[MD] neener neener

[skutvik at online.no]

For Steve

11 Nov.:

Bo before:,
> > Has it evaded you, Steve, that Pirsig forcefully (almost too much of
> > a good thing) rejects the "thinking intellect" in the Paul Turner
> > letter? That includes "thinking about thinking"

Steve: 
> Intellect includes but is not limited to thinking about thinking.
> Intellect is simply thinking. 

Are you on "auto" mode?  Pirsig REJECTS the thinking (=mind) 
definition of intellect. In addition he says that it's no use speaking 
about the 4th. level much before the Greeks*). And "Greeks" spells 
SOM. In other words Intellect=SOM! 

John also presented his dictionary's definition of the term as = 
"objectivity". My Oxford Advanced also says. that Intellect means 
RATIONAL thinking which means distinguishing between what's 
objective TRUE and what's mere subjective, emotional irrationality. 
Besides what do you make of ZAMM's proto-moq where 
SOM=intellect? 

> What Pirsig attempted to clarify was that the thinking metaphore can be
> taken so far as to render it useless. 

He simply declares the "thinking intellect" useless from the very start.. 

> Non-human animals do not think. 

Of course they think in the sense of applying the INTELLIGENCE their 
neural computing capacity allows them

> Saying "bless you" when someone sneezes is not thinking. 

It's social thinking.

> For those who understand what Pirsig means by intellect and what Pirsig
> means by thinking, intellect is still simply thinking. "Simply
> thinking" just isn't as obviously clear as it seems like it ought to
> be. I really don't understand how the idea could be so confusing to
> people. I tend to think it would be clear to you if you didn't have the
> need to defend your thesis that Pirsig has got his own philosphy all
> wrong. 

I understand that no pointing to passages in Pirsig's books (that  
reflect Phaedrus' original SOL [SOM=intellect] idea) will make the 
slightest dent in your "panzer". You cling to his alleged "rejection" of 
the SOL and neglect the fact that he later has nullified it.

Still in the vain hope that you will  use your intelligence in MOQ's 
service. 

Bodvar
.