[MD] in defence of the "relative"

[Ham Priday]

On Wed. 11/11/09 at 9:26 AM Ron wrote --


> The dictionary, in it's most rudimentary description of the term,
> states that relativity is:
> "A state of dependence in which the existence or significance of one
> entity is solely dependent on that of another."
>
> I would not label myself a "Pragmatist" yet I subscribe to it's concepts.
> I simply do not feel the need to label myself anything in particular for
> the self that is named tends to be confined and isolated. Simply put,
> to label one's self a relativist sort of flies in the face of the endeavor
> of reclaiming the meaning of the term.

Your dictionary definition is perfect and it should answer all the questions 
being raised.

Therefore, I don't understand why you perpetuate the confusion by refusing 
to acknowledge your self as relativc.  As the definiton makes clear, your 
existence is "solely dependent on that of another" (otherness).
You are a 'being-aware', which means that without the "beingness" of your 
existence, you are non-existent.  The contingency of being and awareness is 
metaphysically inseparable.  This makes you relative to everything else.

Existence is a relational system, as I have pointed out many times. 
Difference is its primary characteristic.  What troubles you folks is that 
Pirsig never defined or addressed ultimate Reality.  His Quality hierarchy 
works only in the relative domain of the experiential (created) universe. 
Quality itself is relative, as its differentiated realization by a 
subjective observer implies.  Awareness is subjective; its content is 
objective.  Consciousness simply doesn't exist any other way.  Once you 
understand that existence is derived valuistically from the uncreated 
primary source, the SOM system in seen for what it is.

We are all "relativists" in the sense that we are afforded an "external" 
perspective of our estranged Essence.
If you were not all so biased against a transcendent reality, the 
metaphysical truth would be as clear as a bell.  You could then parse the 
levels of existence any way you pleased, realizing that it has no effect on 
the Absolute Source of your reality.

Respectfully,
Ham