[MD] Down the road of mediocrity

[pholden at davtv.com]

Quoting Arlo Bensinger <ajb102 at psu.edu>:

> [Platt]
> Seems to me Pirsig is implying that some people are more moral than others.
> 
> [Arlo]
> Pirsig is saying  the activity of fighting social repression of 
> intellect is "more moral" than the activity of fighting social 
> repression of biology.

I don't think that's what he's saying at all. I think he's saying a Galileo
is more moral than a common criminal. The moral standing of individuals is
further explained as Pirsig writes: "Intellectuals must find biological behavior,
no matter what its ethnic connection, and limit or destroy destructive biological
patterns with complete moral ruthlessness., the way a doctor destroys germs,
before those biological patterns destroy civilization itself." (Lila, 24)  

> That is, simply claiming some biological activity "will destroy 
> society" is not moral justification for using force to forbid it. 
> After all, those "liberal do-gooders" could claim that soda 
> consumption threatens society. Would that be provocation enough to ban it?

I don't think the biological activity of eating is what Pirsig had in mind
in the quote above.

> But your point also hinges on criminality. Pirsig is clear in his 
> support of preserving the life of the criminal. I would imagine if it 
> is moral for a society to provide for the health of its incarcerated, 
> its moral for it to provide for the health of its poor.

He would preserve the life of the criminal if the criminal does not present
a threat to society. Keep that in mind.




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