[MD] QRE: The 4th. level's two interpretations. Par

[Steven Peterson]

Hi Ron,

> Steve:
> If an ancient people provided reasons for what they did, then they
> participated in the intellectual pattern of providing reasons for what
> they do. Reasoning is what Pirsig means by intellect.
>
> Ron:
> I believe it is important to make the distinction between the terms "rational"
> and "reason". Often they are taken to mean the same .
> This I believe, creates problems in understanding in discussions of this
> nature.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationality
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reason

Steve:

I don't see any important difference between these two terms other
than that one is an adjective and the other a noun. Can you explain
what you see as important?

In dictionary.com I find:

ra⋅tion⋅al  /ˈræʃənl, ˈræʃnl/
–adjective 1. agreeable to reason; reasonable; sensible: a rational
plan for economic development.

I think when we say an explanation is reasonable or rational, we are
saying that it has a sort of quality--intellectual quality. If someone
attempts to give reasons, whether or not the reasons are good ones,
that person is participating in intellectual patterning. The
intellectual patterns in question may be of higher or lower quality,
but reasoning is always a synonym for participating in intellectual
patterns as I understand the MOQ.

Best,
Steve