[MD] Virtue, Superoirity and excellence.

[Ron Kulp]

> [Ron]
> > VIRTUE
> > 
> > or SOM Good.
> > 
> > or superiority.
> > 
> > The four cardinal (hinge) virtues are Justice, Courage, Wisdom, and
> > Moderation.


[Ron]
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtue
> 
> http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=virtue
> 
> search the terms as they refer to Greek thought
> if it is not enough. But I think you will find similar
> definitions.

In view of the references you cite, how do you interpret this quote?

"To answer him you have to go all the way back to fundamental meanings of 
what is meant by morality and in this culture there aren't any fundamental 
meanings of morality. There are only old traditional social and religious 
meanings and these don't have any real intellectual base. They're just 
traditions." (Lila, 7)

To me it appears Pirsig dismisses what the Greeks had to say about 
morality. Either that or in his opinion 1) "this culture" ignores what the 
Greeks said, or 2) what the Greeks said wasn't intellectual.

What do you think he means?

Ron:
Good question, by way of support from his conclusion that arête is Quality,
I would say that 1) "this culture" ignores what the Greeks said.

"this culture" values objectivity (what Bo calls intellect) more than
"excellence". In fact it mistakes objectivity with excellence. You had
your finger on it Platt, This is where Academia splits with wisdom.
This when intellectualism functions without social excellence.
If the intellectual level emerges from the social then it seems
reasonable that the highest social patterns would be the basis
for a Quality intellectual pattern, ie excellence per the Greek
definition. Which is what Pirsig proposes with Quality.


  
 
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