[MD] Another parallel

[Matt Kundert]

DMB,

DMB said:
Maybe you are spotting tensions that are too subtle for me 
to detect or the tensions you find are the result of an 
interpretation that distorts one or more of the claims 
involved in that perceived tension. I mean, either you are 
making legitimate and valid points or you're not. In pushing 
back against your claims, I am making legitimate and valid 
points or I am not. The difference is probably not that stark, 
of course, but I do think the difference is that clear. To 
discover which view is more likely or more true we'd have to 
explore the specific tensions in question.

Matt:
I think, perhaps, what counts as "legitimate and valid" is 
what is disagreed upon between us.

For instance, say we recur to the distinction in logic between 
validity and soundness.  A valid argument is one that doesn't 
violate any logical rules.  Soundness, however, depends on 
the correctness of the _assumptions_ used in the proof.

The assumptions, on this analogy, would be the context in 
which we conduct our inquiry.  They would be about what we 
see as the center of gravity in Pirsig.  The lightest thing to be 
said, from your point of view about mine, is that what I'm 
saying is irrelevant to Pirsig--the inquiry-motivating 
assumptions are not the right ones.

The harsher rhetoric you seem to prefer is something like, 
from my point of view, that I would say both of us have valid 
interpretations and its just soundness (relevancy) that we 
disagree over, whereas you say my interpretations are invalid.  
That's why I often seem the more permissive of the two of us.

I don't know how to resolve the style thing, nor do I know how 
to resolve the above.  I see lots of different, 
distinguishable-but-possibly-relevant contexts for Pirsig (and 
anyone else).  You, I think, see only the one, biographical 
context as relevant.  Maybe that's the difference.  I don't 
know.  But, we will both agree I think, it is pretty tiring.

Matt

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