[MD] Quantum weirdness

[skutvik at online.no]

Craig and the omnipresent Case

On 25 Mar. Craig  wrote:

> [Case] 
> > Nowhere in Lila does Pirsig claim he is writing a work on cosmology.

I agree with Case.

> But his new metaphysics does have repercussions on one's view of
> cosmology.

...and kind of with Craig ;-) 

 
> [Case]
> > Nor does he claim to be upending the law of physics.

Ditto. 

> But he does claim to be upending classical science: 

> "The only difference between causation and value is that the word
> “cause” implies absolute certainty whereas the implied meaning of
> “value” is one of preference. In classical science it was supposed
> that the world always works in terms of absolute certainty [READ:
> DETERMINISM] and that “cause” is the more appropriate word to describe
> it. But in modern quantum physics all that is changed. Particles
> “prefer” to do what they do. An individual particle is not absolutely
> committed to one predictable behavior. What appears to be an absolute
> cause is just a very consistent pattern of preferences. Therefore when
> you strike “cause” from the language and substitute “value” you are
> not only replac­ing an empirically meaningless term with a meaningful
> one; you are using a term that is more appropriate to actual
> observation." (RMP, Lila, Chap. 8)  

At first I thought this was a great idea, but have come to doubt it. 
We know that "static inorganic patterns of value" (SIPOV) isn't 
the matter that intellect - through physics - is concerned with - 
Pirsig goes to great lengths to show the difference in LILA, and it 
is impossible to do science on the said SIPOV without intellect's  
S/O premises!!  That would be like a field marshal meddling with 
what his highest division commander knows best. The inorganic 
level does not consist of "particles" that have discussions if they 
are in the mood to obey the natural laws or not. The natural laws 
themselves - causation included -  are as inorganic value too. 

Where the MOQ makes wonderful sense is its overall 
metaphysical arrangement. It does not bother me the least to 
read or hear about physicists searching for the "bottom" of the 
physical world or the beginning of time (and always finding a 
deeper layer) as long as I know the explanation (of their failure), 
namely not because the inorganic level consists of particles 
unable to make up their "minds", but because intellect's S/O 
approach is incomplete ... yet an enormous value.   

IMO

Bo.