[MD] Is Quality a Value?

[Ham Priday]

Hello David --


> Ham
>
> try replacing the subject with agency as that would be
> more participatory and less dualistic, and look on it as
> the interaction of SQ and DQ, of just Being, or Quality,
> what does 'subject' have that these terms cannot cover?

I appreciate your suggestion but, unlike you, have no reason to abandon
subject/object dualism.  Besides, "agency" has a ring of subservience about
it, as if the subject were some kind of puppet or automaton operated by a
higher power.  That is exactly what I DON'T wish to suggest in my definition
of the conscious individual.

I do use "agent" in the teleological sense that man serves a valuistic
purpose in the essential scheme of things.  But the individual is a special
kind of "agency" that is inherently autonomous and self-determinate.  You
say, "look on it as the interaction of SQ and DQ."  While this may be the
mechanistic view of man suggested by the MoQ, it's not mine.

In order to eliminate duality, Pirsig divides reality into SQ and DQ.  I see
existence as the division between subjective awareness and objective
beingness.  In other words, I acknowledge the duality of existence while
also recognizing that it has a primary source (Essence) which is not
divided.  The MoQ equates existence with ultimate reality, inferring DQ as
the source but not specifically defining it as such.  As you know, I think
this is a major metaphysical shortcoming.  I would have problems defining
Quality or Value as the creative force (shall we use your term "agency"?)
supporting existence, yet I think man's sense of values pretty well defines
his reality.

All of this effort to parse Quality in order to account for the Creator, the
experienced cosmos, and man's identity leads to circular debates that come
up empty on all three counts.  Descartes had the right idea, in my opinion;
he started at the locus of existence -- his own awareness -- and concluded
that beingness was something else.  I don't see how anyone can deny that.

One must be willing to reason beyond physical existence to resolve duality.
That's what metaphysics aims to do.  Unfortunately, some philosophers don't
put much stock in metaphysical solutions.

Nice to hear from you, David.

Best regards for the holidays,
Ham