[MD] First split

[Magnus Berg]

Hi Craig

craigerb at comcast.net wrote:
> [Pirsig, via Magnus]
> "In the Metaphysics of Quality 'causation' is a meta­physical term that can be 
> replaced by 'value.' To say that 'A causes B' or to say that 'B values 
> precondition A' is to say the same thing. The difference is one of words only. 
> Instead of saying 'A magnet causes iron filings to move toward it,' you can say 
> 'Iron filings value movement toward a magnet.'"
> 
> Magnus,
> This quote has always bothered me.  To me, the PRE-condition is the iron
> filings lying inert.  The POST-condition (= result) is the iron filings moving
> toward the magnet.   So 'A causes B' is to say that 'B values the POST-condition
> which results from A'.
> Which one of us (Pirsig or me) has it right?
> Craig

I haven't dissected that quote quite as much as you have, but I'm not sure 
changing it into a postcondition helps. If we say "B values the POST-condition 
which results from A", then the quality event becomes somewhat recursive. The 
event has to be performed before B can value the result or not.

So I think we need to stick with PRE-condition.

However, perhaps we should add "so it does" to the original quote to clarify. It 
then becomes:
"Iron filings value movement toward a magnet, so it does."

Does that make sense to you?

	Magnus