[MD] Philosophy and Philosophology

[Andre Broersen]

Ham to Bodvar:
In ZAMM Pirsig says that "Quality is the primary empirical reality of the
world."  I take his use of "the world" to mean reality.

Andre:
Sorry for butting in Ham but this is incorrect. Quality is the primary
reality, 'the world' is the empirical abstraction from this reality. It is
in this sense you must learn to understand the 'evil, pain and dysfunction'
you talk about. A bit of Buddhist understanding of the terms will help you.

Ham:
Since these immoral conditions exist in the universe, which is experienced
as a balance of goodness and badness, Quality (Morality) cannot be
universal.  Where, then, do these "negatives" come from?

Andre:
They come from our incomplete abstractions. That is, we abstract in a
subject/object/divisive way which blinds us to see and experience the
Quality of the One/All/ nothingness/ Tao.

Ham:
Are we to conclude, as the biblical scribes did, that evil is the
work of the Devil and that all men are born sinners?

Andre:
The biblical scribes had their own reasons for reducing us to sinners.
Remember that in Plato's time the passions residing in and through the
flesh, were considered an obstacle to attain Truth...which is different to
Quality. We are still at a social pattern of value here trying to dominate
the biological value. What better and more devastating way than to use God
as the final authority on biological/sinful condemnation!

Ham:
What "proves the superiority of DQ to S/O" except for our preference of it?

Andre:
The simple fact the it comes first from which S/O is generated. Read ZMM!

Ham:
How is man, a finite and imperfect being of limited wisdom, to know for a
certainty that Goodness is better than Badness?

Andre:
Because goodness strives towards harmony. We like harmony in simplicity.
Badness is just messy and is used as a 'driving force' toward good. If all
were perfect from the start we would not be here.

Ham:
 You suggest that before thoughts were conveyed in language, there were no
societies and (according to your logic) no human beings, either.  Come to
your senses, Bo.  What kind of philosophy is that?

Andre (not speaking for Bodvar):
A whole lot less complicated than it is now.

Over and out
Andre