[MD] On Balance: Dewey, Pirsig and Granger

[Squonkonguitar at aol.com]

In a message dated 17/12/2006 16:27:11 GMT Standard Time,  
marshalz at charter.net writes:

Mark,

Could you explain your coherence theory using the hot  stove analogy?

Marsha



Hi Marsha,
Certainly.
 
Imagine you sit in a room near a hot stove.
It is 8 o'clock on a shiveringly cold Winter morning.
You sit near the stove and become snug in it's radiant glow.
As the morning progresses the Sun climbs above the hills and your room  basks 
in it's ruddy greeting.
You move a little further away from the stove now because snug is becoming  
warm.
The cheery Sun climbs to a feeble midday and your chair has to move even  
further from the stove in order for you to stay snug.
All the while you have been reading Dewey, and your concentration is  in 
harmony with your snug surroundings. Your chair has moved but you don't  recall 
having done it for the motion was automatic and appropriate as and when  
required.
Afternoon shadows lengthen and your chair begins to slowly creep back  toward 
the hot stove.
In time, your chair is back where it began before the Sun advanced,  and 
perhaps now you motion towards a comfortable proximity between your  book and the 
welcome glow before you.
Such is coherence perhaps?
Love,
Mark