[MD] Reductionism

[skutvik at online.no]

Hi Platt

You said (to me)

> To put it simply as I understand it: The terms static and Dynamic
> Quality are intellectual, but that to which DQ refers to is not. Thus,
> the reality pointed to by the MOQ cannot be defined, but you know it
> anyway. 

Thanks for the interest in this issue which is the heart of the matter 
(as I say in to-day's post to DMB) and I hope you forgive my 
professoral tone.  The terms "static", "dynamic" and "quality" are 
neither intellectual or anti-intellectual, they are words of the English 
language (all languages have the same terms I guess, but that 
doesn't matter) The term "intellectual" means the ability of 
distinguishing between what's objective from what's subjective (as my 
dictionary says)  which is also the correct definition of the 4th. level's 
value - not IDEAS or THOUGHTS as most of the discussion seem to 
think. 

Now, the notion of language as a subjective reflection of objective 
phenomena is a form of intellect's S/O-repertoire and it screws the 
MOQ up to say that DQ is ineffable because it is something words 
refer to  - a concept. This reality/concept split is intellect's value and if 
this is made into a variant of the DQ/SQ - as DMB says - it means 
that MOQ becomes a subsidiary of SOM. DQ's first static fallout is the 
inorganic level and words, concepts ..etc. does not come into play 
until the social level and language, but even here the reality/concept 
discrepancy is not recognized. It came to be with the intellectual level 
- with SOM.

Finally, the MOQ postulates a DQ/SQ split and says that the dynamic 
part is indefinable. What's wrong with that? Is it "defined" just by 
saying so in words? So why had Pirsig to postulate a Quality/Concept 
meta-metaphysics on top of that? Long ago we all agreed on this only 
leading to an infinite regress because this meta-metaphysics is also 
expressed in words and needs another meta-meta-meta ....and so on 
ad infinity. 

Belated congratulations with the 4th of July!

Bodvar