[MD] Emotions

[mark_maxwell at talktalk.net]

I think your literary illustration brings out some good points, but I think
ou miss the main one.  Pirsig's tales are the story of intellect wrestling
ith social rejection and in both cases (toward Chris AND Lila) his
ompassion is not something which flows naturally from a social-bound ape as
e read about all the time, but in a forced and unnatural manner of the
ntellectually-bound professor analyzing himself and his own emotional
eactions.  And sharing with us the  insight gleaned, simultaneous with the
ecognition of social incompleteness:  "He never was the type of person that
elates well to other people."  An interesting admission from such a
rofound analyzer of social relations *with* other people.
Near the end of Lila, the dialogue that plays in his own head,
ongratulating himself on his compassion for Lila, a truly compassionate
erson wouldn't realize this.  A compassionate person's compassion flows
ithout realization or need for comment.
Hi John,
A literary illustration is not mine to claim.
Are you suggesting RMP is psychotic?
If so, this may explain characteristics displayed by his foremost disciples.
All the best,
squonk