[MD] Ironistic Metaphysics

[X Acto]

Matt:
I'm actually a little startled, because I take the question 
Steve to be asking is interestingly new.  I'm used to dealing 
with the philosophy/metaphysics question via Rorty/Pirsig in 
a fairly typical, well-worn manner I've employed over the 
years (for instance, my responses to John), but Steve's 
asking a slightly different question, one about Pirsig's own 
use of "metaphysics" internal to his philosophical practice.

It's a bigger question than a simple rapprochement between 
two people using the word "metaphysics" differently, because 
for one, we do need to supply some answer to the historical 
question, which the other problem does not.  Because I think 
this is a bigger, and significant, question, I won't try for 
completeness in an answer, but maybe just offer a list of, 
shall we say, desiderata, areas I take it a good answer would 
address.

1) The historical question of metaphysics.
Not exactly a "history of the uses of the term 'metaphysics'" 
is called for here (though clearly it would run through it), 
since Aristotle's redactor(s) (the ones who put together his 
lecture notes into book form) are the ones who came up with 
the term, and we usually like to say those previous to them 
(like Aristotle himself, Plato, Parmenides, etc.) were doing this 
activity.


2) What does it mean to create a new metaphysics?

3) What does it mean to be ironistic?

Ron:
I think to help clarify the intent of meaning of the term we do need
to first establish it's history in this instance for it's meaning is tied
to it's history.

wiki states:
"The word derives from the Greek words μετά (metá) (meaning "beyond" or "after") 
and φυσικά (physiká) (meaning "physical"), "physical" referring to those works 
on matter by Aristotle in antiquity. The prefix meta- ("beyond") was attached 
to the chapters in Aristotle's work that physically followed after the chapters 
on "physics", in posthumously edited collections. Aristotle himself did not call 
these works Metaphysics. Aristotle called some of the subjects treated there 
"first philosophy".
Metaphysics is called the "first philosophy" by Aristotle. 
The editor of his works, Andronicus of Rhodes, is thought to 
have placed the books on first philosophy right after another 
work, Physics, and called them τὰ μετὰ τὰ φυσικὰ βιβλία 
(ta meta ta physika biblia) or "the books that come after 
the [books on] physics". This was misread by Latin scholiasts, 
who thought it meant 
"the science of what is beyond the physical".

Ron:
Note that the term was first created under the assumption of the concept of "matter"
or substance then misinterpeted by Latin Scholars. I believe this is key to understanding
the traditional view as we today know the term and the spirit in which that body of writing
termed "first philosophy" was written. It was and is,a rule book which governed the scientific
method employed in physics. Metaphysics is a book of axioms. It operates on the idea
of universals.

This leaves two concepts of the term "metaphysics" 

1. Axioms and standards concerning the philosophy of scientific method

2. the Latin mistranslation of the term "the science of what is beyond the physical".

Two, is what we commonly understand the term "metaphysics" to mean.

In this light, the term "philosophy" is taken to be the generator of "metaphysics"

What Pirsig seems to do is use the term in the context "the science of what is beyond the physical"
but then contradicts this meaning in his assertions of Quality which rejects the concepts of matter
undercutting the terms meaning. which basically equates his metaphysics 
with what Socrates termed as  the love of wisdom or inquirey.

Philosophy
hies.
Love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means and moral self-discipline.
Investigation of the nature, causes, or principles of reality, knowledge, 
or values, based on logical reasoning rather than empirical methods.
A system of thought based on or involving such inquiry: the philosophy of Hume.
The critical analysis of fundamental assumptions or beliefs.
The disciplines presented in university curriculums of science and the liberal arts, 
except medicine, law, and theology.
The discipline comprising logic, ethics, aesthetics, metaphysics, and epistemology.
A set of ideas or beliefs relating to a particular field or activity; an 
underlying theory: an original philosophy of advertising.
A system of values by which one lives: has an unusual philosophy of life.

Pirsigs "metaphysic" is his static heirarchy of levels and how they interrelate
Governed by his philosophy of Quality. 

in contrast

Aristotles metaphysic is a static formal method which is governed by the philosophy
of essentialism.

It would seem that Pirsig is Ironic if one holds the context of the meaning of the
term "metaphysic" as "the science of what is beyond the physical".