid argument and he can have til the cows come home and I wouldn't
make a peep (other than to chime in saying I think Pirsig is correct on this).

But given everything Pirsig has said, including his own reflections on his own
ideas, its is invalid, and frankly dishonest, for Bo to claim that the SOL
represents what Pirsig "meant", because the only way to do that is to claim (as
Bo does) that Pirsig is simply too ignorant to understand what he himself wrote.

So, as I've said for the umpteenth time.

Pirsig's MOQ = the intellectual level is NOT SOM.

Bo's MOQ = the intellectual level IS SOM.

Have these ideas compete all you want. Shout "we hateses us those evil
interlictials!" from every hilltop. 

But get over the "interpretive" argument. When Pirsig says there is nothing in
his ideas that leads to the SOL, its time to accept that he MEANS what he says,
that in Pirsig's MOQ is an expansive intellectual pattern, not a "new level" or
some other such nonsense.