[MD] Platt's Individual Level

[Arlo J. Bensinger]

[Case]
Thanks Arlo. I often don't respond to things you post because I simply have
nothing to add. But this time since I am in a quoting mode so I will toss this
in: 

"From that original perception of the Indians as the originators of the American
style of speech had come an expansion: the Indians were the originators of the
American style of life. The American personality is a mixture of European and
Indian values. When you see this you begin to see a lot of things that have
never been explained before."

Platt, you should read these quotes over again for each the Indian quotes you
skipped over in my last post.

[Arlo]
Mai oui, Case. We are quite sympatico. I jumped in only because my alter ego,
the arch villain of Plattland, demanded I do so. :-)

I think what Pirsig has to say about the Indians, and their values, and how this
relates to "us", and looking back over ZMM with this insight, is quite
significant. The Indians begin Lila, and they end it. Understanding them, I
think, is key to understanding the "Quality" behind the MOQ (as with Arete in
ZMM).

I'd add, of course, that this "denaturalizes" mercantilist language, as with
your counter to The Plattman's "who owns the land". We assume the question is
"natural", but it is not. And understanding THAT can lead to a lot of
illumination (albeit not via peyote :-)).