[MD] Julian Baggini Interview with Pirsig

[Heather Perella]

Hello,  I go by the name Spiritual Adirondack. 
Heather Perella is my wife.  I say this because her
name comes up in the heading somewhere.
     I read the interview between Julian Baggini and
Pirsig.  The unspoken results where interesting, such
as the assumptions that Baggini had in Pirsigs' view
in that Baggini did not ask what Quality was, only
questioned it, and how Pirsig did not try to say what
Quality was, he went along the thought-track of
Baggini and Baggini conditioned way of attacking
Pirsig instead of asking Pirsig what Quality is in
Pirsigs' philosophy.  I have some comments and
interest in the present conversation as typed:

 

  David:   "The very fact that man can question being
is telling. This ability carries with it an awareness
of Nothing, and an openness to the vast possibilities
that all somethings may be other-wise.  And our
experience and response to it is somehow open,
incomplete,
and requires a response to fill its under-determined
lack."

     Maybe Pirsig held to acting his philosophy and
thus making it a wisdom - I once heard in a philosophy
class wisdom is knowledge in action.  Thus, if David
is pin-pointing what Pirsig was not just saying but
doing, then we have something here.  Meaning we have
an understanding.  This kind of thinking corresponds,
I think, with what Ham was saying in the subject "Is
Morality innate in the cosmos?" - Tues. Feb. 7 11:--
something.  The negation or self-denial that essence
enacts is a creative act that has awareness (our's at
least) be nothingness or as David says above,
"awareness of Nothing... The very fact that man can
question being is telling." or in other words, that
our awareness is a hole that may desire filling or may
inquire, ask questions to fill the empty hole.  This
desire to change our awareness into something it isn't
or does not have is dangerous?  Yet, we desire to
communicate, to understand others, and thus ask
questions to understand others or ourselves.  I sense
a moment of clarity now, but how long will this last? 
Or maybe clarity does last and can go into the jaws of
chaos remaining intact, yet, do we know or really
experience that intactness even in trying to
understand or cope (as I must cope with children at my
job that are apparently very confused at times and
have anger that is disturbing)?  It must be present,
but our action of this clarity - the wisdom of
clarity, needs to be exercised or our sense of it in
our lives may weaken or not be in much use.

SA  

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