[MD] Social Ants?

[Platt Holden]

> [Platt}
> What seems to be missing in the discussion of the levels is any
> reference to or acknowledgment of morals. IMO, the entire thrust and
> indeed the value of Pirsig's MOQ is that the world is a moral order...
> 
> [Case]
> What Pirsig purports to have developed is a METAPHYSICS of Quality.
> Warping the MoQ into a purely political or moral philosophy strikes me
> as flat out wrong.

[Pirsig]
"Because Quality is morality. Make no mistake about it. They're 
identical. And if Quality is the primary reality of the world then that 
means morality is also the primary reality of the world. The world is 
primarily a moral order."

Pirsig couldn't make it any clearer. The MOQ is a moral philosophy. 
Case is flat out wrong, making the rest of his post trying to connect 
the MOQ to his value-free materialist worldview irrelevant.
 
> [Platt]
> While there's nothing wrong per se in discussing other ideas of how the
> world operates and evolves, it seems to me that unless moral values play
> a dominate role, the conversation veers off track from the new paradigm
> Pirsig has presented to us:
> 
> [Case]
> This applies to everyone who posted today not just Platt:
> 
> It seems to me you to fail to see how significant Pirsig's initial
> metaphysical cut really is. To continue mindless political tirades which
> accomplish little and almost always end in name calling really just
> cheapens Pirsig's contribution. Endlessly quoting him to justify
> personal prejudices seems not only to miss the point but to be an actual
> disservice to what the MoQ really has to offer. Shame on the lot of you
> for today's posts.

Case sets himself up as moral judge and jury after assuring us his 
interpretation of the MOQ is the only correct one. Did someone say the 
ego is an illusion?

> [Platt]
> It is the battle of the moral codes within each levels that is key to
> understanding the MOQ. As Pirsig said, the battle between the social and
> intellectual levels is still going on in America today and the winner
> has yet to be declared -- the social morality of political correctness,
> multiculturism, diversity and affirmative action vs. the individual
> morality of freedom and personal responsibility.
> 
> [Case]
> The MoQ is not about battling moral codes. It is about the balance of
> opposing force of all kinds. You can not possible use this metaphysics
> effectively if you do not appreciate what it really offers.

If you don't appreciate what Case claims the MOQ "really offers" shame 
on you. Case plays the guilt card while denying the MOQ is about 
morality. The irony I will leave to the reader. 

Platt