[MD] What is SOM?

[Steve Peterson]

Hi Craig,

>
>> [Pirsig, via Steve again]
>> "So what the Metaphysics of Quality concludes is that all schools are
>> right on the mind-matter question.  Mind is contained in static
>> inorganic patterns.  Matter is contained in static intellectual
>> patterns."
>>

Craig:
>> This has always seemed a slip of the tongue to me.  Does anyone  
>> else think so

Steve:
Maybe this will unpack it for you?


RMP from LC:
"Yes, the relationship of the MOQ to philosophic idealism is an  
important one that is not
adequately spelled out in Lila. In a materialist system mind has no  
reality because it is not
material. In an idealist system matter has no reality because it is  
just an idea. The
acceptance of one meant the rejection of the other. In the MOQ both  
mind and matter are
levels of value. Materialist explanations and idealist explanations  
can coexist because
they are descriptions of coexisting levels of a larger reality.
The MOQ does not deny the traditional scientific view of reality as  
composed of material
substance and independent of us. It says it is an extremely high  
quality idea. We should
follow it whenever it is practical to do so. But the MOQ, like  
philosophic idealism, says.this scientific view of reality is still  
an idea. If it were not an idea, then that “independent
scientific material reality” would not be able to change as new  
scientific discoveries
come in."

Regards,
Steve