[MD] Distinguishing Levels (Platt's Individual level)

[MarshaV]

At 08:26 AM 5/30/2006, you wrote:

Marsha asked:
> > How would you explain this quote from Lila,
>Chapter 32:
> >
> > "While sustaining biological and social
> >        patterns
> > Kill all intellectual patterns.
> > Kill them completely
> > And then follow Dynamic Quality
> > And morality will be served.


Platt replied:
>I think this reiterates what Pirsig said about the
>mystics' objection to metaphysics -- that thought
>is not a path to reality (reality = morality).
>
>"They (mystics) share a common belief that the
>fundamental nature of reality is outside language;
>that language splits things up into parts while
>the true nature of reality is undivided. Zen,
>which is a mystic religion, argues that the illusion
>of dividedness can be overcome by meditation."
>(Lila, 5)

Yes.


>As you know, Pirsig said this "pure" approach to
>reality was a form of degeneracy:
>
>"But the answer to all this, he thought, was that a
>ruthless,  doctrinaire avoidance of degeneracy is a
>degeneracy of another sort.  That's the degeneracy
>fanatics are made of. Purity, identified, ceases
>to be purity. Objections to pollution are a form of
>pollution.

Pirsig stated that "a ruthless, doctrinaire avoidance of degeneracy 
is a degeneracy", not that this approach (knowledge) was a form of degeneracy

>The only person who doesn't pollute the mystic
>reality of the world with fixed metaphysical
>meanings is a person who hasn't yet been
>born-and to whose birth no thought has been
>given. The rest of us have to settle for
>being something less pure. Getting drunk
>and picking up bar-ladies and writing
>metaphysics is a part of life." (Lila, 5)

Here I think Pirsig is just stating that everyone, including the most 
enlightened mystic, is human.


>Obviously, I agree with Pirsig's reaction to
>anti-intellectual Hippies and the new  Age
>crowd.

Here you've selected out a Pirsig point-of-view that appeals to you.

But do you agree with this statement?

"While sustaining biological and social patterns
Kill all intellectual patterns.
Kill them completely
And then follow Dynamic Quality
And morality will be served."

There is a difference between "intellectual patterns" and using one's 
intellect, isn't there???

Marsha